SEO campaigns and keywords go together like bacon and eggs. You cannot have one without the other. The content won’t stick. The result? Wasted time, money, and resources you cannot afford to lose.
But, since 92.42% of keywords receive only 10 monthly searches and sometimes less, the competition is brutal. The last thing you need is keyword research mistakes that can make your SEO campaigns redundant.
Before we look at some of the most common mistakes you should avoid at all costs, you need to understand what keyword research is. This includes the best way to conduct it for SEO campaigns.
Keyword Research and Analysis 101
Whether you are searching for web hosting solutions or a recipe for chocolate chip pancakes, Google is the go-to search engine that they use to search for them. Those keywords should be part of your online marketing efforts if you offer those solutions on your website or blog.
Keyword research is divided into two parts:
- It is the process of discovering what your target audience is looking for and the keywords they are using to do it.
- Optimizing your content so it appears on search engine results.
The right mix of relevant keywords can personalize your content in websites, ads, infographics, video snippets, product descriptions, and others.
At Content Development Pros, we have a stellar SEO team and word smiths who can provide a list of keywords your target audience is searching for.
Top 5 Crucial Keyword Research Mistakes to Avoid
The following are some of the most common keyword research mistakes that you should avoid:
1. Neglecting Search Intent
Search intent is the purpose behind an online search. It’s the why behind a search query.
Did they want to learn something (keyword example – how to make a bookcase from scratch)?
Do they want to buy something (keyword example – Samsun Galaxy s10 cheap)?
Are they searching for solutions (keyword example – how to sign in to Twitter?)
Are they looking for discounted products you happen to offer (Buy Samsung Galaxy s10 cheap)?
Many marketers create content without knowing the users’ search intent. While search volume is a vital factor, it’s also essential to understand why your audience is searching for a specific term on Google or their intent for a particular search. That means creating content that aligns with search intent.
Without relevant keywords, that content will not attract the audience (organic traffic) you need to make your ranking sustainable.
The Solution
One of the easiest ways to determine search intent is to use SERPs. Type in the keyword in the search bar and see what the search engine finds. The types of keywords you find will tell you what the search engine deems the most relevant. It will also give a list of frequently asked questions that people typically ask regarding the search term.
Get more traffic and leads with our help. Our SEO experts can connect with your audience using their preferred keywords and target new keywords to create opportunities.
2. Ignoring Search Tools
Many people underestimate the value that today’s search tools can bring to SEO practices. Keyword research tools list the most relevant keywords in your industry and provide several opportunities to maximize their use in your overall SEO strategy.
The Solution
Adopt keyword search tools like Google Keywords Planner to expand your online reach. The tool is designed to drive paid search campaigns, provided it is used correctly. Some of the top features include:
- Finding new keywords.
- Get search volume and forecasts for those keywords.
- Providing keyword recommendations as per your business niche and industry.
- Track essential metrics such as which keywords drive the most traffic to your site, how your site ranks on popular search engines and how many people are engaged enough with your content to convert into paying customers.
Of course, no keyword search tool is perfect. You need a hands-on approach to attract sustainable, organic traffic. Evaluating which content is ranking higher on SERPs for a specific term you’re targeting will help you determine the audience’s language and search intent.
Rather than conducting SEO keyword research yourself, get in touch with our pros at Content Development Pros, who have years of experience using such tools.
3. Disregarding Keyword Localization
Keyword localization is understanding the exact keywords locals when they search for information online. Most people make the mistake of using generic ones in their SEO marketing strategies, which then hurts their ranking.
Part of your keyword localization strategy is adapting your content to local audiences who may speak the same language but use different terms. They may also use slang terms and phrases in different ways.
For example, Americans go on vacation, but Brits go on holiday. Similarly, a ‘lawyer‘ in the US is called a ‘solicitor‘ in British English.
The Solution
Research local keywords in each target region you wish to promote your website, app, services, or products. At Content Development Pros, our SEO experts can dig deeper into the keywords you need by understanding the mindset behind each. The result? Specific local keyword lists that your target consumers are actually searching for.
4. Ignoring Keyword Research for Months
Keywords drive SEO strategies. The fresher, the better. This is important since Google changes its algorithm over 500 times each year! That is more than one per day! These changes can impact your ranking, so you need to keep up with them as much as possible to remain relevant online.
The Solution
One of the best ways to do that is with fresh keywords. Over time, keyword phrases that are being searched for can change. New words can enter the vocabulary, and old ones can be discarded. So if, for example, you were ranking for ‘best pepperoni pizzas in LA’ when you opened your pizzeria a few years ago, maybe tastes have changed, and your target audience is searching for ‘best thin crust pizzas in LA near me.’
By conducting keyword research regularly, you will know that your customers’ tastes have changed and the search terms they are using to look for pizzerias. Our SEO experts can do that for you and ensure your online presence remains relevant to your target audience.
5. Targeting High-Volume Keywords Only
Contrary to popular belief, low-value keywords (less than 250 searches per month) can also drive your SEO strategy. High-value keywords (high volume/converting with low competition) can attract more organic traffic in comparison but depend on them entirely, and you may miss conversion opportunities.
The Solution
Your SEO strategy should have a mix of low and high-volume keywords. Low-valuekeywords give you opportunities to target terms your audience is searching for that your competition isn’t targeting at all. While you may not see a lot of traffic from these, you have a decent chance of getting a few monthly sales for them.
Low-volume keywords are super-relevant to target audiences, have low competition and show a user’s intent to buy, join, sign up or take any other preferred action.
For example, let’s say you want to rank for ‘best Mexican restaurants New York.’ Here are WordStream’s results:
High-value Keywords
Low-value keywords
Yes, you will be able to rank high for the high-value keywords, but what about people searching for specific terms? Anyone who wants to plan a Mexican brunch for a family get-together may use low-value keywords such as ‘mexican bottomless brunch nyc’ to search. The result? More money during the weekend than you make in a single day. Can you ignore that opportunity?
Our SEO experts can provide a list of relevant high, medium, and low volume keywords for a sustainable and profitable online marketing strategy.
Why You Should Hire Professionals?
Content Development Pros has your back if you are confused about the keywords you should rank for or have little time to focus on SEO. We can improve your SEO ranking and generate maximum traffic that converts with in-depth SEO keyword research. We are not just a keyword research agency. We are the complete package:
- Get insight into target consumers with keyword research and analysis.
- See your content get maximum engagement online.
- See your website rank high and leave the competition in the dust.
- Yield maximum ROI.
