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Tjibby Blog/Content Marketing/Keyword research: How to find top-notch keywords that are super easy to rank.

Keyword research: How to find top-notch keywords that are super easy to rank.

Tuesday, April 04, 2023

Hey there, fellow small business owners and marketers! Sarah here, brewing up a hot cup of keyword knowledge just for you. You know how much I love coffee, but today I'm extra excited to spill the beans on a different kind of grind – keyword research. You might think it's about as thrilling as watching paint dry, but trust me, once you unlock the secrets to finding valuable keywords, it's as exhilarating as the plot twist in a heart-pounding thriller novel.

Imagine trying to tell a joke without knowing the punchline. It's like writing a blog without doing keyword research first – you're missing the essential ingredient that makes your content connect with your audience. So, buckle up, because we're about to embark on a rollercoaster ride through the world of keyword research, making it as easy as child's play to find those hidden gems that will catapult your content to the top of the search engine rankings.

Stay tuned as we dive into our step-by-step playbook on how to research keywords, exploring secret techniques and clever tricks that will help you uncover the most valuable keywords for your business. Be warned, though, this isn't your grandma's keyword research guide – we're about to take you on a whirlwind adventure that'll leave you grinning from ear to ear!

Why is it important to conduct keyword research before even writing your blog?

I know what you're thinking: "Keyword research? Before even writing my blog? Sarah, are you kidding me?" But hear me out, because this is serious stuff. Just like you wouldn't wander into a haunted house without a flashlight (or in my case, without running away from the neighbor's cat), you shouldn't dive into writing a blog post without doing some keyword research first. Here's why:

  • Know Your Audience: Keyword research is like reading the minds of your target audience. It helps you understand what they're searching for, the words they use, and the questions they need answers to. This way, you can create content that truly speaks to them and addresses their needs.
  • ​Rank Higher in Search Results: Let's face it, we all want to be the belle of the SEO ball. When you know which keywords your audience is searching for, you can optimize your content to rank higher in search engine results. It's like planting a flag on the top of Google Mountain – the view from up there is fantastic!
  • Outsmart Your Competitors: In the battle for online visibility, keyword research is your secret weapon. By targeting those valuable, low-competition keywords, you'll swoop in like a stealthy ninja and snatch up traffic that your competitors didn't even know was there.
  • Make the Most of Your Time and Effort: Let's say you pour your heart and soul into a blog post, only to find out later that nobody's searching for the topic. Ouch! That's like spending hours perfecting a pun-filled joke, only to have it fall flat. Keyword research helps you focus your time and effort on topics that people are actually interested in, ensuring that your hard work doesn't go to waste.
  • Boost Your Content Strategy: By understanding what keywords are in demand and which ones have less competition, you can plan a content strategy that hits all the right notes. It's like composing a symphony of blog posts, each one harmoniously building upon the others to create a crescendo of traffic and engagement.
  • Measure Your Success: If you don't know which keywords you're targeting, how can you tell if your content is hitting the mark? Keyword research helps you set clear goals and track your progress, allowing you to celebrate your victories and learn from your missteps.

In summary, conducting keyword research before writing your blog is like putting together a puzzle. By identifying the right pieces, you can create a complete picture that captures the attention of your audience, ranks well in search engines, and ultimately, helps your business thrive. So let's dive into the nitty-gritty of how to research keywords and start assembling that masterpiece!

The Preparation Play

Alright, my fellow keyword adventurers, before we embark on this epic quest, we need to gather our trusty tools. Fear not, for I have crafted a magical spreadsheet to help us organize our findings and make sense of the keyword chaos. Click here to open the enchanted document.

Remember, you'll need to make a copy of it to your own Google Drive to wield its full power (i.e., to edit and customize it to your heart's content).

Keyword research Google sheets

Now that you have your very own copy of the spreadsheet, it's time to brainstorm some topics. Think of these topics as the seeds from which your keyword garden will grow. To help you come up with ideas, here are some tips for finding topics to research based on the niche you're working in:

  • ​Identify Your Target Audience's Pain Points: Put yourself in your audience's shoes and think about their struggles, questions, or concerns. What keeps them up at night (besides a strong cup of coffee or a terrifying cat encounter, of course)?
  • Explore Industry Trends and News: Stay in the know by following industry leaders, reading news articles, and subscribing to relevant newsletters. Look for emerging trends, hot topics, or recent developments that your audience might be interested in.
  • Check Out Competitor Content:: Take a peek at what your competitors are writing about, but remember, we're not here to copy – we're here to innovate! Use their content as a springboard for your own unique ideas.
  • ​Use Social Media: Browse through your target audience's favorite social media platforms, online communities, or forums. Keep an eye out for common questions, discussions, or themes that could inspire a new topic.
  • Harness the Power of Analytics: Dive into your website or social media analytics to see which content pieces have performed well in the past. This can help you identify topics that resonate with your audience and generate more ideas along those lines.
  • Listen to Your Audience: Don't be afraid to ask your audience directly what they'd like to read about. Reach out through social media, email, or even in-person events to gather insights and ideas.

