A Simple Keyword Research Process to Boost Sales

Struggling to stay on top of your keyword game?

A solid keyword strategy is the backbone of effective SEO.

Here's a repeatable keyword research process you can run.

1. Make a list of keywords

Start by thinking about your ideal customer. What are they typing into Google? What problems are they trying to solve? Their pain points are your opportunity. Create a list of over 20 keywords that are relevant to their needs and the solutions you provide.

2. Choose the top 5 keywords

Narrow down your list to the five keywords that will impact your business most. These should be high-priority terms that align with your content strategy and offer the most value for your audience. Focus on keywords that can generate traffic and drive conversions.

3. Analyze keyword difficulty (KD), volume, and traffic potential

Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to dive deeper into your selected keywords. Look for keywords with a difficulty score (KD) under 50, a search volume under 50, and traffic potential over 100. These metrics will help you find low-competition keywords that offer real opportunities.

4. Analyze suggested keywords

Once you have your initial keywords, use Ahrefs to find additional related keywords and questions. These suggestions can offer more ranking opportunities and help you expand your content strategy. Target keywords that your competitors might have missed.

5. Analyze the SERP overview

Check the top 10 pages that are already ranking for your chosen keyword. What does the competition look like? What is the search intent behind this keyword? Ask yourself if there's room for your content to rank. If the competition is too fierce, you might want to weigh other keyword options.

6. Decide on the keyword

After weighing all the factors—competition, volume, traffic potential—decide if the keyword is worth pursuing. Add it to your list if it meets your criteria for low competition and good opportunity. The goal is to build a list of keywords that will give you the best chance to rank and drive traffic to your site.

7. Make an SEO keyword list

Create a dedicated list in your keyword research tool (like Ahrefs) to store these keywords. This will serve as a central hub for all the terms you'll target in your content strategy. Keeping things organized ensures you stay focused and consistent in your approach.

8. Analyze matching terms

Use the "matching terms" feature in Ahrefs or similar tools to uncover more keywords related to your main terms. Add any that meet your criteria for low difficulty and high traffic potential. The more relevant keywords you find, the greater the opportunities for your content to rank.

9. Analyze search suggestions

Search suggestions are another goldmine for finding new keywords. These are often questions or phrases related to your target terms. Analyze them by looking for low-competition keywords that can help you capture more search traffic. Add them to your list if they meet your standards.

10. Repeat the process for the other 4 keywords

Run the same analysis for the other four keywords you selected earlier. By the end of this process, you should have a list of at least 50 high-opportunity keywords, all backed by solid data. This will form the foundation of your SEO strategy.

11. Go Deeper own rabbit holes

While researching, don't be afraid to explore. Clicking through related keywords can lead you to hidden gems that you may not have considered initially. Let your curiosity guide you—you often uncover powerful, untapped keywords during these searches.

12. Get creative and think outside the box

Sometimes, the best keyword ideas come from thinking like your customers. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine what they'd search for at different stages of their buying journey. Look for unique angles and unexpected keyword ideas that others might overlook.

13. Take a day break

Keyword research can be intense. After you've built your list of potential keywords, take a short break. This will give you a fresh perspective when you return and allow you to evaluate your keyword choices with a clearer mind. You can also switch to other tasks for some time to clear your head.

14. Remove, add, and re-analyze

After your break, revisit your list. Remove any keywords that no longer seem like a good fit, add any new ones you've thought of, and re-analyze everything to ensure you're targeting the best opportunities. The goal is to end up with a refined list of 100+ high-quality keywords.

15. Make a plan and take action

Now it's time to put your research to work. Schedule content creation and optimization around the keywords you've chosen. This is where the magic happens. With great keywords, you'll have the blueprint to create content that ranks, drives traffic, and generates leads.

Bonus Tip: Record yourself going through this process and use it to train your team. Sharing this keyword research framework ensures everyone is aligned and following the same strategic approach.

Outcome?

Better content, more empathy with your audience, higher traffic, more leads, and ultimately, more sales.

Run this process to stay ahead of the game, re-rank your top keywords, and continue optimizing.

Target high-opportunity keywords for your content and pages