Keyword Research Tip: Internet Marketing Research

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Keyword research is one of THE MOST IMPORTANT things, but it is also one of the most BORING things.

One of the reasons internet keyword research is so boring is that most people do not have any method of doing it.  (Don't get me wrong.  They SAY that they do, but there is a different between being able to DO it versus simply explaining it.)

I can help solve that one for you.

It is also tediously time consuming.  That I CANNOT solve for you.  Sorry!  (I wish I could solve that for myself. :)

Keyword research is so important, because it is your ONLINE market research.

What do I mean "market research?"  How does keyword research become market research?

Keyword Research helps you determine some key things about the market, the people surfing the Internet.

You probably do not really want every one of those people.  There are plenty of people who will NEVER be interested about what is on your website.  They will never need or want the information that you are providing them.

These people are NOT your TARGET MARKET.

Who is your target market?

The online market that you SHOULD be targeting is

1. a group of people large enough worth targeting (search volume)
2. a group that does not have very good alternatives to what you offer--even when they want them (keyword competition between different websites)
3. a group of people who you want to influence (buy, click, register, persuade to vote, etc.)

So...How do you find this "target market?"

In theory, it is pretty simple.

My strategy is to...

1. Find a main keyword category that might have enough search count (Local Search Count or Global Search Count)
2. Check the Phrase Count for Each Category - Check how good the "Phrase Foundation" is.
   (Note: Phrase Foundation is UNOFFICIALLY the base part of the keyword phrase.  Words before or after that phrase might become categories or pages of the website later.)
3. Check the SEO Keyword Competition

If you get it, you can stop reading here.

(Here is an explanation of the difference between the different types of search counts: Broad Search Count, Phrase Search Count, and Exact Search Count.)

Otherwise, here is a example:

Find a Main Keyword Category Topic

Example: growing flowers

Gather a List of Potential Categories (related to our Main Keyword Category Topic)

planting flowers
fast growing flowers
starting flowers from seed
when to plant flowers
starting seeds indoors
how to plant a flower
easiest flowers to grow
planting flower seeds
flower growing
starting flower seeds
growing flowers indoors
growing flowers from seed
how to grow flowers from seeds
easy to grow flowers
growing flowers from seeds
easy flowers to grow
growing flowers in florida
growing flowers for profit
how to grow flowers
growing flowers

(Here is an explanation of the difference between the different types of search counts: Broad Search Count, Phrase Search Count, and Exact Search Count.)

Advanced Filter: Reduce Size of List & Only Keep Enough Broad Search Count

Advanced Filter ==> Minimum Local Search Count >= 2500

(Note: 2500 is not a hard number to choose for this.  If many of your terms are over 800 but under 1500, then you would probably choose a minimum of 750.)

New List of Related Words (with a Minimum Local Search Count of 2500)

planting flowers (Broad Local Search Count = 27,100)
when to plant flowers (74,000)
starting seeds indoors (4,400)
how to plant a flower (110,000)
planting flower seeds (3,600)
flower growing (40,500)
how to grow flowers (60,500)
growing flowers (27,100)

(Here is an explanation of the difference between the different types of search counts: Broad Search Count, Phrase Search Count, and Exact Search Count.)

Get Phrase Search Count

Advanced Filter ==> Minimum Local Search Count >= 500

(Note: Again, 500 is not a hard number.  Look at the entire list, and see what filtering limit you want to apply.)

New List of Related Words (with a Minimum Local Search Count of 500)

planting flowers (Phrase Local Search Count = 5,400)
when to plant flowers (880)
starting seeds indoors (1,600)
how to plant a flower (880)
flower growing (5,400)
how to grow flowers (720)
growing flowers (3,600)

Analysis: There are two (2) Groups of Words Here

There are two groups of keywords here:

1. Single-Page Keywords (Landing Page Keywords)
2. Main Page Keywords with Many Subcategory Pages

1. Single-Page Keywords (Landing Page Keywords)

These are the keywords that might have enough search volume to carry themselves as a single landing page website, but they will probably not be enough to hold many related pages on that website.