Once you've generated a list of topics, it's time to add them to the "Topic Bucket" tab in the spreadsheet. This will serve as your starting point for our keyword research journey. Now, with your topics in hand and your trusty spreadsheet by your side, you're ready to tackle the plays that will guide you to keyword gold. Let's do this!

Topic bucket

Play 1.1: Answers The Public

Our first stop on this keyword treasure hunt is a mystical realm known as "Answer the Public." This magical tool helps you discover the questions your audience is asking, which in turn will help you unearth valuable keywords. Here's how to wield its power:

Answers The Public
  • Head over to AnswerThePublic.com.
  • Enter one of your topics from the "Topic Bucket" into the search bar.
  • ​Select the appropriate language and region, and then click "Search."
  • Behold the magnificent keyword constellation that appears before your eyes!

You'll see questions, prepositions, comparisons, and more, all based on your chosen topic. These can serve as excellent starting points for discovering valuable keywords and even inspire new content ideas.

Keyword questions

But beware, dear adventurer, for the free version of Answer the Public has a daily limit on search queries. If you're not prepared to part with some gold coins for the Pro version, be strategic in your approach. Start with the topics you're most curious about or believe to have the highest potential for keyword riches.

Once you've gathered your bounty of questions, add them to the "yellow section" of the topic on your enchanted spreadsheet. Then, dust off your boots and get ready to venture forth to our next destination, where we'll continue our quest for keyword gold!

Topic yellow section

Play 1.2: Quora Madness

Our journey now leads us to the bustling marketplace of knowledge known as Quora. This lively hub of questions and answers can provide a wealth of insights into the topics your audience cares about. Here's how to navigate the Quora madness:

Quora
  • Visit Quora.com and sign up or log in.
  • In the search bar, enter one of your topics from the "Topic Bucket."
  • ​Explore the questions that appear, paying attention to those with a high number of followers or upvotes. These are likely to be popular, relevant queries in your niche.
  • Jot down any questions that could lead to valuable keywords or content ideas.

Once you've gathered a list of intriguing questions from Quora, add them to the "yellow" section in your magical spreadsheet, alongside the gems you've collected from Answer the Public.

With two powerful plays already under your belt, it's time to venture into the depths of the internet's favorite rabbit hole: Reddit. Are you ready? Let's go!

Play 1.3: Did You Use Reddit?

Ah, Reddit – a virtual treasure trove of information, conversation, and the occasional cat picture (which I avoid like the plague, of course). This vast network of online communities, known as subreddits, can be a goldmine for uncovering valuable keywords and understanding the interests of your target audience. So, without further ado, let's dive in:

Reddit
  • Make your way to Reddit.com and create an account or log in.
  • In the search bar, type in one of your topics from the "Topic Bucket."
  • ​Scroll through the search results and keep an eye out for relevant subreddits. These are the specific communities where your target audience is most likely to gather and discuss topics related to your niche.
  • Join a few of these subreddits and spend some time browsing through the posts and comments. Look for common questions, themes, or discussions that could inspire valuable keywords or content ideas.

Pro tip: Pay special attention to posts with a high number of upvotes or comments, as these are often indicative of hot topics within the community.

Once you've gathered your Reddit-inspired questions and insights, add them to the "Questions" tab in your enchanted spreadsheet. You're now armed with a diverse array of potential keywords, plucked from the depths of the internet's most popular platforms.

But wait – our journey is far from over! It's time to put on our detective hats and examine the data we've collected, as we venture into the realm of data collection and analysis. Onward!

Play 2.1: Collecting Data

With a treasure trove of questions in hand, it's time to put on our data-mining helmets and dig into the numbers. We'll be using the mighty Ubersuggest, a powerful keyword research tool, to gather data on search volume, keyword difficulty, and LSI keywords. But be cautious, fellow adventurers, the free version of Ubersuggest has its limits. If you seek more extensive data, I recommend the enchanted tool, KWfinder.

Now, let's begin our data collection quest with Ubersuggest:

  • ​Venture forth to Ubersuggest.com and sign up or log in.
  • ​Enter one of the questions from your "KW" column into the search bar.
  • ​Behold the wealth of information that appears! You'll find search volume (how many times the keyword is searched per month), keyword difficulty (how hard it is to rank for that keyword), and LSI keywords (related keywords that search engines view as semantically connected).
  • ​Use the filter options to narrow down your results and focus on the most relevant, high-potential keywords.
  • ​Record the search volume, keyword difficulty, and any interesting LSI keywords in your enchanted spreadsheet's "Volume" , "difficulty" & "Secondary Keywords" columns. (You can leave "Content Quality" column  empty for now.)

If you reach the limits of Ubersuggest's free version, consider trying out KWfinder for even more comprehensive data. Simply follow a similar process to gather the information you need.

Once you've gathered your Reddit-inspired questions and insights, add them to the "Questions" tab in your enchanted spreadsheet. You're now armed with a diverse array of potential keywords, plucked from the depths of the internet's most popular platforms.

