(Spoiler alert:<\/strong> It isn't just about search volume.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this guide, we'll break down the process of keyword research for small business owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You'll get by step-by-step instructions and recommended tools for getting the most out of your keyword research and learning which keywords yield the best results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let's get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In This Article<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keyword research<\/strong> is the process of identifying and analyzing the words and phrases people use to search for information, products, or services online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By understanding these search terms, known as keywords, you can optimize your content to rank higher<\/strong> in search engine results pages (SERPs<\/a>) and attract more organic traffic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can think of keywords like the bridge between your business and customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using these keywords in your content allows you to connect with potential customers who are actively looking for what you offer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When done right, keyword research supports your content strategy, attracts qualified traffic to your website, and boosts your visibility with your ideal audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This ultimately leads to higher conversion rates<\/strong> and greater success<\/strong> for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keyword research is the foundation of effective SEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By understanding the terms your target audience is searching for, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step in conducting effective keyword research is to choose a reliable tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are numerous options available, both free and paid, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some popular choices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For our tutorial, I\u2019ll be using LowFruits.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The reason I chose LowFruits<\/a> is because it was designed specifically for small business owners. It streamlines the keyword research process to help you identify easy keywords that you can actually<\/em> rank for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get started, navigate to the KWFinder<\/strong> and enter your keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For our example, I\u2019m going to search \u201clos angeles florist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also change the geographical location and language if desired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click Search<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n KWFinder will generate a report that looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: <\/strong>If your report has empty columns on the right, that means you need to analyze some keywords. This tutorial shows you how to extract SERP data<\/a>, which will populate these columns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In our example, we have 765 keywords<\/strong> related to our original search of \u201clos angeles florist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, realistically, if I were an L.A. based florist with a brand new website, I wouldn\u2019t be able to rank for a lot of these keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many will be too competitive for my small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, what we need to do is refine our keyword list to show easy keywords we can actually rank for<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is where LowFruits shines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this step, we\u2019re going to identify low-competition keywords<\/a> by focusing on the following two columns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n By focusing on the SD and Weak Spots column, we\u2019re able to quickly identify easy ranking opportunities for our new website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip:<\/strong> Use a filter to view only<\/em> easy keywords. You can do this by selecting the SD filter<\/strong> and setting the max to 1<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n In our example, setting a 1 SD filter results in 57 keywords<\/strong> that fit our criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s much more manageable for a small business owner to tackle alone or with a small team than the earlier 765.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And most importantly, they\u2019re keywords you can rank for<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, we\u2019ll want to sort by search volume<\/strong> to help us prioritize which keywords to target first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (One of the most common SEO mistakes small business owners make<\/a> is to look at search volume first<\/strong>. While this can be tempting, it may leave you targeting super competitive keywords that are hard to rank for. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to look at it after setting your SD filter<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n To do this, just click the Volume<\/strong> column (the title specifically) and LowFruits will sort your report in descending order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our current list has high monthly search volumes, a low SD, and multiple weak spots on the SERP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are low-hanging fruits just waiting to be picked. And lucky for us, we found them and are ready to take them for our website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s find out the search intent behind these keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Search intent<\/strong> is what motivates a user to perform a search.<\/strong> It\u2019s the why<\/em> behind their query.