Keyword Research Guide
Search Intent Types
Informational
User wants to learn. "how to", "what is", "guide"
Best for: blog posts, tutorials
Navigational
User seeks a specific site. "brand + login"
Best for: brand pages
Commercial
Researching before buying. "best X", "X vs Y"
Best for: reviews, comparisons
Transactional
Ready to buy. "buy X", "X price", "discount"
Best for: product/landing pagesKeyword Metrics Reference
| Metric | Good Range | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Search Volume | 100 โ 10,000/mo | Monthly searches. High โ always better |
| KD (Keyword Difficulty) | 0โ30 for new sites | How hard to rank on page 1 |
| CPC | $0.5โ$5 typical | Cost per click in ads โ signals commercial value |
| CTR | 3โ10% pos 1 | Click-through rate from SERPs |
| Trend | Stable or growing | Seasonal vs evergreen keywords |
Keyword Research Checklist
- Define your seed keywords (core topics)
- Expand with Google Autocomplete and "People Also Ask"
- Check keyword difficulty โ prioritize KD < 30 for new sites
- Analyze search intent of top 10 results
- Find long-tail variations (3+ words, lower competition)
- Group keywords by topic clusters
- Map one primary keyword per page
- Check SERP features (featured snippets, local pack)
Popular Keyword Research Tools
| Tool | Free Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Google Keyword Planner | โ | PPC research, volume data |
| Ahrefs | Limited | Backlink + keyword research |
| SEMrush | 10 queries/day | Competitor analysis |
| Ubersuggest | โ | Beginners, long-tail ideas |
| Google Trends | โ | Trend analysis, seasonality |
| AnswerThePublic | 3 searches/day | Question-based keywords |