In an earlier podcast we shared six areas of importance with small business website search engine optimization.  Today we are going to start to put some meat on those bones.  Today we will talk about a key element of search engine optimization…keyword research.

SEO keyword research is a critical aspect of optimizing your small business website for search engines. It involves identifying the right keywords and phrases your target audience might use when searching for products or services like yours. By optimizing your website content for these keywords, you can attract more relevant traffic and improve your site’s visibility in search engine results. In this blog post, we’ll outline the step-by-step process of conducting SEO keyword research for your small business website.

Step 1: Define Your Goals and Target Audience

Before starting keyword research, it’s important to define your business goals and target audience. Determine what you want to achieve with your website (e.g., increase sales, generate leads, raise brand awareness) and who your ideal customers are. This will help you focus your keyword research efforts on terms that are relevant to your business and resonate with your target audience.

Step 2: Brainstorm Seed Keywords

Seed keywords are the foundation of your keyword research. They are broad, general terms that describe your products or services. Start by brainstorming a list of seed keywords that represent your business offerings. Think about what your potential customers might type into search engines when looking for your products or services. You can also analyze your competitors’ websites to identify the keywords they are targeting.

Step 3: Use Keyword Research Tools

Leverage keyword research tools to expand your list of seed keywords and find related terms. Some popular tools include Google Ads Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, and Ahrefs Keywords Explorer. These tools provide valuable data such as search volume, competition, and keyword difficulty, which can help you assess the potential of each keyword.

Step 4: Analyze Long-tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that often have lower search volume but higher conversion rates. They are essential for small businesses, as they tend to be less competitive and more targeted to specific user needs. To find long-tail keywords, look for phrases that include three or more words and focus on the user’s intent. Use your keyword research tools to generate a list of long-tail keywords relevant to your business.

Step 5: Evaluate Keyword Relevance and Competitiveness

Once you have compiled a list of potential keywords, evaluate their relevance and competitiveness. Choose keywords that are closely related to your products or services and have a reasonable search volume. Analyze the competition by checking the websites that rank for your target keywords. If high-authority websites dominate the search results, consider targeting less competitive, long-tail keywords instead.

Step 6: Prioritize and Organize Your Keywords

Organize your keywords into groups or themes based on their relevance to your business and user intent. Prioritize the keywords based on their potential to drive traffic and conversions. This will help you create a focused content strategy that targets the most important keywords and addresses user needs.

Conclusion:

Conducting SEO keyword research is a vital step in optimizing your small business website for search engines. By identifying the right keywords and incorporating them into your content, you can improve your site’s visibility, attract more relevant traffic, and ultimately achieve your business goals. Remember that keyword research is an ongoing process, so be sure to regularly update and refine your keyword strategy to stay ahead of the competition and adapt to changing user behavior.

Zenith Exhibits provides effective small business website development.  We have built over 2500 Small Business optimized WordPress websites for clients throughout the United States.  Our flat free pricing model is budget friendly and helps speed up development.  Call (208) 209-7170 or visit www.zenithexhibits.com to learn more.