Keywords and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) work together to make any SEO marketing campaign successful. Because keywords are the foundation of all other SEO efforts, each item should be highly relevant to the targeted audience and effectively organized for action.

As a marketer, you need to know how users search for your brand as well as your competitors. SEO keywords are the words and phrases inside the website that help it appear on search engines (e.g. Google) when someone searches related to it. This is a delicate process that involves both trial and error.

It is an ongoing and ever-evolving job. Old keywords need to be reevaluated periodically, and high-volume, competitive keywords (or “head” keywords, as opposed to long-tailed keywords) can often be usefully replaced or augmented with longer, more specific phrases to bring in the right visitors.

When done right, SEO keywords can help you rank, sell, and build brand awareness. Here are some strategies to find SEO keywords:

1. Utilize Manual Google Search

When in search for keywords, one of the logical first steps must be a manual Google search. Below are a few techniques to find relevant SEO keywords using this method:

Google’s Autocomplete

Google’s Autocomplete has become a wealth of data for SEO because it predicts words and phrases that users are likely to continue entering.

Featured Snippets

Also known as “Position Zero”, appears at the top of the first search engine results page (SERP). It gives the marketer more information on what the users are specifically concerned about that topic.

‘People Also Ask’

The ‘People Also Ask’ is another great place to find SEO keywords.

Almost the same as Google’s Autocomplete, the ‘People Also Ask’ is a goldmine of long-tail keywords.

Related Searches

The related searches section at the bottom of the SERPs has related keywords users input into the search bar.

2. Use Keyword Research Tools

Aside from guidance on the best keywords, keyword research tools also give the following:

Domain Overview

The Domain Overview shows insight into your competitors’ SEO, content marketing, and social media strategies. This allows you to see what’s working in your niche so you can adapt those strategies for your campaigns.

Top SEO Pages

This feature helps you discover which competitors’ pages rank for particular organic keywords. It also shows which content performs well on social media.

Keyword Ideas

The most useful. All you have to do is type in a seed keyword, and the tool provides a list of head and long-tail keyword suggestions.

Conclusion

Good implementation of SEO keywords – high-intent, low competition keywords, will make your site rank above your competitors.

Which strategy do you think is most effective?