Categories: SEO Articles

Keyword Research Tips for Small Businesses in 2024

As a small business owner, you know the importance of having a strong online presence. But with so many websites and businesses competing for attention, how can you ensure that your website stands out? These keyword research tips for small businesses help you get started.

What is keyword research? Keyword research is the process of finding the words and phrases people use when looking for things online. Integrating these keywords into your website content can enhance your search engine rank and draw in more traffic.

In this article, we’ll discuss small business keyword research tips and tools to help you get started on your SEO journey.

Why is Keyword Research Important for Small Businesses? Keyword research is crucial for small businesses because it helps you understand what your target audience is searching for online. By knowing the keywords and phrases they use, you can tailor your website content to match their search intent and increase your chances of appearing in the search engine results pages (SERPs).

Additionally, keyword research can also help you identify new opportunities for content creation. By understanding the topics and questions your audience is interested in, you can create valuable and relevant content that will attract more visitors to your website.

Keyword Research Tips for Small Businesses in 2024

1. Use Google Analytics to Identify Your Top Performing Keywords

Google Analytics is a free tool that provides valuable insights into your website traffic. By linking your website to Google Analytics, you can access data such as the number of visitors, their demographics, and the keywords they used to find your website.

To identify your top-performing keywords, go to the “Acquisition” tab in Google Analytics and select “All Traffic” and then “Channels”. From there, you can click on “Organic Search” to see the keywords that are driving the most traffic to your website.

By identifying your top-performing keywords, you can improve your low performing terms by:

Analyzing the characteristics of your top-performing keywords to identify search volume, competition, and user intent.
Using these insights to optimize your low-performing keywords by aligning them with the same characteristics.
Exploring related keywords or long-tail variations of your low-performing terms.
Adjusting your content and on-page optimization to better match the search intent associated with your low-performing keywords.
Conducting competitor analysis to understand how they are targeting similar keywords and incorporating successful strategies into your own approach.
Monitoring your keyword performance over time and making necessary adjustments based on data-driven insights.

2. Use Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases people use when searching online. These keywords may have lower search volumes, but they also have less competition. This makes it easier for your website to rank for them.

For example, instead of targeting the keyword “shoes”, a small business could use long-tail keywords such as “affordable running shoes for women” or “handmade leather shoes for men”. These keywords are more specific and can attract potential customers looking for exactly what your business offers.

3. Research Your Competitors’ Keywords

Another useful tip for small businesses is to research their competitors’ keywords. By knowing your competitors and analyzing their target keywords, you can identify any gaps in your own keyword strategy and find new opportunities for your business.

There are various tools available for competitor keyword analysis, such as SEMrush and Ahrefs. Type in your competitors’ website URL using any of them. Then, you can see the keywords they are ranking for. This will give you useful information about their SEO strategy.

Find keyword opportunities by analyzing your competitors’ keywords:

Consider both direct competitors offering similar products or services and indirect competitors targeting the same audience. Then, look for their organic keywords and paid keywords.
Evaluate search volume, competition, and user intent of their ranking keywords. Then, identify keywords relevant to your business with high search volume but low competition.
Compare their keywords with your own keyword list. Look for keywords that your competitors are ranking for but you are not. They are your potential keyword opportunities.
Consider any keyword opportunities that are relevant to your business and align with your target audience. Also, consider about their search intent, competition, and search volume.
Prioritize the identified keyword opportunities based on their potential impact on your business. Use them into your content, on-page optimization, and paid advertising campaigns.

4. Use Google’s Autocomplete Feature

Google’s autocomplete feature is a useful tool for finding new keyword ideas. When you start typing a search query into Google, it will suggest popular search terms related to your query. These suggestions are based on real searches that people have performed. It is a valuable source of keyword ideas.

For example, if you type in “best running shoes”, Google may suggest “best running shoes for women” or “best running shoes for flat feet”. These suggestions can help you identify long-tail keywords your target audience is searching for.

Tips to find more keyword ideas using Google’s autocomplete feature:

Start typing any seed keyword in Google search bar and see the autocomplete suggestions.
Try different variations of your seed keyword, including synonyms, plurals, and long-tail keywords.
Pay attention to the user intent behind the suggestions. Are people searching for information, products, or services?
Try it on different devices (desktop, mobile, tablet) and from different locations to get more suggestions.
Find related keywords based on your competitor keywords using these feature.
Combine different autocomplete suggestions to create long-tail keywords.
Use a keyword research tools for additional keyword suggestions and SEO metrics like search volume and competition.
Keep an eye on industry trends and emerging topics related to your business using Google autocomplete. This will help you find keywords to stay ahead of the curve.

