Episode Summary: Ep 199 – 5 Things to Consider When Doing Keyword Research for Optimum SEO

Podcast: Simple SEO and Marketing: Business Growth, Organic Marketing, Copywriting, Online Business, Blogging, Content Creation
Host: Faith Hanan, Marketing Strategist, Copywriter, Christian Business Coach, Barrel Racer
Release Date: October 31, 2024

In Episode 199 of Simple SEO and Marketing, Faith Hanan delves deep into the essential elements of keyword research, a foundational component of any successful SEO strategy. Building upon her mini-series on keyword research, this episode outlines five critical factors entrepreneurs should consider to optimize their SEO efforts effectively.

1. Search Volume: Understanding Keyword Popularity

Faith emphasizes the importance of evaluating how often a keyword or phrase is searched, referring to it as the "size of the keyword." She explains:

Faith Hanan [04:30]: "If something is only searched five times a month, right, like it's not worth your time and effort versus something that is searched 500 or 5,000 or 50,000 times a month."

Understanding search volume ensures that your SEO strategy targets keywords that have substantial search activity, aligning your content with what potential customers are actively seeking.

2. Keyword Difficulty: Assessing Competition

The second consideration focuses on the difficulty of ranking for a chosen keyword. Faith advises:

Faith Hanan [15:45]: "How many people are going for that keyword? How difficult it is, is it to rank for that keyword?"

She recommends using SEO tools to gauge keyword difficulty but also encourages leveraging personal insight to evaluate the competitiveness. By analyzing the number and strength of competitors targeting the same keyword, entrepreneurs can make informed decisions about which keywords to pursue.

3. Analyzing Top Competitors: Who's Currently Ranking?

Faith stresses the importance of examining who ranks at the top for your chosen keywords. She states:

Faith Hanan [22:10]: "If all top 10 spots are filled with big brands like Forbes or Harvard, don't try to go for it."

Recognizing whether established brands dominate the search results helps determine the feasibility of ranking for specific keywords. If industry giants are prevalent, it might be more strategic to target less competitive keywords where your business can more easily establish authority.

4. Evaluating Competitors' SEO Street Cred: Backlinks and Social Shares

The fourth factor involves assessing the "SEO street cred" of top-ranking competitors. Faith explains:

Faith Hanan [29:55]: "Do they have a bunch of backlinks? Do they have a bunch of social shares?"

By analyzing competitors' backlink profiles and social engagement, entrepreneurs can gauge the effort required to compete. Tools like Ubersuggest's keyword gap feature can help identify areas where competitors excel, allowing you to tailor your SEO strategies to bridge these gaps.

5. Content Feasibility: Can You Create Authentic Content?

The final and arguably most crucial consideration is whether you can realistically and authentically create content around the selected keyword. Faith advises:

Faith Hanan [37:20]: "Can you realistically and authentically create content around that keyword? If you can, then it makes it onto my list."

Authentic content creation ensures that your business provides genuine value and expertise, fostering trust and authority in your niche. Faith encourages developing comprehensive, high-quality content that showcases your knowledge and meets the search intent of your audience.

Key Insights and Takeaways

• Foundation of SEO: Keyword research is the cornerstone of an effective SEO strategy. Skipping this step can undermine all subsequent SEO efforts.

• Balanced Approach: Combining data-driven insights from SEO tools with personal analysis provides a balanced approach to keyword selection.

• Competitive Analysis: Understanding your competitors' strengths and strategies allows you to position your content more strategically.

• Authenticity Matters: Creating content that reflects your expertise and genuinely serves your audience's needs is essential for long-term SEO success.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Faith wraps up the episode by reiterating the significance of thorough keyword research and encourages listeners to implement the five considerations discussed. She also promotes her upcoming live training session, offering actionable strategies to significantly boost website traffic through effective SEO practices.

Faith Hanan [50:00]: "These are the things that have worked with client after client after student after student. Straight, simple, real, actionable advice for the everyday entrepreneur."

For entrepreneurs seeking to enhance their SEO strategy, incorporating these five considerations into keyword research can lead to substantial improvements in website traffic and lead generation. Faith's practical advice empowers business owners to make informed decisions, optimize their online presence, and ultimately grow their businesses sustainably.

Notable Quotes:

• Introduction to Keyword Research Importance
  Faith Hanan [09:15]: "Keyword research is the foundation of your great SEO strategy. So if you don't do it right, you're kind of shooting yourself in the foot."

• Assessing Keyword Match with Search Behavior
  Faith Hanan [12:40]: "Don't make Google work harder than it has to or make your people work harder than they have to to find you."

• Evaluating Content Creation Capabilities
  Faith Hanan [37:20]: "If you can honestly bring the heat, bring some value about that keyword and create some content around it, then yeah, I'm probably going to tell you, let's make a plan to go for it."

By following Faith Hanan's expert guidance on keyword research, entrepreneurs can lay a robust foundation for their SEO strategies, driving more organic traffic and generating high-converting leads for their businesses.