We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How do I Perform Keyword Research?

By Harriette Halepis
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Performing keyword research may seem like an easy thing to do, but many keyword projects actually require hours of extensive research. The first step towards executing any type of keyword research is to create a list of keywords. This may seem relatively straightforward, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.

In order to comprise a list of keywords, it's important to think like one of your customers or readers. By taking the time to write down a number of different keyword possibilities, you can begin to narrow down a keyword list. Avoid using any overly general words such as "shoe" or "hat," and try to focus upon those words that are subject-specific. You may also want to take a look at the words that any potential competitor is currently using, and try to come up with unique keywords based upon competitor keywords.

Next, look for a tried and true keyword tool. There are many different free keyword tools on the Internet, and many of these tools will be worth your while. By entering possible keywords into a keyword tool search box, you can determine which keywords most people are searching for. You can also discover how many people are looking for a certain word along with alternate words that you may not have considered.

Once you have gathered a list of popular keywords, then you can begin building your content around those words. Try to use keywords that are specific to the product or service that you are selling. Also, be sure that the content you include on your Internet site is well-researched, comprehensive, and informative. People who arrive at a page filled with advertisements are not likely to purchase anything from this type of site. Instead, create a site that is brimming with useful information that people want to read and learn about. This is the best way to capture a reader's attention, and to hold that attention long enough to sell a product or service.

Generally, choosing three to four keyword terms per page is optimal. Even though your keyword research may uncover more than four terms that can be applied to each page, adding more than four words can make page content unnatural. If you do not know how to incorporate keywords into site content naturally, you may want to consider hiring a professional content writer. By supplying a writer with the data gathered from your initial keyword research, these professionals can create interesting keyword-filled content. While keyword research is not a simple matter, performing the right kind of keyword research can lead to more sales, more traffic, and, ultimately, more customers.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.