How to Do Keyword Research for Your Blog Post: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
- Lowri
- Mar 4
- 8 min read
Keyword research is one of the most essential elements of blogging. Without it, your blog could remain invisible, and all your efforts could go to waste.
By identifying the right keywords to target, you can significantly increase your blog’s visibility, drive organic traffic, and connect with the right audience.
Around 80% of blogs will likely fail within 18 months. Therefore, it's essential to learn how to grow your blog sustainably.
In this step-by-step guide, I’ll walk you through the basics of keyword research. Whether you're just starting your blog or looking to refine your strategy, these actionable steps will help you get on the right track.
Step 1: Understand the Basics of Keyword Research
What is Keyword Research?
Keyword research identifies the search terms and phrases that people type into search engines like Google.
In simple words, whatever users type into Google can be a search term or keyword.
‘’How to make a crafting table in Minecraft”
“Why is the sky blue?”
“Flights to Perth”
All the above are examples of keywords that users search for in Google or any other search engine.
These terms are what you’ll optimise your blog content around to ensure your posts appear in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Why Keyword Research is Essential for Blogs
When you understand which keywords your audience is searching for, you can create content tailored to their needs.
Even the most well-written blog post can go unnoticed without proper keyword research.
Targeting the right keywords increases your chances of ranking higher in search results, driving more traffic to your blog.
Step 2: Define Your Blog’s Niche and Target Audience
Narrow Down Your Niche
Before diving into keyword research, narrowing down your blog’s niche is essential.
Are you writing about fitness, food, technology, or travel?
The more specific your niche, your blog will likely stand out and attract a targeted audience.
Understand Your Audience’s Needs
To effectively research keywords, you need to know your audience.
What are their pain points? What questions do they have?
Consider your ideal readers and what they might search for when looking for solutions related to your blog's topic.
This understanding will guide your keyword choices and help ensure you answer the right questions.
Have a look at the ‘people also ask’ to see what questions users are looking for related to your search.
Also have a look at the bottom of your search to find other terms related to your target audiences search.
Lastly have a look on Reddit and see what kinds of questions and information for pain points your target audience are looking for.
Step 3: Brainstorm Seed Keywords
What Are Seed Keywords?
Seed keywords are the starting point for your keyword research. They are broad terms related to your blog's niche that give you a foundation for finding more specific keywords.
For example, if your blog is about fitness, some seed keywords could include “exercise,” “weight loss,” or “nutrition.”
How to Brainstorm Seed Keywords
To brainstorm seed keywords:
Start by writing down a list of words that define your niche.
Use Google Autosuggest, which shows popular search queries as you type in the search bar.
Try tools like Answer The Public to find questions people are asking related to your niche.
Example: If you run a fitness blog, you might start with seed keywords like “home workouts,” “weight loss tips,” or “muscle-building exercises.”
Step 4: Use Keyword Research Tools
Introduction to Keyword Research Tools
There are plenty of keyword research tools available that can help you discover valuable keywords.
Some are free, while others are paid with more advanced features. Here are some great tools to get you started:
Google Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account)
Ubersuggest (free and paid versions)
Ahrefs (paid tool with advanced keyword analysis)
SEMrush (paid, all-in-one SEO tool)
Below is an example of using Semrush to find keywords. In this example we have searched for ‘home workouts’ and a list of keywords surfaces listed by monthly search volume.
On the left, we can see there is a list of related keywords that are categorised.
How to Use Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a fantastic free tool to help you find keyword ideas. Here’s how to use it:
Log into your Google Ads account (or create one for free).
Navigate to the Keyword Planner under "Tools and Settings."
Enter a seed keyword, and Google will list related keywords, search volume, and competition level.
For example, entering the seed keyword "home workouts" might show related terms like "at-home workouts
for beginners," "bodyweight exercises," or "best workout for weight loss."
Step 5: Analyse Keyword Metrics
Search Volume
Search volume indicates how many times a keyword is searched per month. It’s a good measure of how popular a keyword is.
Targeting keywords with a high search volume means more potential traffic, but it also often means more competition.
Keyword Difficulty (Competition)
Keyword difficulty refers to how competitive a keyword is—meaning how difficult it would be for you to rank for it.
Many tools, like Ahrefs and SEMrush, assign a difficulty score to each keyword.
Search Intent
Search intent is the reason behind a user’s search. There are four types of search intent:
Informational: The user is looking for information (e.g., “how to lose weight”).
Navigational: The user is looking for a specific website (e.g., “Facebook login”).
Transactional: The user is looking to make a purchase (e.g., “buy running shoes”).
Commercial: The user is looking to research before making a purchase (e.g., “best laptops 2025”).
Understanding search intent ensures you target keywords that match your audience’s needs.
Step 6: Choose Long-Tail Keywords
What Are Long-Tail Keywords?
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that often have lower search volume but are easier to rank for.
For example, “best home workout for beginners” is a long-tail keyword compared to just “home workouts.”
