How To Find The Best Keywords To Boost Your Website Traffic
Getting people to visit your website is not only about publishing more articles. You also need to know what people are searching for and create content that matches those searches.
This is where keyword research comes in. The right keywords can help your articles appear when people search on Google for information related to your website.
However, choosing keywords simply because they have a high search volume can be a mistake. A keyword may attract thousands of searches but be extremely difficult to rank for, especially if your website is still growing.
The better approach is to find relevant keywords that people are searching for and that your website has a realistic chance of ranking for.
What Are Keywords?
Keywords are the words or phrases people enter into search engines when looking for information.
For example, someone who wants to learn how to make their Android phone faster may search for “how to speed up an Android phone”. That phrase can be used as a keyword when creating a relevant article.
Keywords can be short or long. Short keywords such as “Android phones” are usually broad, while longer keywords such as “how to free up storage on an Android phone” are more specific.
For many smaller websites, specific keywords can be easier to target because they usually have a clearer search intent.
Start With Your Main Topic
Before opening any keyword research tool, start with the subject you want to write about.
Think about what your readers need help with and the questions they are likely to ask.
For example, if you run a technology website, your topics could include Android phones, mobile data, smartphone batteries, apps and phone troubleshooting.
If your topic is smartphone batteries, possible keyword ideas could include:
- Why phone battery drains fast
- How to improve phone battery life
- How to check battery health on Android
- Why a phone gets hot while charging
These ideas give you a starting point for deeper keyword research.
Use Google To Find Keyword Ideas
Google can be one of the simplest places to find keyword ideas.
Type your main topic into Google and pay attention to the suggestions that appear as you type. These suggestions can reveal searches related to the topic.
After searching, also check the “People also ask” section. It can show questions people commonly ask about the same subject.
At the bottom of the search results, Google may also display related searches. These can provide additional ideas for articles or sections within an existing article.
Look For Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific search phrases.
For example, “phone battery” is a broad keyword, while “why does my phone battery drain overnight” is much more specific.
A person searching for the second phrase already has a particular problem they want to solve. Creating an article that directly addresses that problem can make your content more relevant to the search.
Long-tail keywords are particularly useful when building a new website because you do not always need to compete directly with large websites targeting very broad terms.
Check The Competition
Before choosing a keyword, search for it on Google.
Look at the pages appearing in the results and consider whether your website can create something useful enough to compete with them.
Check what the existing articles cover, how detailed they are and whether there are important questions they have not answered.
If the first page is dominated by major websites and highly established pages, ranking for that keyword may require considerably more effort.
This does not mean you should completely avoid competitive keywords. Instead, look for more specific variations where you can provide genuinely useful information.
Understand Search Intent
Search intent is what someone actually wants when they enter a search query.
Someone searching for “best Android phones under ₦300,000” is likely looking for recommendations, while someone searching for “how to check Android version” wants a guide.
Your article should match the reason behind the search.
If the search requires a step-by-step guide, provide clear steps. If people are comparing products, make the differences easy to understand. If they want current information, make sure the information is accurate and up to date.
A keyword may look attractive, but if your article does not satisfy the search intent, it may struggle to perform well.
Use Keyword Research Tools
Keyword research tools can help you find additional search terms and understand how competitive they are.
Depending on the tool, you may see information such as estimated search volume, keyword difficulty and related keywords.
Do not focus only on the keyword with the biggest number.
A keyword with lower search volume can still be valuable if it is highly relevant to your audience and easier for your website to target.
The best keyword is usually one that fits your content, has genuine search interest and gives you a reasonable opportunity to compete.
Check Google Search Console
If your website is already receiving Google traffic, Google Search Console can provide some of the most useful keyword information.
The Performance report shows the search queries for which your pages are appearing in Google Search.
You may discover that an article is already receiving impressions for keywords you did not deliberately target.
These queries can give you ideas for improving the article or creating another article that answers the search more directly.
For example, an article about Android battery problems may start appearing for searches about battery health, overheating and overnight battery drain. Those searches can reveal additional content opportunities.
Choose One Main Keyword For Each Article
Once you have researched your keywords, choose a main keyword that closely matches the subject of the article.
You can then include related keywords naturally where they make sense.
For example, an article targeting “how to check battery health on Android” can naturally discuss battery condition, battery health, charging habits and battery usage.
There is no need to repeat the exact keyword in every paragraph.
Avoid Keyword Stuffing
One of the common mistakes bloggers make is trying to force keywords into their articles.
Repeating the same phrase excessively can make the content difficult to read and can make it look unnatural.
Instead, write for the reader first. Use the main keyword naturally in important areas such as the title, introduction and relevant headings, then use related terms where appropriate.
Google needs to understand your content, but your readers should still find it natural and easy to read.
Use Keywords In The Right Places
After choosing your main keyword, use it naturally throughout the page.
Depending on the article, relevant places can include the title, URL, introduction, headings and body content.
Your images can also have descriptive file names and appropriate alt text when relevant.
The goal is not to put the keyword everywhere. It is to make it clear what the page is about while keeping the article useful and easy to read.
Create Better Content Than What Already Exists
Keyword research alone will not bring traffic.
After finding a keyword, look at what people currently see when they search for it. Then create an article that properly answers the question.
Add useful details, examples, updated information and practical steps where necessary.
Avoid adding unnecessary information simply to make an article longer. A shorter article that answers the reader's question properly can be more useful than a long article filled with repetition.
Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing Keywords
There are several mistakes that can make keyword research less effective.
Choosing keywords that have nothing to do with your website can attract the wrong visitors. Targeting extremely broad keywords can also make it difficult for a smaller website to compete.
Another mistake is choosing keywords based only on search volume. Search volume does not tell you whether the people searching for that phrase are actually interested in what your website offers.
You should also avoid creating several articles that target almost exactly the same keyword. This can make your content unnecessarily repetitive.
Keep Improving Your Keyword Strategy
Keyword research should not end after publishing an article.
Check how your pages perform over time and look at the searches bringing impressions and clicks to your website.
If an article is appearing for useful searches but not getting many clicks, you may need to improve its title or meta description.
If Google is showing the article for related searches that are not properly covered, you can update the content to answer those queries where relevant.
This allows your keyword strategy to develop based on what people are actually searching for.
