Keyword research is the foundation of search engine optimization (SEO). The right keywords help your website ranks high, attract the right audience and increase conversions. However, not all keywords are the same. Understanding different keyword types and how to investigate them is extremely important for all successful SEO strategies.
This guide breaks down different types of keywords and gradually explains how keyword research works effectively. Types of SEO Keywords
1. Short tail keywords
Short tail keywords, also known as head keywords, are a wide range of search terms, consisting of one or two words. Examples are “shoes”, “digital marketing”, and “SEO”.
Advantages: High search volume, wide range.
Cons: High competition and low conversion rate due to ambiguous intentions.
Best for: Brand awareness, long-term SEO strategy. 2. Long tail keywords
The keywords for long tails are longer and more specific sentences, such as “Best Running Shoes for Flat Foot” and “How to Improve Your Digital Marketing Strategy.”
Experts: Lower competition, increased conversion rates, improved user intent.
Cons: Low search volume.
What’s best: Targeting from niche audiences, content marketing, and voice search optimization.
3. Branded Keywords
Branded cards include names or variations of companies such as “Nike Running Shoes” and “Apple MacBook Pro.”
Benefits: High conversion potential, low competition (for brands).
Cons: A limited range of brandless users.
Best thing: Brand loyalty protects your brand’s call.
4. Non-brand keywords
These keywords do not mention any particular brand. An example is “the best smartphone under 500 US dollars.”
Benefits: A wider range, ability to attract new customers.
Cons: There’s a lot of competition.
It’s best to use new leads and customers.
5. Transaction Keywords
Transaction keywords indicate the intent of purchasing. B. “Buy iPhone 14 online” or “Best Price for MacBook Air.”
Benefits: High conversion rate. Cons: The cost per click (CPC) for paid search campaigns is high.
Best for: e-commerce websites, sales-centric campaigns.
6. Informative Keywords
These keywords indicate that searchers are looking for information instead of purchasing. Examples are “How to Start a Blog” or “SEO – Best Practices.”
Benefits: Perfect for content marketing and SEO. Cons: There is a low possibility of immediate conversion.
It’s best to use blog posts, educational content, lead furting, and more.
7. Navigation Keywords
These keywords help users find specific websites or pages, such as “Facebook Login” or “Hubspot Blog.”
Benefits: Highly relevant.
Cons: A limited range beyond existing brand interest. It is best to use data traffic for a specific website.
8. LSI (Latent Semantic Index) Keyword
LSI keywords are semantically related terms that help search engines understand the context of their content. For example, it may be included in the “digital marketing” LSI keywords “SEO”, “content marketing” and “PPC”.
Benefits: Improve relevance and improve SEO from a content perspective.
Cons: Research is required to implement effectively. Best thing: Search engine content optimization.
9. Seasonal keyword
These keywords gain popularity in certain seasons, such as “Black Friday Deals” and “Christmas Gift Ideas.”
Advantages: High peak traffic.
Cons: There is little traffic outside the windows during the season.
Best for: Seasonal advertising campaigns, holiday marketing. 10. GeoTarget Keywords
These keywords include location-based terms such as “Best Pizza in New York” and “Seo Services in London.”
Benefits: Effective for local SEO.
Cons: Limited ranges outside of specific areas.
Best for: Local businesses, service providers.
How to perform a keyword survey
Step 1: Define your goals
Before researching keywords, define your SEO goals. Looking for brand awareness, traffic, or conversions? Your goals determine the visual words for the keyword.
Step 2: Brainstorming Topics
A list of topics related to the niche. For example, if you run an online fitness shop, it includes topics that include “training routines,” “healthy eating,” and “best fitness equipment.”
Step 3: Use the Keyword Research Tool
Some tools can help you find ideas for keywords such as:
Google Keyword Planner provides search volume and competitive data.
AHREFS offers keyword levels for difficulty analysis and competitive knowledge. Semrush follows keyword trends and competitive strategies.
ubersugest – A free tool for keyword ideas and SEO analysis.
Answer-Public helps to generate ideas for suspicious keywords.
Step 4: Analyse your search intent
Understand whether there are keyword information, navigation, transactions, or commercials. This creates content that meets the user’s requirements. Step 5: Rate the keyword metric
Before selecting a keyword, look at the key metrics.
Search Volume: A large amount of searches increases potential traffic.
Keyword Difficulty (KD): Lower KD makes rankings simpler.
CPC (Cost-Pro-Click): Useful for assessing commercial value.
SERP feature: Check if the keyword triggers snippets, local packs, etc.
Step 6: Check the keywords for competition
Analyze your competitors to see which keywords they rank. Use tools like Ahrefs and Semrush to find the gaps you can aim for.
Step 7: Organize keywords related to the subject
Group similar keywords together. For example, under “Weight Loss” you may have:
“How to lose weight quickly”
“The best weight loss diet”
“Weight Loss Tips for Beginners”
Step 8: Create a content strategy
Plan the content for the selected keyword. For a balanced strategy, use a mixture of long and short tail keywords.
Step 9: Monitor performance
Track keyword performance using the Google Search Console and Google Analytics. Adjust your strategy based on your results.
Conclusion
Understanding keyword types and learning keyword research is essential to a successful SEO strategy. By selecting the right keywords and optimizing content, you can improve your search rankings, attach the right audience, and drive business growth. Start implementing these techniques to improve your website’s SEO performance.