How to choose keywords for your website?

Finding keywords drives your website’s SEO success. This guide breaks down keyword research fundamentals, helping you understand what potential customers search for and how to outrank competitors in search results.

If you’re starting SEO or refining your approach, you’ll learn to pick keywords that boost traffic and grow your business. Master keyword basics, learn their importance, and optimize your site to reach the right audience.

What you’ll learn:

  • Find popular search terms to align content with audience needs, boosting visibility and relevance
  • Match content to user goals – information seeking, navigation, buying, or research to increase engagement and conversions
  • Use tools and competitor research to find related phrases and expand your keyword reach
  • Pick keywords based on search volume and competition, targeting terms that balance traffic potential with ranking difficulty
  • Add keywords naturally throughout your site – content, titles, meta descriptions – to rank higher in search

Introduction to Keyword Research

What is Keyword Research?

Keyword research builds your SEO foundation. It shows what words and phrases people type into search engines. Through this process, you’ll discover which terms bring traffic and their ranking difficulty.

It works like market research for search – revealing the exact language your customers use when looking for products or services. By understanding these keywords, you can create content that matches what people want.

Why Keywords Matter

Keywords show what your target audience looks for on Google. This knowledge helps you plan content, pick topics, and understand audience needs. When you target the right keywords, you bring in visitors who want to read your content or buy your products.

Marketing Insights

Through keyword research, you spot current marketing opportunities. You’ll find trending topics, common questions, and shifts in how people search. By following these patterns, you can create content that ranks well.

Traffic Growth

Using the right keywords helps more people find your website. When you target phrases people search for in your field, you move up in search rankings. Better rankings bring more clicks and steady traffic increases.

Customer Growth

Keywords help you find new customers. By targeting terms they search for, you can write content that answers their questions and solves their problems. This builds trust and turns website visitors into customers.

When you pick keywords well, you attract people who are ready to buy. Your content shows up right when searchers need answers.

Starting Your Keyword Research

Patient Query IntentCommon KeywordsSearch Volume (Monthly)Competition LevelSuggested Content Type
Informational“Teeth whitening”22,000HighBlog post on methods
Navigational“Dentist near me”50,000HighLocation page
Transactional“Invisalign cost”5,000MediumService detail page

Keywords vs Topics

Keywords are not topics. Keywords mean exact phrases people type into search. Topics are broader areas. For example, “digital marketing” is a topic, while “best SEO tools 2024” and “social media tips for beginners” are keywords.

This difference affects how you plan content. Build your main pages around topics, then use keywords to optimize them. This approach works for both search engines and readers – helping your rankings while giving visitors what they need.

Search Intent Impact

Search intent guides which keywords you pick. Think about why someone types in a search term. Do they need information? Want to make a purchase? Compare different options? When you know their goal, you can write content that gives them what they’re looking for.

Four main search types exist:

  • Information seeking – “how to start SEO”
  • Navigation – “Google Analytics login”
  • Shopping – “buy SEO software”
  • Research – “best marketing tools 2024”

Step 1: Finding Keyword Idea

Local KeywordSearch VolumeRank in Local SearchConversion RateNotes
Dentist in [City]1,50035%High local relevance
[City] Teeth Cleaning80054%Include in blog topics

List Your Core Business Topics

Begin with a list of topics that matter to your business. Ask what your potential customers search for. If you run a digital marketing agency, your topics might be “SEO services,” “content strategy,” or “PPC management.” These topics guide your keyword research.

This approach helps organize your SEO plan. It captures your key business areas so you don’t miss valuable search terms.

Find Keyword Opportunities

Once you have your topics, search for specific keyword ideas. Look for the exact phrases people type when searching for your services. Here’s how:

  1. Check competitor keywords: Look at what keywords your competitors target. Tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs reveal which search terms bring them traffic. You’ll spot industry patterns and find gaps in their keyword strategy.
  2. Start with seed keywords: Take one main keyword for each business topic. Put it in Google Keyword Planner to find related terms. You’ll discover specific phrases with fewer competitors but good conversion rates.
  3. Track current rankings: Know which keywords already bring people to your site. Google Search Console shows how you rank in search. Use this information to find ways to improve your rankings.

