The Down-and-Dirty of Brainstorming Keywords
Today, I'm sharing my hands-on experience in navigating the keyword research landscape. Learn from my journey to mastering this essential aspect of SEO.
Hello again!
Today, we're rolling up our sleeves and diving deep into the keyword research jungle.
You might be rolling your eyes, thinking, "Yeah, yeah, I've heard it a million times: 'Keywords are the backbone of SEO.'"
But listen up, there's a way to tackle this that won't drain your bank account or your will to live.
Keywords guide your content like a compass, pointing to what your audience genuinely cares about. More content equals more chances to sprinkle those crucial keywords, boosting your SEO without breaking the bank.
As HubSpot highlights, websites with blogs have 434% more indexed pages. So, if you get your keywords right, you're essentially rolling out the red carpet for search engines to show off your content.
Believe it or not, you can make all this happen without emptying your wallet on premium tools. Sure, Google and other tech giants might not lay it out on a silver platter for you—after all, they're in it to make money, too. But with some good old-fashioned elbow grease, you can dig up gold.
Sadly, it's a tedious process, but my experience and research confirm that it pays big dividends. So, roll up your sleeves and dig in; there's no room for half-measures here.
Researching Like a Pro
Before diving into the keyword pool, I did my homework—and looked into different methods and tools like Google's Keyword Planner, Moz's Keyword Explorer, Ahrefs, SEMrush, etc. Yes, there's a sea of them out there. But here's the kicker: not all are worth the investment. Some are just shiny baubles that'll leave you broke.
Freebies First, Please!
Listen, some of these SEO tools charge an arm and a leg. It's like they think we're all part of some secret club of millionaires. Not happening, mate. The good news is you can make do with free trials and free-to-cheap tools. Moz, for instance, gives you a free trial where you can plunder all kinds of insights. So why splurge when you can scrimp, right?
My Fave Freebies
Google Autocomplete: You know when you start typing into the Google search bar, and it magically predicts what you're going to type? That's Google Autocomplete. A quick tip: Use it to find long-tail keywords; the more specific, the better.
Google Ads Keyword Planner: Don't knock it because it's free. It's got its uses. A quick tip: Use it to check search volumes; it's as easy as pie.
Answer the Public: It's like having a mini brainstorming partner. A quick tip: Feed it a basic keyword, which gives you a web of related queries, ideal for content ideas.
Google, the Stingy Landlord
You'd think Google would be our best mate in this journey, but nope. They're more like a landlord that keeps the heating locked away in a safe. Google's gotten stingy with keyword data, which makes this whole exercise more challenging than it should be. That's why we're here—learning to hustle our way through.
My Quick-and-Dirty Approach
I sat down with my trusty spreadsheet (yes, Excel, I still love you) and went wild. I wasn't going for the 'Mona Lisa' of keyword lists; I was spray painting graffiti and loving it. I jotted down everything that came to mind about website design and my all-in-one 'Infinity' digital marketing suite. Because if you don't get it down, you'll forget it. Trust me.
Location, Location, Location
Since I'm based in lovely Bicester, Oxfordshire, UK, I made sure to cluster my keyword ideas around this area. There is no point in ruling the digital world if you can't be the king or queen of your own backyard, am I right?
In a Nutshell
So here's how it went down: I used free trials and affordable tools. I banged out a massive list of potential keywords, focusing on my services and location. And I didn't let Google's stinginess or pricey tools throw me off my game.
Quick Keypoints Recap:
- Free trials are your friend; don't splurge on expensive tools unless you have to.
- Google's not handing out freebies, so learn to work around it.
- Brainstorm like a madman (or madwoman); the more ideas, the better.
- Factor in your location; it's as crucial as what you offer.
So, what's next? You might be wondering how I will sift through this mountain of keywords. Well, that's a story for another day.
Catch you later! 🚀
Andrew
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