What is a keyword search tool and what is it used for? A growing band of followers is ignoring them and getting better results
Estimated reading time: 18 minutes
Table of contents
- How is Keyword research done
- What is the purpose of keywords
- Do keywords need to be exact match phrases
- What is the purpose of Keyword research?
- Definition of a Keyword
- What words are keywords?
- What is keywords use?
- What are the keywords in websites
- What are good keywords?
- What is Keyword searching
- Authority and history play a big part in keywords
- Keyword Search and the use of tools
- Bing Keyword tool
- SEO Keyword ranker
- Find website keywords that deliver results
- There are Keywords everywhere
- Your brand will support keyword selection
- Buying keywords that count and ranking them
- Why can't I find my keyword in Google
- Using Keywords with YouTube
- Using commonly asked questions as Keywords
- Are there other ways of gathering traffic to pore Keyword selection
- How do keywords make money
- Keyword training is essential
- Conclusion
- What is a keyword search tool by Peter Hanley
How is Keyword research done
Keywords have two common elements. They are the volume of traffic that a word has and the amount of competition you face in being read.
Therefore an understanding of these two elements is necessary for your planning.
A keyword tool is used to provide an estimate of these two factors on which you can judge your action.
total searches Monthly competition rating
I have taken a snapshot from Jaaxy.com a keyword tool used by pros and amateurs alike.
The words are all pretty similar however the results show a range of differences.
the first column is monthly searches and the second is what you could expect with an exact match keyword term, Then we show the estimated competition. Remember there are about ten listings to a page or if the competition is say 200 then you are on page 20 of a search term.
What is the purpose of keywords
Keywords started the journey being a search term on Google ( or Bing etc). As the searches grew the term needed to be expanded to a phrase to better find a result.
The keyword was a search term but now we use What Is a keyword Search TOOL to better describe what you want to get an answer to.
Blogging is all about providing answers or solutions and the key phrase is the road map that takes you to a suitable answer. When you talk into your mobile phone to ask a question that is your Keyword and Google goes on a search for a suitable solution.
Therefore the closer your word selection is to the request made the more opportunity you have of being read.
However, remember that you must have traffic or a bank of people interested in your phrase.
Do keywords need to be exact match phrases
In tradition, this was the case and in fact, Bing and Yahoo still follow this system via their algorithm searching. That is why when you search to find your page position Bing and Google differ widely.
Google has moved on to using artificial intelligence (AI) to find the most appropriate answer available which throws a spanner in the works. They take into consideration site authority, age of posting, word selection, location, and a whole host of other considerations to take you to the correct result. Well, as they see it anyway.
You will get different results with Google and Bing.
What is the purpose of Keyword research?
Everything you do on the Internet will revolve around a Keyword. Your webpage uses Keywords, your blogs, emails, etc.
Keywords are like your house address and searching people need a road map to find you.
If I list my house as 130 Nowhere street it could be anywhere in the world. Suppose I add a suburb and include Bordertown as the district it could still be in any country unless I state it quite clearly as 130 nowhere street Border town Kansas USA 25631. I am then the only one.
Therefore we look at all the variables available to make our keyword match the inquiry as close as possible.
Research then tells us, in general terms the chances of being found on the internet.
Definition of a Keyword
A keyword may refer to a word or a sort of phrase that can be associated with a particular subject, document, or moment. It is used to explore or run specific searches in the title, in the subject, in write-ups, in documents, and for internet searches.
In the context of programming language, a keyword is a closely related or associated word that is reserved by a program because the word has a special meaning that defines commands and specific parameters for that code set.
In SEO terminology for digital marketing, a keyword is used to describe a word or group of words that the Internet uses to perform search engine or search bar exploration.
Thanks to Wikipedia
They could use search terms or lots of other phrases however this keeps it consistent across the web.
What is a keyword search tool and what use are they.
What words are keywords?
Keywords are any single word or phrase that people will search for on any of the Search engines. Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.
The title Keyword came about early in the Google entry as very few words were asked for.
As searching grew they became Longtail Keywords and then expanded to keyphrases.
All mean something. They are simply search terms used on the internet.
With the advent of Mobile voice queries using either Siri, Alexa, or Bixby the queries become much longer so the phrases took on new meanings.
- How
- When
- Why
- What
are all common queries used to find an answer.
The use of numbers in a search
After this, the use of numbers moved into the search terms with words like “7 best Fretsaws on the market' or maybe “5 ways to use a Fretsaw” or even 100 ways a Fretsaw is better than a Jigsaw. These will appear on every page of a search term so they can be considered in your selection of phrases.
I don't have a reason that numbers count, and in fact, odd numbers are better, other than Google likes them. They are the umpire so it is no use arguing
What is keywords use?
It may be a specific call sign like your business URL.
