1. What Are Keywords? (Simple Explanation)

Keywords are simply the words and phrases that people type into Google when they're looking for something online.

Think of it this way: If you wanted to find a pizza restaurant nearby, you might type "pizza delivery near me" into Google. That phrase is a keyword.

Why keywords are important for your website:

• They help Google understand what your page is about
• They connect people searching for something with your website
• They help you get free traffic from Google
• They tell you what people are actually looking for

Keywords can be single words, but usually they're phrases of 2-5 words. The longer the phrase, the more specific it is about what someone wants.

2. Why Keywords Matter for Your Website

Keywords are like a bridge that connects people searching for something with your website. Without the right keywords, your website might be invisible to people who would love what you offer.

Here's why keywords are so important:

• Free Traffic: The right keywords can bring thousands of visitors to your website for free
• Targeted Visitors: People who find you through specific keywords are usually interested in exactly what you offer
• Better than Advertising: Keyword traffic is free and often more trusted than ads
• Understand Your Customers: Keywords tell you what language your customers use and what problems they have

How keywords help different parts of your website:

• Blog Posts: Help you write about topics people actually want to read
• Product Pages: Help customers find your specific products
• Service Pages: Help people find the services you offer
• Landing Pages: Help you create pages that convert visitors into customers

Without good keyword research, you're basically guessing what content to create. With good keyword research, you know exactly what people are searching for and can create content that matches their needs.

3. How Search Engines Use Keywords

Understanding how Google and other search engines use keywords will help you create better content. Here's the simple version of what happens when someone searches:

The Search Process Step by Step:

• Step 1: Someone types words into Google (like "easy dinner recipes")
• Step 2: Google looks at all the words and tries to understand what the person wants
• Step 3: Google checks its huge database of websites to find pages that match
• Step 4: Google shows the best matching results on the first page

How Google decides which pages to show:

• Relevance: Does the page content match what the person is looking for?
• Quality: Is the content helpful, well-written, and trustworthy?
• User Experience: Is the website fast, easy to use, and mobile-friendly?
• Popularity: Do other people find this content useful?

Where to put keywords on your pages:

• Page Titles: The most important place - include your main keyword here
• Headings: Use keywords in your H1, H2, and H3 headings
• Content: Naturally include keywords throughout your text
• URLs: Have clean URLs that include your keyword
• Image Descriptions: Describe your images using relevant keywords

What Google wants to see:

• Content that actually answers the searcher's question
• Pages that load quickly and work well on phones
• Websites that are easy to navigate
• Content that's better than other pages on the same topic

4. Different Types of Keywords

Not all keywords are the same. Understanding the different types will help you choose the right ones for your website.

By Length:

• Short Keywords: 1-2 words (like "shoes" or "pizza")
  • Lots of people search for these
  • Very hard to rank for (lots of competition)
  • People might not be sure what they want
• Long Keywords: 3+ words (like "comfortable running shoes for women")
  • Fewer people search for these
  • Easier to rank for (less competition)
  • People know exactly what they want

By What People Want:

• Information Keywords: People looking for answers (like "how to fix a leaky faucet")
• Commercial Keywords: People researching before buying (like "best vacuum cleaner 2024")
• Transaction Keywords: People ready to buy (like "buy iPhone 15 online")
• Navigation Keywords: People looking for a specific website (like "Facebook login")

By How Hard They Are to Rank For:

• Easy Keywords: Few other websites are trying to rank for these
• Medium Keywords: Some competition, but possible to rank for
• Hard Keywords: Lots of big websites already ranking for these

Special Types of Keywords:

• Question Keywords: Start with who, what, when, where, why, how
• Local Keywords: Include your city or area (like "dentist in Chicago")
• Brand Keywords: Include your business name or product names

5. Understanding Keyword Numbers

When you research keywords, you'll see different numbers. Here's what they mean in simple terms:

Other Important Numbers:

• Trend Data: Shows if a keyword is getting more or less popular over time
• Click-Through Rate (CTR): What percentage of people click your result when they see it
• Seasonal Trends: Some keywords are popular only at certain times of year

Beginners Should Focus On:

• Keywords with 100-1,000 monthly searches
• Difficulty score under 30
• Keywords that match what your website offers
• Keywords that real people would actually search for

6. How to Find Good Keywords

Finding the right keywords doesn't have to be complicated. Follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Know Your Business and Customers

• What products or services do you offer?
• What problems do you solve for people?
• Who are your ideal customers?
• What words would they use to find you?

