3 Simple and Effective Keyword Research Tips - Copyblogger

Keyword research is always a hot topic in content marketing circles.

It’s one of those subjects that never goes out of style — because wise content marketers know that using the right words in their content will give them a big edge over their competition.

Wondering how to find the “right” words to optimize your business’s content? Here are three quick tips for solid keyword research.

My friend Shawn, whose company Clear Harmonies creates custom a cappella arrangements for vocal groups, learned an interesting marketing lesson after performing some focused keyword research and talking to his customers.

He thought that his prospects searched for the term “a cappella arrangements” when they looked for arrangement services online. But he discovered they actually searched for the term “a cappella sheet music” much more often.

Shawn’s story illustrates why it’s important that you discover the actual language your potential customers use when they search for information about your topic (or look for vendors who provide your services).

In addition to online keyword research tools, you can also:

Great copywriters thoroughly research their topics before they start writing projects.

You need to do the same thing with your keyword research. Read the articles your prospects read and study the language the authors use.

Find out which social media platforms your customers prefer and hang out on those sites. Watch for discussions where people ask questions or debate each other.

Popular videos, webinars, and podcasts in your niche are other resources. You can even review social media ads that target your ideal customer.

This technique will not only enhance your keyword research process, it will also ensure that you’ll never run out of content ideas!

Search terms are always evolving and the way your customer speaks about your topic will change over time, too.

To incorporate keyword research into your content marketing routine:

By discovering the language your customers already use, consuming the content that’s popular with your audience, and cultivating consistent research habits, you keep keyword research at the top of your business’s priority list.

Which is smart, because keyword research doesn’t only help you rank higher in search engines, it can also give you an endless supply of content topics and product ideas.

How has keyword research helped you optimize your content? What are your favorite tips? Share in the comments below.