How to Do Keyword Research for SEO: A Beginner’s Guide
Keyword optimization might just be the buzzword of the century. But… (Yes, there’s a but.) That doesn’t mean you should ignore it just because it’s trendy. It might be showing up alongside SEO in the Buzzword Awards, but trust us—it’s a powerful skill to have. When you know how to find and choose the right keywords, you can steer your entire SEO campaign in the right direction. And when your campaign has direction, you’re on your way to gaining real online traction. So, let’s begin with the basics: choosing the right keywords. In this blog post, we’ll cover keyword optimization, keyword research best practices, and how to effectively rank your website by selecting the right keyword topics.
On-Page Keyword Analysis: Set a Super-Focused Direction for Your SEO Campaign
As a search optimizer, the last thing you want is to see your efforts go to waste, right? That’s a common fear in SEO—and a valid one. But when you follow keyword optimization correctly and apply keyword research best practices, you’ll avoid that pitfall. So, what is on-page keyword analysis? It’s a fancy term, but really it just means checking how many times a specific keyword appears compared to the total word count on your page. This is a key part of the keyword optimization process, aiming to make sure your main keyword appears the right number of times. Why? Because search engines look for this repetition to understand your page’s topic. So, if we mention keyword optimization enough on this page, search engines can clearly see what this content is about. But that’s not all. Keyword optimization also involves including related keywords—not just repeating the main one. For instance, if your website helps people rent cars, your main keyword could be “Hire A Car For Rent.”
Related keywords might include:
- Hire A Car For Rent in [Location]
- Hire A Car For Rent Cheap
- Hire A Car For Rent SUVof these support your SEO keyword strategy.
6 Keyword Optimization Tips for SEO
How to Find the Best Keywords for Your Website
Finding the best keywords is at the core of keyword optimization. Without a solid list, there’s no starting point. So where do you get that list? Start by clearly defining your service. This is where keyword topics come in. Let’s go back to our rental car example. If you fully understand your offering, keyword topics come naturally. Many people struggle here because they build a website first, and think about keywords later. But in SEO, it’s the opposite. Once you’re clear on your service, use a tool like SEMrush or Ahrefs.
Search phrases like:
- Hire a car for rent
- Car for rent
- Cheap rental car in [Location]
- Monthly car hire
- Weekly car hire
Yes, some of these phrases might sound awkward. But welcome to the world of keyword optimization. You don’t need the phrases to make perfect sense—you need them to work. Remember what Steve Jobs said: “It’s not the customer’s job to know what they want.” Sometimes odd-sounding searches are exactly what real people type. Once you’ve generated your keyword list, it’s time to pick the best ones.
How to Choose the Right Keywords for SEO
Now that you’ve got a keyword list, here’s how to handpick the winners using keyword research best practices.
Identify Keywords With High Search Volume & Low Competition
Search volume means how many times a keyword is searched each month.
If “Cheap Car Hire” has a search volume of 326, that means it’s searched 326 times per month in your target region (say, the U.S.).
Now, according to keyword research best practices, high-volume keywords are good—but don’t ignore low-volume ones. Sometimes, lower-volume keywords can drive serious traffic. There are real-world cases where targeting low-volume keywords brought in over 1,000 visitors a month. So don’t just chase big numbers. Stay balanced.
What About Competition?
Low competition means there’s not much existing content for that keyword online. If a keyword has a competition score of 10 out of 100, that’s a huge opportunity. Think about it: If you got 10 out of 100 on a test, you’d say that score is poor. Exactly. That’s how you should view keyword competition. A low score means a great opportunity to rank.
Which Keywords Are Best to Target?
It’s a question every SEO asks—and it’s the heart of your SEO keyword strategy.
Generally, go for:
- High search volume
- Low competition
Before beginning keyword optimization, always ask:
“Which keywords are best to target?”
That will keep your strategy focused and effective.
How to Check SEO Keywords of a Website
Checking SEO keywords on a website is essential for a strong SEO keyword strategy. Why? Because you’re not alone—your competitors are trying to rank, too. Some have been at it longer and are already on top. That’s where competitive analysis comes in. And one of the key parts of it is checking which SEO keywords your competitors are using. Tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs have features like Site Explorer. Just type in a competitor’s domain, and you’ll see:
- The keywords they rank for
- Their backlinks
- Their traffic
This step gives you a clear look into what’s working for others—so you can refine your own keyword optimization.
That’s a Wrap…
Keyword research is hard. And that’s why some keyword research service providers try to cut corners. But that’s not how effective keyword research service works. If you want your web pages to rank, you need a keyword research service that understands your business and your goals. At MRK, we offer a complete keyword research service tailored to your brand, helping you build a smart, data-backed SEO keyword strategy. Ready to see professional keyword research in action? Contact us today!