If there’s one aspect in SEO that you must learn right from the start, it would be keyword research. It’s not only about finding the right keywords, but most importantly, understanding what your potential traffic is truly searching for and using it to lead them straight to your business online.
This article will help you achieve data-driven keyword strategies by covering everything you need to know. As your top local SEO Agency, XDigital Media will not only ensure that your content ranks but also converts. This is only one of the many guides that we can give you as you navigate the world of SEO!
What is Keyword Research in Digital Marketing?
Keyword research is the process of finding and analyzing terms or queries used in the search engines to create content that ranks highly in the search engine results pages (SERPs). It’s like the bedrock of proficient SEO because if you create content on a subject that nobody is looking for, it will not generate any traffic at all.
However, if before the process of SEO keyword research only revolved around the keyword itself, now it also requires understanding the search engine behind every query. Or simply put, what people actually want when they use those terms.
Before asking the question “how”, you must first understand that this is not a single task, not a one-time thing. It’s a strategic SEO practice that will help you determine which keyword to target and produce a topic that ranks and resonates.
All that to say, not because you have this keyword for a certain month, you’ll regularly target them. They need to be properly monitored to make sure your strategy is effective, and if there are new terms you need to work on.
How to Do Keyword Research That Actually Drives Traffic
The basic thing you must learn in keyword research is to put yourself in your target customer’s shoes. Think. What are the most common questions that they search for that are relevant to your business line? From there, you can use various keyword research tools to check the search volume and keyword difficulty for that keyword.
This is only an overview that almost every digital marketing company does. If you want a much in-depth guide that you can follow, you can refer to our prepared step-by-step guide below:
Look for keywords you want to be known for
It all begins with a brainstorming session of the overall concept of your company, and the typical subjects that your brand would like to be associated with, in search results. These topics are usually products, services, or areas of expertise you rob off. As long as it is relevant to your business.
For example, if you are a digital marketing agency, you may want to be associated with words such as SEO strategy, social media management, or content marketing.
The main idea is to concentrate on keywords that truly describe your business. This will guarantee that the audience you attract is both suitable and profitable.
Use SEO keyword research tools
After you have obtained the general picture of your desired topics, it is time to utilize keyword research tools to enlarge your list. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush can reveal how popular certain words are and how difficult it is to compete with them.
Along with that, these tools can also throw up some suggested phrases that are related to the main one you are considering. The data helps you to identify the keywords that are realistic to go after and the ones that can potentially bring a constant flow of visitors to your site.
Identify competitors
Once you have a better idea of the keywords you want to target, never overlook checking your competitors’ sites. You can use the same tool for this. If you opt for the best SEO packages, common tools such as Ahrefs or Semrush often come along with it.
Check the websites of your competitors for the most traffic-generating search terms. This will allow you to expose the weaknesses in your content or the areas where your business can compete with less effort. All you have to do is check their organic keywords.
Find and evaluate keyword caps
The next step is to find the keywords your competitors might have overlooked during the analysis or areas in which your content could perform better. Such “keyword gaps” are often associated with less competition but strong search potential, hence they are considered untapped opportunities.
For instance, instead of going after general words such as SEO services, you can target more niche ones like affordable SEO services for small businesses. These types of keywords will bring in a more focused audience that is willing to be converted.
Finalize your list of keywords
After generating all your keyword ideas, it is time to do the filtering process. Select a few seed keywords, which are the most representative terms of your business or niche.
They will serve as the base for your keyword strategy, allowing you to create related topics and clusters around them. Keep the final list balanced with high-volume keywords for visibility and long-tail ones for more accurate targeting.
Free Keyword Research Tool in 2025
What makes SEO even easier is the fact that there are several free keyword tool that you can consider. These will help you uncover valuable keyword opportunities without taking much of your own budget.
| Free Keyword Tools | Overview |
| Semrush | One of the most reliable SEO tools in SEO also has its free version. You can generate up to 10 analytics reports daily with the free plan, thus acquiring a firm grounding without the need to buy a full subscription. |
| Mangools | Mangools has a user-friendly and intuitive interface suitable for people who have just started with the keyword research process. The free version gives you access to basic keyword metrics for a limited time, after which you can decide whether you want a paid plan or not. |
| Google Keyword Planner | It is absolutely free and offers precise information on the volume of searches, keyword ideas, and cost-per-click estimates. Though primarily aimed at advertisers, it still retains the same value for all those who want to fine-tune their SEO strategy and find new keyword spots through the process. |
| Google Search Console | It reveals all the specific search terms that lead users to your pages and suggests areas where you can make your content even better. While competitor data isn’t provided, the real worth of this tool lies in its power to support your decisions based on facts and thus increase your site’s visibility. |
| Google Trends | If you want to know how the popularity of keywords has changed over time, the best tool for you will be Google Trends. It allows you to detect hot topics, search term comparison, and seasonal trends—all instantly. |
| AlsoAsked | AlsoAsked is innovative in its methodology for keyword research as it draws the insights straight from the “People Also Ask” section of Google. It is a great tool for discovering the queries that are focused on the users and that can be used for generating content ideas, titles, and FAQs. |
| WordSteam | WordStream is a link connecting the two worlds of SEO and PPC by offering keyword recommendations that are specifically for your industry and location. The tool gets the search data straight from Google Keyword Planner and provides information on search volume, competition, and CPC (cost per click) estimates. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a keyword research tool?
It’s an SEO tool that helps marketers discover the exact words or phrases used when searching online. It provides valuable data that will give you an idea of whether a specific keyword is worth targeting through search volume, keyword difficulty, and search intent.
How to use Ahrefs for keyword research?
When using Ahrefs, the first thing you need is to sign up and create an account. Once you’re all settled, you just have to click the “keyword explorer” to check the data for the keyword you want to target. But if you don’t want to pay, you can use their free keyword generator, although it is limited.
Why is keyword research important?
In SEO digital media, it plays a crucial part in identifying the right keywords you want to target. Thus, making sure that your website attracts the right traffic that is most likely to engage, convert, and give your business profit in return.