Step 2: Growing Your Keyword List

KeywordCountryDifficultyVolumeCPC
orthodontistus771830006
root canalus801620001.6
dentist near meus741340006
veneersus69940001.7
dentistus21880004.5
wisdom teeth removalus64760002.5
cavityus81620001
gum diseaseus84540000.6
toothacheus76520001.1
dental bridgeus66330001.4
teeth whitening near meus8320002
dental crownus63300002.5
tooth extractionus69290002.5
best dentist near meus71210003.5
dental implant costus28210008
partial denturesus29190001.7
dentist officeus60180005
dentist office near meus75150006
periodontist near meus31130002.5
family dentistus24130003
dentistry for childrenus6120002.5
chipped toothus24120001.8
cavity fillingus45110000.8
sedation dentistryus37110002
holistic dentistus43110001.7
teeth cleaningus71110002
sensitive teethus61100000.8
cheap dentist near meus1299002
emergency dentist near meus099002.5
main street dentalus2795003
pediatric dentist near meus3490004
affordable denturesus1281002
dentist appointmentus4881006
tooth crownus6281002
dental cleaningus5972003
grinding teethus7671000.45
smile dentalus2169003.5
emergency dental careus3453002.5
kids dentist near meus3651004
dental officeus537005
permanent denturesus535001.9
laser teeth whiteningus2233001.4
emergency tooth extractionus633003
dental clinic near meus6731003.5
cost of dental implantsus3631001.4
24 hour dentistus1430002
tooth fillingus5222000.9
cheap dentistus3822003
teeth whitening dentistus2820001.5
general dentistryus4520003.5
childrens dentist near meus2618003.5
family dental careus2717002.5
dental professionalsus3316003.5
kids dentalus715003.5
advanced dentalus3114003
laser dentistryus111001.7
teeth whitening treatmentus4910001.8
oral sedation dentistryus3510002.5
kids dentistus2510003.5
family cosmetic dentistryus1610002.5
dental orthodonticsus149004.5
cosmetic teeth whiteningus449001.6
modern dentistryus288004
endodontist near meus248003
urgent dental careus16003
walk in dentistus176003
cosmetic dental bondingus385001.9
cosmetic dentistry veneersus695002
family dental servicesus365001.4
teeth whitening systemus624501.8
invisible bracesus674006
cosmetic dental treatmentus643503
cosmetic dental careus463004
emergency dental treatmentus372503
children dental careus422508
general and cosmetic dentistryus202502.5
cosmetic dental clinicus422503.5
family and cosmetic dentistryus62502.5
dental makeoverus52003
dental implant clinicus915011
dental care centerus221502.5
general dental careus361504
urgent care dental clinicus161502.5
dental care clinicus81003
cosmetic dentistry teeth whiteningus121001.6
cosmetic dentistry whiteningus27701.5
teeth alignment treatmentus22303

Use Research Tools

Keyword research tools reveal search patterns and ranking chances. Tools like Google’s Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs show monthly searches, keyword variations, and ranking difficulty. They help find keywords you might miss through manual research.

These tools spot long-tail keywords – longer, specific phrases with clear search intent. While they get fewer searches, they often convert better because searchers know exactly what they want.

Research Related Searches

Check Google’s “Related searches” at the bottom of search results. These show what else your target audience looks for. This goldmine of keyword ideas comes straight from real user searches.

Watch Google’s search bar suggestions as you type. These autocomplete phrases show popular searches related to your keywords, offering fresh content ideas and keyword opportunities.

