What is keyword research?
SEO Definition and Examples
Keyword research is identifying the words and phrases your target audience searches for on Google, so you can create content that answers those searches.
Full Definition: What is keyword research
Keyword research is the process of identifying the terms your potential customers use in Google searches. It involves: identifying seed keywords, discovering long-tail terms, analyzing monthly search volume, assessing ranking difficulty (KD), understanding search intent (informational/commercial/transactional/navigational) and mapping keywords to the right pages on your site. Without keyword research, you create content for no one.
Why Does Keyword Research Matter for SEO?
Keyword research determines whether the traffic you get is qualified or not. You can be #1 for a term with zero searches or the wrong intent — and sell nothing. The right term with the correct intent converts 5-10× better than a generic term.
Source: Google Keyword PlannerFrequently Asked Questions about Keyword Research
Related Terms
Long-Tail Keywords
BeginnerLong-tail keywords are longer, specific search phrases (3+ words) that have lower volume but clearer intent and less competition than short, generic terms.
Search Intent
BeginnerSearch intent is the purpose behind a Google search — why the user is searching that term: to learn, to compare, to buy or to navigate to a specific site.
On-Page SEO
BeginnerOn-page SEO covers all the optimizations made directly on your site's pages — titles, headings, content, meta descriptions and URL structure.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
BeginnerThe SERP is the results page Google shows after a search, including organic results, paid ads, featured snippets, the Local Pack and other special formats.
Put Keyword Research into practice
Explore how to apply this concept to your industry and city.