Bob's tool store in Kansas trades as the name suggests so it would be prudent to select a URL like “bobstoolstore Kansas.com” That would make the search term nice and easy for anyone wanting to find Bob.
Now Bob may have a blog post about Saw Sharpening and that would appear as Bobstoolstorekasas.com/sawsharpening/
Those looking for saw sharpening in Kansas may well be directed to Bob's Blog.
Your keyword is a request to be discovered
What are the keywords in websites
Bob may have many keywords scattered throughout his Webpage or posts>
He probably sells many different brands of Saws and these will be scattered throughout the site.
Furthermore, the Saws may have many different applications and these will be Keywords in their own right. Fret saws, bush saws, tree saws, etc that all have different use and importantly followers. If I want a Fret saw for example my search will be specific around that particular saw. I don't want to wade through information on every sort of saw available.
Again we see here uses, brands, styles all matched with traffic and competition.
The word Fret saw has good traffic but high competition however you can be found by using words that have some traffic and low competition.
What is a keyword search tool that finds those great words
What are good keywords?
It is important to remember a Page one position as the only place to have your keyphrase listed. Over 80% of readers never go past the first three free listings on a search term. So if you are not there you simply don't get read.
Therefore a good Keyword is one that closely relates to a question or query that is being searched. It can be an exact match or lead to a great explanation that satisfies the reader.
Your job is to find these words and the traffic that comes with them.
What is Keyword searching
For lookers this is simply finding an answer to a question, solution, product description all based around the How, why, and when theory.
For writers, it is the most important part of website building and blogging. Your keyword selection is a pathway to success or failure and it is that simple. Good keywords get read bad ones languish down the high page numbers where only the most bored will go.
Authority and history play a big part in keywords
This is a part of your research to find a balance to get better results than the experts.
For example, Hegner Fret saws are the manufacturers and distributors of their saw thus having good authority. Plus they have likely been on the internet and making posts for a considerable amount of time and moving to the top of the search term
Going head-on with Hegner would not be the best option however partnering with them can support your case.
Google does not honor you with a good page position until you have established your worth as a trusted source of information. The longer you have been blogging and the more traffic you attract the greater your web presence will be.
They certainly look at your credentials as an honorable authority to back up your opinions and that is why I advocate borrowing authority when you can. This action proves that you have done your research and backed up your results with imported integrity.
Therefore blogging takes time to become a recognized contributor and a trusted source of information.
What is a keyword search tool and which is best
Keyword Search and the use of tools
Common types of Tools used
First of all, I often use all three in the search for an appropriate Keyword. They are not perfect and the results sometimes vary because they generally rely on exact matches.
Next, I always go to Google for a final search and put my Keyword in a general search and one that is enclosed in Hyphens.
The hyphens disclose the exact match and you can build from there.
Jaaxy is preferred because it gives you an answer in simple terms and highlights both traffic and competition. Uber suggests tends to go deeper and take more time.
On top of this, I use Monster insights free traffic counter. When you find a good keyword and then discover no one wants to search it you go back to square one.
Next, I look for public forums that are listed asking similar questions, Quora or Reddit type sites because then I know that the search term has traffic.
Furthermore, I will include some of those questions as my subheadings thus spreading keywords throughout the article.
What is a keyword search tool and does Google provide one
Google keyword planner free
The above three options all have a free version and it is the only way to start your research.
The free versions will provide adequate information to find good Keywords.
Jaaxy is included with a Wealthy Affiliate subscription and is a very good option for both beginners and advanced users. In fact, with an annual premium, you get the full pro version with all the options which is ideal for serious punters.
Below you can experience a bit of keyword action using the free Jaaxy version
In conclusion, your Keyword understanding is vital to your success. I have gone more in-depth in a recent post.
Bing Keyword tool
Bing has a very useful site that details a lot about Keywords and goes quite in-depth in looking for the right words. No amount of learning is enough on this subject. Let me stress just how important Keyword knowledge is.
I went for nearly twelve months of blogging with hardly a First place ranking. NowI is hitting page one in google 60% of the time within the month. Furthermore, My Bing results cove another 30% and the balance is pore keyword selection.
SEO Keyword ranker
An often asked question is how does my keyword rank. A good Keyword tool like Jaaxy gives you the answer. In fact, I won't start a blog without knowing where we are going. Plus on completion where we stand in the ratings.
The highlites in Yellow are page one results and the final column shows traffic and competition. This is just over a week after the publication so the results are looking satisfactory.
Find website keywords that deliver results
Your job as a blogger is to develop a following however it is not quite that simple.
- Build your connections
- Enhance your authority
- Develop web trust
- Grow your relationships
- Grab your connectivity
With these principles in mind, your job is to focus on a long-term growth plan built around solid Keyword selection.
Nothing is more important than keyword selection.
What is a keyword search tool and where are the words
There are Keywords everywhere
There is no shortage of Keywords even though a couple of million blogs are written every day and each one uses up keywords.