Step 3: Evaluating and Picking Keywords

KeywordStarting RankCurrent RankChangeNotes
Emergency Dentist457+38Added blog on dental emergencies
Pediatric Dentistry3015+15Updated service page content

Check Keyword Stats

After collecting keywords, look at their ranking potential. Focus on two main metrics: search volume and competition level. These numbers show which keywords give you the best chance to rank.

Search Volume

Monthly search volume tells you how often people look for a keyword. Higher numbers can bring more traffic, but mean tougher competition. Mid-volume keywords often work better, bringing steady traffic while giving you a real chance to rank.

Keyword Difficulty

Keyword difficulty shows how hard it is to rank. This looks at how strong top-ranking sites are, their backlinks, and content. Lower scores mean better chances to rank. When starting, pick keywords with scores under 50 to see results faster.

Target Quick Wins

Quick-win keywords mix good search volume with lower competition. Find keywords where you show up on page two of Google (positions 11-20). Small changes can move these rankings to page one, bringing more traffic quickly.

Watch SERP Features

Google shows different features in search results. When you know these features, you get more ways to rank beyond standard listings.

  • Image results: Your site can rank in image packs if you have quality images. Look for image-friendly keywords like “marketing infographics” or “web design examples” to get this traffic.
  • Featured snippets: Snippets show up above normal results. Find question keywords and write clear answers. Use proper headings and bullet points to boost your chances of getting a snippet.
  • List features: “Best of” and “top tips” searches often show list features. Make well-structured lists with clear numbers or bullets. Match how you write to what searchers want to rank better.
  • Video results: Google shows videos for how-to searches. Make videos for tutorial keywords. Put your keywords in video titles and descriptions to rank in video results.

Step 4: Analyzing Search Intent and Competition

Your PracticeCompetitor ACompetitor BInsights Gained
Kids’ Dental CarePediatric DentistChildren’s DentalConsider adding blog series on pediatric care
Dental Implants CostDental Implants PriceUse more cost-related keywords

Spot Search Intent

Search intent shows why people look for specific terms. Your content should match this intent to rank higher and turn visitors into customers. Think about what the searcher wants – information, products, or comparisons?

Write content that fits what they need. If they want information, create guides. If they’re ready to buy, make product pages. If they want comparisons, write reviews or feature lists.

Study Your Competition

Look at who ranks first for your keywords. See how good their content is, their backlinks, and site strength. This shows what you need to do to outrank them.

When big brands hold top spots, pick longer, specific keywords. Find topics or angles they don’t cover.

Track Competitor Rankings

Watch how competitors rank for your keywords. Look at what type of content they use – blogs, videos, or product pages. See how they structure their content and how detailed it is.

Find topics competitors don’t cover. Write better, more complete content about these topics. See where they get backlinks – you might get links from these places too.

Step 5: Final Keyword Selection

Pick Primary Keywords

Primary keywords build your SEO base. Choose terms that fit your business goals and show good search numbers with fair ranking chances. Use these keywords on your main pages – homepage, service pages, and key blog posts.

Pick keywords that bring in buyers. A keyword bringing 100 likely customers works better than one bringing 1,000 random visitors. Match your keywords to each stage of your sales funnel.

Mix Short and Long Keywords

Use both broad and specific terms. Broad terms like “digital marketing” bring lots of traffic but face tough competition. Specific phrases like “B2B content marketing agency Orlando” bring fewer searches but more sales.

Example mix for a marketing agency:

  • Broad: “marketing agency”, “SEO services
  • Mid-tail: “B2B marketing agency”, “local SEO company”
  • Long-tail: “healthcare marketing agency Orlando”, “ecommerce SEO services pricing”

Google Keyword Planner Tips

Check your final list in Google Keyword Planner. Look at search trends, seasonal changes, and cost-per-click data. High CPC often means people are ready to buy – worth targeting even with lower search numbers.

Get your keyword data and look for patterns. Put similar keywords together. Find seasonal trends. Plan your content around high-traffic times.