Examples from This Case:

when to plant flowers (880)
how to plant a flower (880)
how to grow flowers (720)

We still need to check these to determine whether we might be able to compete for these keywords, but these might make good stand-alone landing pages--not too much search volume but just enough--possibly.

(To check keyword competition, go to the "Check Keyword Competition" section below here.)

2. Main Page Keywords with Many Subcategory Pages

These keywords have enough search traffic that we probably will not rank for these specific terms immediately, but we might be able to form pages of related subcategories, based on this "phrase foundation."

Examples from this case:

planting flowers (5,400)
starting seeds indoors (1,600)
flower growing (5,400)
growing flowers (3,600)

For these keywords, we will need to check

• whether they have good subcategories available
• whether we can easily compete for these subcategories (See section on "Check Keyword Competition" below here)

See Whether Subcategories are Available (for Keywords with Larger Phrase Search Counts)

To provide an example of this step, let us check "planting flowers" -- with 5,400 Phrase Local Search Count.

To do this, we will do the following:

• Open a New Tab
• Open Google Keyword Tool
• For "word or phrase" section, enter "planting flowers" (or whatever the keyword is you're checking)
• Type "planting flowers" in the "Include terms" area on the left side bar
• Hit the "Search" button
• Sort search data by Descending Order of Local Search Count

Here are some of the terms the Google Keyword Tool returns for us:

planting flowers (5,400)
planting flowers in pots (210)
planting spring flowers (110)
planting fall flowers (58)
planting flowers around trees (58)
planting flowers for dummies (46)
planting wild flowers (46)

Each of these terms (after the first keyword term) might make an additional page on the website.

In THIS particular example, most likely the search counts of most of these pages are too low, and we would want to get something else.

However, you might have the idea.

To continue the lesson, let us check for keyword competition.

Check for Keyword Competition

There are many ways to check for SEO keyword competition, but one of the quickest first checks is very logical--yet overlooked.

Simply type the keyword phrase into Google, and ask yourself

• Does Google return search results that do a good job of answering the internet surfer's question?
• Do most of the search results contain the keyword in the Title?
• Do most of the search results contain all or part of the keyword somewhere in the URL?
• Do you see Keyword.com ranking on Page 1 (or Page 2)?

If it looks like it might be hard, then it probably will not be easy.

If the answers Google provides are not strong, then you might have a perfect opportunity there.

Example #1: planting flowers in pots

Search Result #1:
Title = How to Plant Flowers in a Pot | EHow.com
URL = http://www.ehow.com/how_4890997_plant-flowers-pot.html

Search Result #2:
Title = Growing Flowers in Pots
URL =  http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf2874.pdf

Search Result #3:
Title = Best Flowers for Growing in Pots | Home & Garden Ideas
URL = http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/gardening/indoor-gardens/planting/best-flowers-growing-pots

This looks like there is a little competition, but none of these exactly match.  If the search count was high enough, you might want to consider going for this one.

COMPARE THIS WITH...

Example #2: how to grow flowers

Search Result #1:
Title = How to Grow Flowers, Flower Seeds Gardening Tips, Growing...
URL =http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower.htm

Search Result #2:
Title = How to Grow Flowers, Annual Flowers, Perennial Flowers, Bulbs by...
URL = http://gardenhobbies.com/flower/

Search Result #3:
Title = How to Plant Flowers: 8 Steps with Pictures - wikiHow

URL =http://www.wikihow.com/Plant-Flowers

This looks like this does a better job of answering the would-be internet surfer's question.

Keyword research is an art, but I have done my best to offer a recipe-like method to try modifying this into a science--somewhat.

Let me know if you have different techniques or do not understand the technique I explain here.

Good luck...Keyword research is a long process, but it is one of the most important parts of your online business process, because this step becomes an important pat of your market research.

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To see more Marketing Ideas, visit Chris' Marketing Ideas.

To visit The Ultimate Analyst company website click HERE.

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