With your data collection complete, it's time to use your keen eyes and analytical prowess to identify the most valuable keywords in the bunch. Get ready,

Play 2.2: Use Your Own Eyes

Now that we've harnessed the power of magical tools to gather data, it's time to rely on our most trusted ally: our own eyes. By examining the top search results for your chosen keywords, you can gain insights into the quality of the content, areas for improvement, and the level of competition. Grab your trusty magnifying glass, and let's begin our investigation:

1.) Open a new tab in your favorite internet browsing device and head to Google (or your preferred search engine).

2.) Type in one of the potential keywords from your enchanted spreadsheet.

3.) Carefully examine the top-ranking search results. Pay attention to the following:

  • The types of sites that rank high (e.g., authoritative sources, industry blogs, or competitors)
  • The quality of the content (Is it well-written? Informative? Engaging?)
  • ​Any gaps in the content or areas where you believe you could provide more value

4.) Take notes on your findings to determine if it's worth your time and effort to target that particular keyword.  With your data collection complete, it's time to use your keen eyes and analytical prowess to identify the most valuable keywords in the bunch. Get ready, Ask yourself:

  • Can I create higher-quality content than what currently ranks for this keyword?
  • Is the competition too fierce, or do I have a fighting chance to rank well?

Add your notes in the "Content Quality" column of your spreadsheet. 

5.)  Repeat this process for your other potential keywords, adding your notes and observations to the "Analysis" tab in your enchanted spreadsheet.

By using your own eyes and critical thinking skills, you'll be able to make informed decisions about which keywords are worth pursuing and which might be best left to the competition. With this newfound knowledge in hand, it's time to move on to the next stage of our keyword adventure: analysis and combination.

Play 3.1: Analyze

Having gathered data and used our own eyes to evaluate the competition, we now have a wealth of information at our fingertips. It's time to analyze our findings and identify the most valuable keywords to target. Follow these steps to begin your analysis:

  • Review your enchanted spreadsheet, focusing on your finding in the spreadsheets.
  • Look for keywords with a promising combination of high search volume, low keyword difficulty, and strong opportunities for improvement based on your own observations.
  • ​Rank your keywords based on their potential value, taking into consideration their relevance to your niche and business goals.

What is the blogger control base?

The Blogger Control Base 2.0 is a magical Airtable template designed to help bloggers and business owners streamline their entire blog creation process. It generates extensive ChatGPT prompts that create content with a unique voice, allowing users to stand out in the competitive online landscape. In the following plays, we'll be harnessing the power of the Blogger Control Base to turn our valuable keywords into captivating content. If you haven't yet unlocked the wonders of the Blogger Control Base 2.0, fear not! Simply click the link below to embark on this transformative journey:

With the Blogger Control Base 2.0 at your disposal, let's dive into the next plays:

Play 4.1: Submit into BCB

1.) Open the Blogger Control Base Submission Form, your gateway to transforming your keyword ideas into captivating content.

2.) For each of your top-priority keywords, fill out the form with the necessary details:

  • Add your keyword or topic in the designated field.
  • Choose a personality card, mood, and writing style to give your content a unique and engaging voice.
  • ​Provide any extra information, such as insights from your keyword research or content ideas, in the description field. This will help guide the content creation process and ensure it aligns with your vision.

Once you've submitted your keywords and ideas into the Blogger Control Base, you're one step closer to turning your valuable keywords into standout blog posts that will engage your audience and boost your online presence.

Play 4.2: Plan Out

  • Venture to the "Plan a Deadline" view within the Blogger Control Base. Here, you'll find a visual calendar that will help you organize your content creation efforts.
  • Drag each keyword card from the pool of ideas onto the calendar, assigning a deadline to each piece of content. This will ensure you stay on track and maintain a consistent publishing schedule.

Play 4.3: Add the Results

  • Navigate to the "Keyword Research" view within the Blogger Control Base.
  • Click on one of the cards containing your top-priority keywords. A popup window will appear, revealing an input field for your keyword research results.
  • ​Input your findings from your enchanted spreadsheet, including search volume, keyword difficulty, and any relevant LSI keywords or subtopics. This information will serve as a valuable reference as you create content around these keywords.

With your deadlines planned and research results added to the Blogger Control Base, you're well on your way to crafting engaging, high-quality blog posts that will captivate your audience and elevate your online presence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the art of keyword research is an essential skill for any blogger or business owner looking to make a splash in the digital realm. By following this step-by-step playbook, you've learned how to find valuable keywords, analyze their potential, and incorporate them into a strategic content plan. By harnessing the power of tools like Answer the Public, Quora, Reddit, Ubersuggest, KWfinder, and the magical Blogger Control Base 2.0, you've unlocked a world of possibilities for your content creation efforts.

As you embark on your journey to create captivating, engaging blog posts that resonate with your target audience, remember that consistency, creativity, and a keen eye for detail are the keys to success. Keep refining your keyword research skills, stay adaptable, and don't be afraid to take risks. After all, the world of digital marketing is an ever-evolving landscape, and those who dare to explore its depths are destined for greatness. Happy keyword hunting, and may your blog posts be evermore enchanting!

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