Using Your Keywords

SEO MetricBaseline1 Month3 Months6 MonthsNotes
Organic Traffic2090220350Steady increase
Keyword Rankings5102550Broader visibility
Conversion Rate2%2.5%3%4%More appointments

How to Use SEO Keywords You’ve Chosen

Now that you have your keyword list, it’s time to put them on your website to boost your search rankings. Add keywords to your content, titles, meta descriptions, headers, and URLs. Add them naturally – forcing keywords hurts your SEO.

Start with primary keywords on your homepage and main pages. Use related and long-tail keywords in blogs, articles, and product descriptions. This helps Google understand your site and gets you found for many different searches about your business.

Best Practices for Keyword Integration

  • Write for readers first: Your keywords should fit naturally in your content. Make it easy to read while showing Google what each page covers.
  • Optimize titles and meta descriptions: Put main keywords in title tags and meta descriptions. This helps you show up in search and get more clicks.
  • Structure with headers: Use H1, H2, and H3 headers to organize your content. Put keywords in headers to show Google your main topics.
  • Add image alt text: Put keywords in image alt text to rank in image search and help your overall SEO.
  • Keep it natural: Don’t overuse keywords – Google will penalize you. Focus on making content that helps readers.
  • Write in-depth content: Longer content gives you more space to use keywords naturally. Google often sees detailed content as more trustworthy.
  • Keep content fresh: Google likes new content. Add new pages with your keywords regularly.
  • Mix up your words: Use different ways to say the same thing. This stops repetition and helps you rank for more searches.

Dental Keyword Research FAQs

What should a dental website include?

A dental website needs your services, dentist background, office hours, location, and ways to contact you. Add patient reviews, FAQs, and online booking to make it user-friendly. Start a blog with dental care tips. Show good photos of your clinic and team, clear next steps for visitors, and make sure it works well on phones.

How do I identify my keywords?

Think about what patients type when looking for dental care. List your services like teeth whitening or implants, add your city name, and common problems like toothaches. Tools like Google Keyword Planner show you which terms people search for most.

How do I choose the right keywords?

Pick keywords that match your dental practice and what patients search for. Look for terms many people search for, but also target specific phrases with less competition. Mix broad terms like “dentist” with specific ones like “pediatric dentist in Miami” to reach different types of patients.

How do I optimize my dental website for SEO?

Put your keywords in your page titles, headers, and descriptions. Add your practice to Google Business and include local terms. Make your site work well on phones and load fast. Write helpful blog posts often and get links from other good websites to rank better.

How do I start a dental blog?

Pick topics your patients care about – like oral health tips or new treatments. Plan when you’ll post new articles. Use simple blog software on your website. Write helpful posts with your keywords and share them on social media and in emails to patients.

What are the 3 main factors that go into choosing a keyword?

First, the keyword must fit your dental services. Second, check how many people search for it. Third, see how many other dentists target that keyword. Good keywords balance these factors to bring in the right patients.

What are the three steps to choosing keywords?

List keywords that fit your dental practice and find related terms with research tools. Check which terms get searched often but don’t have too much competition. Pick keywords that match both your services and what patients look for, mixing general and specific terms.

Keyword Research Tools

  • These tools are essential for identifying the best keywords for your dental practice’s website.
  • They provide insights into search terms, trends, and performance metrics.
  1. Google Keyword Planner (link):
    • Free to use with a Google Ads account.
    • Good for finding search volumes and understanding keyword competition.
  2. SEMrush (link):
    • Offers comprehensive keyword data, including trend analysis and organic search statistics.
    • Provides a feature to see which keywords competitors are ranking for.
  3. Ahrefs (link):
    • Known for its detailed backlink analysis, which is helpful for SEO.
    • Includes a keyword explorer that gives keyword suggestions and search volumes.
  4. Other SEO tools:
    • Tools like Moz, Ubersuggest, and Yoast can also help identify and manage keywords.
    • Each tool has unique features that can contribute to a well-rounded keyword strategy.
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