The idea is to find a phrase that carries your core subject yet finds the audience you need.
As seen above a Fret Saw is a Keyword plus it has lots of traffic yet the competition is
very high. You will start at greater than page ten before making any headway.
Therefore it could be years as you scramble among the pack trying to pick your way through the vagaries of Google and Bing. It is simply not worth the effort in picking bad keywords when you have other options to use.
In general, terms if you pick a keyword with a traffic count of around 100 a month and a competition level of less than 50 you have a chance of hitting a paying page. The higher the traffic and the lower the competition the greater the prospects of success.
You spend a lot of time writing blogs and creating a following and it is a pity to not see results for your effort.
If you get your keyword right using a good tool then the rest will follow
Your brand will support keyword selection
When visitors look at Keywords in a search term recognized authorities will get the first vote.
Every category has heavy lifters and they know keyword selection and will generally rate very well. It will take you time and patience to compete with them and that is why correct phrase selection is so important. Generally, you won't beat them and it is hard to join them so you need to work around them with a better choice of words.
That is why we always back up with a Google search to clear the way the big swingers.
Buying keywords that count and ranking them
On every page of a keyword search, there are paid advertisements. These are handled by Google or Adwords etc that pay for placement. Your cost starts when someone clicks on your advertisement.
Costs vary and in fact, Fretsaw is relatively cheap however with a selling price of just $45 it needs to be. Not everyone buys. If the retail price is $45 then the cost will be around $22. Therefore you need to sell a few to meet the cost of clicks.
Often keywords have prices in tens of dollars so you need to be careful.
Does anyone click on paid advertisements
Surprisingly there is a market for these and a big market indeed. However, the top three free postings get a majority of the attention.
Using paid words can be an expensive exercise depending on the conversion factor.
What is a keyword search tool with YouTube?
Why can't I find my keyword in Google
This is a common cry from frustrated writers lost in the depth of the dark pages well away from page one of a search.
However the answer is dead simple, it was a bad choice of words and consideration to the factors made and the results may never change. You can try to sprinkle a few more good key phrases in your article and that will help in time. Or establishing another form of traffic may supply an answer.
When you start from the back of the race it is a real challenge to be among the winners.
Doing your research before writing and not after is the only answer.
Using Keywords with YouTube
On any search page, you will usually see a Youtube thumbnail promoting your search term.
The above were all listed from the same page therefore quite popular in the video world. I have included a link with these to show how it works.
Remember that reader time on your page is also a ranking factor and handing it off to YouTube can be a handy partner.
What is a keyword search tool when questions are asked
Using commonly asked questions as Keywords
This is a very good way of finding out what people want to know. The questions can be found on Google or on sites like Quora where they will list a group of questions.
these are real questions that are being asked by real people and using them in your keyword selection can work wonders.
You will find a few weird ones and a couple that is not worth answering like “how to make money in one month without working”. These are not worth your time but picking the better ones gives you an advantage over all others.
The questions can be scattered throughout your post to build your content
Are there other ways of gathering traffic to pore Keyword selection
Of course, there is. SEO is just one part of the process however important it may be. Google loves traffic because it shows that people want to read your work. Therefore it must have something going for it.
- All forms of social media can generate traffic
- Your webpage or other posts may use linking to help
- Hard copy material like brochures can contain linking
- Family and friends may have an early support
- Backlinks from other sources will help
These all supply traffic to your phrase choice and therefore recognition of your keyword selection.
A healthy combination of all factors is ideal in gaining those first-class results.
How do keywords make money
While this is important, keywords simply give you a position in search terms. However, this allows the many ways of monetizing your post or page a lot easier.
You can sell physical products | Yours or someone else's |
Market Virtual products | Like training etc |
Gather affiliate income | one-off and ongoing |
Add advertising to your site | Gather payments |
Gather donations | When applicable |
Provide advise | Mentorship |
These are just a few examples I have thrown in because it is an often asked question. However, without your keyword being read income will not appear so it remains highly relevant to the general topic.
We all write to make money in one form or another.
Keyword training is essential
If this blog has got you interested but you still have questions the free training at Wealthy Affiliate will offer far greater insight into the whole subject. From starting a website to completing the journey.
Conclusion
The subject is just so important that not having an understanding of keyword selection is like going in the deep water when you can't swim. It is too late to make the changes to save your blog.
Make a list of keywords before you write any content and include them as you go. These are words with some traffic and low competition picked from your tools all available for free.
Content matters little if it is not read so starting properly wins the race every time.
most writers fail because of this one shortfall, Keyword selection. Don't be one that fails do the work and reap the results.
If you have read to here I congratulate you and know you will have a far better understanding than 90% of writers who are doomed to failure.
There is no reason not to start this way other than ignorance. Therefore join the ranks of the informed and stay in the race.