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are four types of search intent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding search intent is important because it helps you align your content strategy with your business goals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It also provides valuable insights into the content creation process, allowing you to tailor your content to user needs and expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, an eCommerce site or service provider will likely focus on targeting buyer intent keywords<\/a> (commercial and transactional) since these keywords show a desire to purchase. They also come with higher conversion rates than the other types of search intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A food blog, however, may prefer to target informational keywords related to recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for how to find out the search intent of a keyword, it\u2019s rather easy with LowFruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just select View the SERP<\/strong> next to any keyword in your list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This will open a pop-out window of the top 10 organic results<\/strong> for that specific keyword in<\/strong> real time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can learn a lot from the existing ranking content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By looking at the black SEO titles<\/strong> on the right side, it\u2019s clear that this keyword has transactional<\/strong> intent. Users are looking for a place to buy flowers in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also see that many of the top results are homepages, making this a keyword we\u2019d want to consider for our own homepage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, I\u2019d like to point out that if you want to visit a competitor\u2019s content directly,<\/strong> you can simply click the blue hyperlink<\/strong> in this view. This action will open the web page in a new tab of your browser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Looking at competitor content informs your own content strategy and provides insights into how you can make your content better<\/em> than the current ranking articles.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you perform keyword research, you\u2019re going to come up with hundreds, if not thousands, of keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To make sure your research efforts don\u2019t go to waste, it\u2019s important to have an organization system for all your keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lists<\/strong> are an effective way to categorize and prioritize your keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few suggestions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of which system you choose to organize your keywords, LowFruits makes it easy to keep all your keywords secure in one place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simply navigate to the Lists<\/strong> tab in the left menu and import, create, or view your keyword lists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also add specific keywords to any of your lists by clicking the star<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LowFruits will prompt you to select a list or create a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, I\u2019d like to mention that should you ever wish to view the entire keyword report from an earlier search (step two), you can navigate to the Reports<\/strong> tab of the left menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This section houses all<\/strong> your searches and keyword reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You now know how to successfully perform keyword research for your small business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, let\u2019s check out some of our favorite tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the tools mentioned in step one, here are our top two picks for the best keyword research tools<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LowFruits is a long-tail keyword research tool that helps you uncover hidden ranking gems<\/strong>. It was designed specifically for small business owners to help them compete (and win) in the saturated online search landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we saw in our keyword research tutorial, LowFruits uses a unique mix of traditional keyword research<\/strong> methods<\/strong> and innovative SERP analyses<\/strong>. This approach allows it to provide insightful metrics that aren\u2019t available in any other SEO tool, particularly the SERP Difficulty Score and Weak Spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These metrics combined not only give you a clear, reliable idea of how difficult it will be to rank for a keyword but also allow you to see how your website stacks up against the competing domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Roll these insights into one user-friendly interface and you have a seriously powerful keyword research tool that helps you outrank the competition \u2014 minus the headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LowFruits <\/strong><\/a>Pricing<\/a>: <\/strong>LowFruits offers pay-as-you-go (PAYG) pricing<\/strong> and subscriptions<\/strong>. PAYG packages are based on credits and start at $25 for 2,000 credits. A standard subscription is $249\/year and comes with 3,000 credits per month. LowFruits also offers new users 10 free credits \u2014 no credit card required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Semrush is one of the most popular tools for keyword research and SEO in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It offers an array of features, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While these features provide a lot of valuable data for your website, they can be overwhelming for new users. Instead, Semrush is well-suited for those with some experience in SEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also worth noting that a Semrush account is going to set you back more than LowFruits per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Semrush pricing<\/a> starts at $129.95\/month, whereas a LowFruits subscription is $249 for an entire year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You know how to do keyword research and the tools for streamlining the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve created a solid foundation for your content strategy, and now the real work begins. Let\u2019s explore the immediate next steps after keyword research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have a list of relevant keywords, it's time to organize them into keyword clusters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keyword clusters are groups of related keywords<\/strong> that can be used to create a cohesive content strategy. They act like building blocks for your web pages, helping you target multiple ranking opportunities in a single piece of content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you're a travel blogger, you might create topic clusters for different destinations, types of travel (e.g., adventure, luxury), or travel tips. Each of these clusters would have multiple keywords that help maximize your visibility on the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n LowFruits creates clusters automatically for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just navigate to the Clusters<\/strong> tab, and you\u2019ll see an overview of all the keyword clusters it created. You can open these reports to view all the keywords in each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a complete tutorial on this feature, check out this article on how to use LowFruits clusters<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve got the keywords and the clusters, now you need the content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Content creation is the core of an effective SEO strategy \u2014 and making sure all your keyword research goes to good use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Focus on tailoring your content to search intent<\/strong> and providing genuine value<\/strong> for your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This