Step 2: Brainstorm Starting Words

• Write down 5-10 main words related to your business
• Think like your customer, not like a business owner
• Include different types of words (products, services, problems, solutions)

Step 3: Find More Keyword Ideas

• Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner
• Check what comes up when you type your words into Google
• Look at "People also ask" sections in Google results
• See what keywords your competitors are using

Step 4: Look at the Numbers

• Check search volume for each keyword
• Look at difficulty scores
• Find keywords with good volume and low difficulty
• Group similar keywords together

Step 5: Make a Plan

• Create a list of your best keywords
• Decide which pages will target which keywords
• Plan your content around these keywords
• Start with the easiest keywords first

Simple Research Method:

1. Type your main word into Google
2. Write down the suggestions that pop up
3. Scroll to the bottom and check "Related searches"
4. Look at the "People also ask" boxes
5. Repeat with different related words

7. Using Keywords on Your Website

Finding good keywords is only half the battle. You need to use them properly on your website.

Where to Put Keywords:

• Page Titles: The most important place - include your main keyword near the beginning
• Headings: Use keywords in your H1, H2, and H3 headings
• First Paragraph: Include your main keyword in the first 100 words
• Throughout Content: Use keywords naturally as you write
• URLs: Keep URLs short and include your keyword
• Image Descriptions: Describe images using relevant keywords

How to Write Good Content with Keywords:

• Write naturally - don't force keywords in
• Focus on helping the reader, not just using keywords
• Use related words and synonyms (Google understands these)
• Make your content better than other pages on the same topic
• Answer the question completely

How Often to Use Keywords:

• Use your main keyword 3-5 times in a 1000-word article
• Use related keywords naturally throughout
• Don't repeat the same keyword too many times
• Write for people first, search engines second

Advanced Tips for Better Results:

• Create content that answers multiple related questions
• Link between your related pages
• Update old content with new keyword opportunities
• Create content for different stages of the customer journey

8. Common Keyword Mistakes to Avoid

Many beginners make these common mistakes. Avoid them to get better results faster.

Mistake 1: Targeting Only Popular Keywords

• Problem: Only going for keywords with high search volume
• Why It's Bad: These are super competitive and hard to rank for
• Solution: Mix popular keywords with easier, long-tail keywords

Mistake 2: Keyword Stuffing

• Problem: Using the same keyword too many times
• Why It's Bad: Makes content sound unnatural and can hurt rankings
• Solution: Use keywords naturally and focus on writing good content

Mistake 3: Ignoring User Intent

• Problem: Creating content that doesn't match what searchers want
• Why It's Bad: People leave quickly, which tells Google your content isn't helpful
• Solution: Understand what people really want when they search for a keyword

Mistake 4: Not Updating Old Content

• Problem: Creating content once and never improving it
• Why It's Bad: Content becomes outdated and rankings drop
• Solution: Regularly update and improve your existing content

Mistake 5: Copying Competitors Exactly

• Problem: Using the same keywords as competitors without adding value
• Why It's Bad: Your content doesn't stand out
• Solution: Learn from competitors but make your content better

Quick Checklist for Good Keywords:

• ✓ Real people would actually search for this
• ✓ Matches what your website offers
• ✓ Has decent search volume (100+ monthly)
• ✓ Low competition (difficulty under 30)
• ✓ You can create better content than what's currently ranking