Keyword Research Tutorial: From Start to Finish

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of conducting effective keyword research for your online store using Ahrefs Keywords Explorer. By understanding search intent and analyzing competitors, you will be able to identify valuable keywords that can drive traffic and conversions.

Chapter 1: Generate Keyword Ideas

1. Start with Broad Keywords

   • Enter broad keywords related to your business, such as:
     • computer
     • computers
     • laptop
     • laptops
     • pc

2. Use the Having Same Terms Report

   • Navigate to the "Having same terms" report in Ahrefs.
   • This will provide a comprehensive list of keyword ideas that are variations of your broad keywords.

3. Filter by Search Intent

   • Categorize keywords based on search intent:
     • Informational Keywords: Users seek knowledge (e.g., "what is DDR4 ram?")
     • Navigational Keywords: Users know the destination (e.g., "newegg DDR4 ram")
     • Commercial Investigation: Users compare products (e.g., "best DDR4 ram")
     • Transactional Keywords: Users are ready to purchase (e.g., "buy DDR4 ram")

4. Understand the Importance of All Categories

   • Don't focus solely on transactional keywords; include informational content to build trust and authority, guiding users through their buying journey.

Chapter 2: Determine Search Intent for a Keyword

1. Identify Keyword Modifiers

   • Use modifiers like "best," "top," or the current year to refine search intent.

2. Filter Keywords by Category

   • Paste your list of informational keywords into the Include box in Ahrefs.
   • Set the filter to "Any" to see all relevant keyword ideas.

3. Set Additional Filters

   • For low competition, set a maximum keyword difficulty score (e.g., 10).
   • Focus on search demand by setting a minimum volume of 1,000 monthly searches.

4. Assess Business Potential

   • Evaluate if you can naturally integrate your products or services into the content related to each keyword.

5. Organize Keywords

   • Sort keywords by parent topic for better targeting.
   • Create a list for each keyword category for organized tracking.

Chapter 3: Analyze Google's Top 10 Search Results

1. Review the Top 10 Ranking Pages

   • Click on the SERP dropdown for your target keyword to view the top-ranking pages.
   • Analyze the content format (e.g., blog posts vs. product pages).

2. Create Relevant Content

   • Develop content that matches the format of the top-performing pages (e.g., "What is a Computer Worm? How to Fix It").

3. Assess Ranking Difficulty

   • Check the number of referring domains to evaluate competition.
   • Consider the Domain Rating (DR) of competing pages to gauge your chances of ranking.

Chapter 4: Analyze Topical Relevance

1. Evaluate Topical Relevance

   • Ensure the keyword aligns with your niche (e.g., antivirus software for "computer worm").
   • Estimate the number of unique links needed to rank for your target keyword.

2. Document Your Findings

   • Create a spreadsheet to track keywords, search intent, and ranking difficulty.

Chapter 5: Reverse-engineer Competitors' Traffic Generating Pages

1. Use Ahrefs Site Explorer

   • Enter a competitor’s domain (e.g., newegg.com) and go to the Top pages report.
   • Analyze traffic and top keywords to find potential topics to target.

2. Identify Lower Competition Topics

   • Look at the Referring Domains column to understand ranking difficulty.

3. Map Keywords to Customer Problems

   • Ensure your targeted keywords address the challenges your audience faces, leading to conversions.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively conduct keyword research that aligns with your business goals and customer needs. Focus on generating a diverse range of keywords based on search intent, analyzing competition, and creating relevant content. As you refine your approach, track your progress and adjust your strategy to maximize your online visibility and conversions.