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      How to do keyword research for SEO

      Follow our step by step guide to help you complete keyword research for your website and SEO benefit

      Completing keyword research is a foundational step in any SEO strategy. To find out more about the fundamentals of SEO, read our beginners guide.

      Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

      1. Identify Your Goals

      Before diving into keyword research, it's essential to clarify your goals. Ask yourself:

      • What are you hoping to achieve with your SEO efforts?
      • Who is your target audience?
      • What products, services, or content do you want to rank for?

      Understanding your objectives will help you choose the right keywords to target.

      2. Brainstorm Seed Keywords

      Start by brainstorming a list of seed keywords or phrases related to your facility, services, or content. These are broad terms that describe what you offer. For example, if you manage a sports facility, seed keywords might include "sports facility", "fitness centre", "indoor courts", "3G pitch", "indoor sports", and specific sports activities or amenities that you offer at your facility.

      For example, if you run a sports club in Bedford with facilities like tennis courts and football pitches, put variations of these phrases on your list:

      • Bedford Tennis courts
      • 3G pitch hire in Bedford
      • Football pitches in Bedford
      • 5-a-side football pitches in Bedford
      • Bedford clubhouse hire
      • Bedford court hire

      3. Expand Your List with Keyword Research Tools

      Use keyword research tools to expand your list of potential keywords and phrases. Some popular tools include:

      • Google Keyword Planner: Free tool provided by Google Ads that provides keyword ideas, search volumes, and competition levels.
      • SEMrush: Comprehensive SEO tool that offers keyword research, competitor analysis, and more. There is both a free and paid version of this software.
      • Ahrefs: Another powerful SEO tool that provides keyword data, backlink analysis, and site auditing features. A freeAhrefs Webmaster Tools account, to access the full version there is a subscription fee.

      Enter your seed keywords into these tools to generate additional keyword ideas, along with metrics such as search volume, keyword difficulty, and related keywords.

      💡 Keyword search volume is the number of times a specific keyword or phrase is entered into a search engine and indicates the level of interest or demand for that term.

      💡 Keyword difficulty is a metric that assesses the competitiveness of a keyword. It considers factors such as the number of websites targeting it and their authority, helping determine the effort required to rank for that keyword in search engine results.

      💡 Related keywords are terms or phrases that are semantically similar or contextually relevant to a target keyword, used to expand content relevance and capture a broader audience with similar search intent.

      4. Analyse Keyword Metrics

      Once you have a list of potential keywords, analyse their metrics to determine their suitability for your SEO strategy:

      • Search Volume: Indicates how many times a keyword is searched for on search engines each month. Focus on keywords with sufficient search volume to drive meaningful traffic to your website.

      • Keyword Difficulty: Estimates how difficult it is to rank for a particular keyword. Choose keywords with a balance of decent search volume and manageable competition.

      • Relevance: Ensure the keywords are relevant to your business, products, services, or content. Targeting irrelevant keywords can lead to low-quality traffic and poor user engagement.

      5. Consider Long-Tail Keywords

      In addition to broad keywords, consider targeting long-tail keywords, which are longer, more specific phrases that typically have lower search volumes but higher conversion rates. Long-tail keywords can help you attract highly targeted traffic and compete more effectively in niche markets.

      6. Prioritise and Refine Your Keyword List

      Based on your analysis of keyword metrics and relevance, prioritize your keyword list. Focus on targeting keywords that align closely with your goals, offer reasonable search volume, and have manageable competition. Refine your list as needed to ensure it reflects your priorities and objectives.

      7. Monitor and Adjust Over Time

      Keyword research is an ongoing process. Continuously monitor your keyword performance, track changes in search trends and user behavior, and adjust your keyword strategy accordingly. Regularly updating and refining your keyword list will help you stay competitive and adapt to evolving search engine algorithms.

      By following these steps, you can complete keyword research effectively and lay the groundwork for a successful SEO strategy tailored to your sports facility. Remember to regularly review and update your keyword strategy to ensure it remains aligned with your business goals and objectives.