Keyword Research Basics

Keyword research is the process of finding the words and phrases your target audience uses when searching for topics related to your site. The goal is to find keywords that have enough search volume to be worth targeting, but not so much competition that a newer site has no chance of ranking.

Two key metrics to understand are search volume (how many times per month a keyword is searched) and keyword difficulty (how hard it is to rank for that keyword, based on how strong the competing pages are).

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases like "best running shoes for flat feet under $100" rather than just "running shoes." They tend to have lower volume but higher intent and far less competition, making them a smart starting point for newer sites.