Why Long-Tail Keywords Are Better for Beginners
Long-tail keywords tend to be less competitive, which makes it easier for new blogs to rank higher in search results.
They also often have more targeted search intent, meaning they’re more likely to bring in engaged readers.
Finding Long-Tail Keywords
You can find long-tail keywords using the same tools as for regular keywords. Google’s “related searches” section and tools like Ubersuggest or Answer The Public are great places to find these specific queries.
Step 7: Organise Your Keywords and Create a Keyword List
Creating a Keyword List
Once you’ve gathered a list of potential keywords, organise them into categories. You might group them by topic (e.g., “workouts,” “nutrition,” “weight loss”) or by search intent (informational, transactional, etc.).
Keyword Mapping
Keyword mapping is assigning specific keywords to different blog posts or pages on your site.
For example, assign the keywords “best bodyweight exercises for weight loss” to a blog post about home workouts and “top protein supplements for muscle gain” to a post about nutrition.
Its a good idea to plan out keyword pillars using maps.
Step 8: Integrate Keywords into Your Blog Content
Where to Place Keywords in Your Content
Once you have your list of targeted keywords, you need to place them strategically throughout your content:
Title: Include your main keyword in the title for better ranking.
Headings: Use keywords in H1, H2, and H3 headings.
Body Content: Naturally integrate keywords into your content without overstuffing.
Meta Descriptions: Write clear, concise meta descriptions that include your target keyword.
Avoiding Keyword Stuffing
Keyword stuffing is the practice of overloading a page with keywords in an unnatural way. Instead, focus on creating high-quality, readable content that includes keywords naturally.
Using Related Terms
Using synonyms or related terms helps Google understand the context of your content and reduces over-optimization. For example, instead of repeating “weight loss,” use terms like “fat loss,” “losing weight,” or “shed pounds.”
Step 9: Monitor and Adjust Your Keyword Strategy
Tracking Keyword Performance
Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor your rankings and traffic for specific keywords. These tools will help you see which keywords drive traffic to your site and how well your content performs.
Refining Your Strategy
Keyword research isn’t a one-time task. As you monitor performance, you may find that some keywords are underperforming. Use this data to refine your strategy by targeting other keywords or improving the content on existing posts.
We hope this blog covered how to do keyword research for your blog post
Keyword research is a crucial part of growing your blog and driving traffic.
By following the steps outlined above, you’ll be able to find the right keywords, create content that resonates with your audience, and improve your blog’s SEO.
Start implementing these steps today, and remember that keyword research is an ongoing process.
With patience and consistent effort, you’ll see your blog climb the search rankings and attract the audience it deserves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does it take to see results from keyword research?
The time it takes to see results from keyword research largely depends on several factors, such as the competitiveness of the keywords you target, the quality of your content, and how well you implement SEO best practices.
Generally, if you're targeting long-tail keywords with lower competition, you may see some results in as little as 3–6 months. However, highly competitive keywords may take 6–12 months or longer to rank and see consistent organic traffic.
Remember that SEO is a long-term strategy, and it takes time for search engines to crawl and index your content, assess its relevance, and reward you with higher rankings. The key is to be patient and consistently optimise your content while monitoring performance.
Can I target more than one keyword in a blog post?
Yes, absolutely. It's often a good idea to target multiple related keywords in a single blog post. This can help you rank for a variety of search queries that are relevant to your content. Here’s how to approach it:
Primary Keyword: This should be the main focus of the post, and it should be included in key areas like the title, headers, and throughout the body content.
Secondary Keywords: These are related or long-tail keywords that complement the primary keyword. You can naturally incorporate them in the text, meta description, and image alt texts.
LSI Keywords (Latent Semantic Indexing): These words are semantically related to your primary keyword. Using them helps search engines understand the context and relevance of your content, which may improve your chances of ranking for various search queries.
Pro Tip: Be sure to use these additional keywords in a natural, reader-friendly way. Avoid “keyword stuffing,” which can negatively impact your rankings.
Is it okay to use exact-match keywords?
While using exact-match keywords is okay, you should be cautious and avoid overusing them. Exact-match keywords refer to when you use the exact phrase someone is searching for (e.g., "best running shoes for women"). In the past, search engines relied heavily on exact matches, but now they focus more on user experience and content relevance.
Here’s how to use exact-match keywords effectively:
Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Don't cram exact-match keywords into your content unnaturally. It should always read smoothly and provide value to the reader.
Context Matters: Google is more intelligent than ever and can understand the context of your content. If you’re targeting an exact-match keyword, make sure the content surrounding it makes sense and fulfills the search intent of the user.
Synonyms and Variations: It’s important to use variations of your exact-match keyword (such as plural forms or synonyms) to make your content sound natural and to avoid being penalised for over-optimization.
Using exact-match keywords sparingly, along with related terms, will help ensure that your content is optimised for both search engines and readers.