involves writing informative<\/strong>, engaging<\/strong>, and optimized<\/strong> content that meets the needs of your users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember to use keywords naturally throughout your content, but don\u2019t overdo it. Keyword stuffing can result in a poor user experience and Google penalties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, aim for a natural keyword density<\/a> that doesn\u2019t overwhelm your readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is easier said than done, but content optimization tools help with the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take SEOBoost<\/a>, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s content optimization feature helps you assess how often you\u2019re using your focus keyword<\/a> and related keywords. It uses a simple color-coded system that makes it easy to see when you\u2019re too high or low with keyword use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also like how SEOBoost provides additional content insights, such as the average word count and readability level. This information helps you understand how existing ranking articles are optimizing for the topic and gives you targets for your own content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a WordPress user, you can also get similar features with the All in One SEO<\/a> (AIOSEO) plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After setting your focus keyword, its TruSEO<\/a> tool will analyze your content optimizations for it. You\u2019ll get action-oriented checklists that ensure you\u2019re using your keyword in all the critical places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After creating content for your website, it\u2019s important to keep track of its performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, this can be a very time-consuming process when you\u2019re trying to track keyword rankings manually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news:<\/strong> LowFruits does it automatically for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Rank Tracker<\/a> allows you to monitor up to 100 keywords for Standard subscriptions and 500 for Premium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can adjust the settings to your language, language, and device type. You\u2019ll also pick how often you want the tool to fetch the keyword positions (daily, weekly, or monthly).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once it\u2019s fetched the data, you\u2019ll get a report that looks like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get a quick view of how your keyword performance has changed since the last fetch using the metrics at the top of the screen (improved, decreased, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also expand any of the keywords to get historical ranking data<\/strong> and view the current top 10 pages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, LowFruits is very intuitive and provides key tracking data at a glance, making it one of the best rank trackers<\/a> out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is Keyword Research?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Is Keyword Research Important for SEO?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How to Do Keyword Research for Small Businesses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Select a Keyword Research Tool<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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2. Enter a Keyword<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/kwfinder-search-1024x260.jpg\" "\\"Keyword")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/los-angeles-florist-kw-report-1024x432.jpg\" "\\"Keyword")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Identify Low-Competition Keywords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/sd-weak-spots-lowfruits-1024x487.jpg\" "\\"Identify")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"SERP](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/florist-sd-filter-1024x446.jpg\" "\\"SERP")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Keywords](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/search-volume-sort-1024x357.jpg\" "\\"Keywords")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Determine Search Intent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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![\"View](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/florist-view-the-serp.jpg\" "\\"View")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Top](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/florist-top-ranking-pages-1024x774.jpg\" "\\"Top")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Organize Your Keyword Lists<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/lowfruits-keyword-lists-1024x595.jpg\" "\\"Keyword")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Add](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/add-to-keyword-list-florist.jpg\" "\\"Add")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Pick](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/pick-keyword-list-lowfruits.jpg\" "\\"Pick")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"LowFruits](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/lowfruits-reports-1024x383.jpg\" "\\"Reports")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nBest Keyword Research Tools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best Keyword Research Tool for Small Businesses: LowFruits<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"LowFruits](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/lowfruits-homepage.jpg\" "\\"LowFruits")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nBest Keyword Research Tool for Advanced SEOs: Semrush<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Semrush](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/semrush-homepage-1024x453.jpg\" "\\"Semrush")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
What to Do After Keyword Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Create Keyword Clusters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Keyword](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/lowfruits-clusters-1024x445.jpg\" "\\"Keyword")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2. Craft High-Quality Content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Content](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/seoboost-keyword-optimizations-1024x535.jpg\" "\\"SEOBoost")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"TruSEO](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/truseo-focus-keyphrase-checklist.jpg\" "\\"AIOSEO")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Set Up Keyword Tracking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Track](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/lowfruits-rank-tracker-1-1024x634.jpg\" "\\"Rank"){kind=tracking}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Historical](\"https:\/\/lowfruits.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/rank-tracker-4-1024x476.jpg\" "\\"Historical"){kind=tracking}
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n