5. Find untapped keywords

Untapped keywords have relatively low search volume but high potential for driving targeted traffic to your website. These keywords are often more specific and less competitive than popular keywords. They are easier to rank for and potentially more valuable in terms of conversions.

Some tips to find untapped keywords:

Use a keyword research tool and find long-tail keywords related to your business or niche.
Conduct a Google search. At the bottom of the results, you’ll find a section called “Searches related to [your keyword].” They can provide ideas for untapped keywords.
Analyze your competitor keywords and look for keywords they are not targeting but relevant to your business.
Google autocomplete suggestions discussed above can also provide ideas for untapped keywords.
Think what your target audience is searching for and what kind of content they would find valuable. Use this to identify untapped keywords.
Keep up with the current trends and emerging topics related to your business, and use a keyword tool for any keywords related to these trends having low competition.
Many keyword research tools allow you to filter keywords by search volume, competition, and other metrics. Use these filters to find untapped keywords that have potential for growth.
Collect customer feedbacks and analyze the questions they ask or the problems they encounter. Use this information to identify untapped keywords that address their needs.

5. Consider User Intent

When conducting keyword research, it is essential to consider the intent behind a user’s search. Are they looking for information, or are they ready to make a purchase? Understanding user intent can help you choose the right keywords for your website and create content that meets the needs of your target audience.

For example, if someone searches for “best running shoes”, they may be looking for reviews or recommendations. On the other hand, if someone searches for “buy running shoes online”, they are likely ready to make a purchase. By understanding user intent, you can tailor your content and keywords accordingly.

Tips to identify user intent:

Look at the specific words and phrases used in the keyword and consider the context behind it.
Use a keyword tool and see if the intent is commercial, informational, or navigational.
Analyze the top-ranking results for the keyword in search engines. See the type of content.
At the bottom of Google search results, see the section “Searches related to [your keyword].” These related searches can indicate different aspects of user intent.
Pay attention to prepositions used in the keyword, such as “for,” “with,” “to,” or “how.” These prepositions can provide clues about the intent.

Tools for Keyword Research

Many tools are available to help with keyword research, and some are specifically designed for small businesses. Here are a few tools that you can use to improve your keyword research process:

1. Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that allows you to research keywords and see their search volumes and competition levels. It also provides keyword suggestions and allows you to filter results by location and language.

2. Moz Keyword Explorer

Moz Keyword Explorer is a paid tool that provides in-depth keyword research and analysis. It offers features such as keyword difficulty scores, search volume data, and keyword suggestions.

3. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest is a free keyword research tool that provides keyword suggestions and search volume data. It also offers insights into the top-ranking pages for a particular keyword, allowing you to see what types of content is performing well.

The above three tools are suitable for small businesses. But if you want to see a list of the best keyword research tools | Click Here

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Tips for Creating Content Based on Keyword Research

Once you have identified your target keywords, it is time to create content that includes them. Here are some tips for creating content based on your keyword research:

Write for Your Audience

When creating content, it’s essential to keep your target audience in mind. Use the keywords you have identified to create content that is relevant and valuable to them. This will not only help with your SEO efforts but also improve the overall user experience on your website.

Use Keywords Naturally

While it is important to include your target keywords in your content, it’s essential to use them naturally. Keyword stuffing, or overusing keywords in an unnatural way, can actually harm your SEO efforts. Instead, focus on creating high-quality content that naturally incorporates your keywords.

Optimize Your Meta Tags

Meta tags, such as title tags and meta descriptions, are important for SEO and can also influence click-through rates from search engine results pages. Make sure to include your target keywords in your meta tags to improve your chances of ranking for those keywords.

Conclusion

Keyword research is a crucial aspect of SEO for small businesses. By understanding what your target audience is searching for and optimizing those keywords into your website content, you can improve your search engine ranking and attract more potential customers.

Remember to use keyword tools and find new opportunities for content creation. And always keep your target audience in mind when creating content and optimizing your website for SEO. With these tips, you can take your small business’s online presence to the next level.

Valuable Resources:

In addition to the above keyword research tips, the following books and courses will help you learn more about it. You can also find a service if you need hiring a professional keyword expert:

| Best keyword research books and courses
| Affordable keyword research services
| Best books on content writing

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Ibochouba Singh is a content writer and reviewer with a passion for writing about digital marketing and tech gadgets, including software tools and new tech gadgets. He has over 15 years of experience writing for several consumers and clients, including tech startups, marketing agencies, and software companies. He is writing many articles and product reviews for many websites, including nigcworld.com, buywin.in, medium.com, and quora.com.