How to Research Keywords for SEO?

Keyword research is a crucial step in any SEO strategy as it helps you identify the keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for online.

It’s no secret that Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is the best way to drive organic traffic to a website. Rather than paying for expensive advertisements, SEO allows developers to attract the attention of customers while also offering information that is relevant to those same customers. This represents a win/win for everybody involved. Learning how to do keyword research for SEO is a huge first step.

What is a keyword?

Simply put, a keyword is the query a user types into a search engine to find results. For instance, a user who wants to make chocolate chip cookies might search for “chocolate chip cookie recipe” or someone looking for a more responsive internet browser might search for “fastest web browser”.

How to do Keyword Research for SEO

Of course SEO keyword research tools are a big part of this, but you can also do some preliminary investigation to have a little more direction before turning to a tool. A tip on how to perform keyword research is to be thorough. Try and look at your problem from all angles. Think of what information you want to provide, and imagine the different ways a person looking for that info might go about it or hire a professional SEO services company.

Here are the steps to follow when researching keywords for SEO:

Define your target audience:

Before you start researching keywords, you need to have a clear understanding of your target audience. This includes their demographics, interests, and search behavior.

Brainstorm potential keywords:

Once you have defined your target audience, brainstorm a list of potential keywords and phrases that they might use to search for your products or services. Use tools like Google’s autocomplete feature, related searches, and industry-specific terms to generate ideas.

Use keyword research tools:

There are several keyword research tools available that can help you identify the most relevant and high-traffic keywords for your website. Some of the popular tools include Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz Keyword Explorer.

Analyze keyword competition:

Once you have a list of potential keywords, analyze the competition for each keyword. Look for keywords with a high search volume and low competition as they are easier to rank for.

Group keywords into categories:

Group your keywords into categories based on their relevance and search intent. This will help you create targeted content and optimize your website’s pages for specific keywords.

Monitor and update your keyword strategy: Keyword research is an ongoing process, and you need to monitor and update your keyword strategy regularly. Keep an eye on changes in search behavior and adjust your keyword strategy accordingly.

Using Google Autocomplete:

When using Google, you’ve probably noticed that before you’ve even finished typing your search, Google autocomplete suggests a relevant search query. On the surface, this feature helps users save time, by offering a guess at what they are trying to look for based on data from previous users who have done similar searches. But since it uses past searches as its basis, it is also a great way to get in the head of potential customers.

Try to guess what information an average customer is looking up, and if Google autocomplete offers a variation, take that suggestion into consideration. There are no set rules for how to do keyword research for SEO, but having a game plan helps before turning to SEO keyword research tools. Split Reef can also help you come up with a strategy for targeting the right keywords.

Use Incognito Browser:

In some instances, Google will take search history into account when serving search results to a customer. For that reason, when using Google to search for keywords, make sure to set the browser to incognito mode. This allows a user to get the most unbiased view of suggestions and search results.

Make a list of what you think are useful search terms. If your search results return competitor sites with similar content to what you hope to provide, you are on the right track. Also, make a note of the types of words that show up in competitor results. These can also be useful factors to keep in mind.

How to Perform Keyword Research with a Tool

Once you have finished this preliminary work, it’s time to turn to an SEO keyword research tool. There are many options at your disposal, such as SEMrush and Ahrefs. However, the best free keyword research tool is probably Google Keyword Planner. As part of Google’s Ads tool suite, this tool gives deeper insight into the types of keywords being used, and how many people search out these keywords in a given period of time.

Google Keyword Planner is easy to use and frequently updated with new features. It’s one of the best free keyword research tools because it offers robust features for beginners and more experienced users alike. Google keyword planner lets users check search forecasts and historical data to see how certain keyword phrases have performed over time. Users can also create campaigns to group together different search queries.

Another Keyword research tool is SpyFu. This tool requires a subscription fee, but allows users to easily monitor competitors’ sites to check how pages rank, and the types of keywords they’ve used. It offers more direct insight into how to perform keyword research successfully in a specific market.

SEO keyword research tools allow the user to input a number of possible keywords, and then using past data, it will show information like how many people have searched for that term, and possible variations that may perform better.

Double Check for User Intent

Finally, when you have found some well-performing keywords to utilize, keep in mind that SEO keyword research tools don’t take into account user search intent. For example, a pest control company doing research for an article about problems caused by mice may find that the phrase “mouse trouble” has significant search value. But typing it into Google may show that the vast majority of those users are looking for information on problems with computer mice.

Keyword Research may take some getting used to before you fully understand it. The professionals at Split Reef have experience with how to perform keyword research and other aspects of SEO. Contact our Florida SEO Company at (904) 900-0773, or Columbus SEO company at (614) 721-2854 or find out about more of our SEO services online.

Web App vs. Native App vs. Hybrid App Development

If you’re planning to make a mobile app, maybe you’ve heard about or even begun considering the advantages and disadvantages presented by web app vs native app vs hybrid app development. Whether you’re familiar with these terms, or just hearing them for the first time, it can be valuable to review the pros and cons of each approach. But first, let’s review the distinction between these three types of application.

What is a Web App?

Web applications offer the most universal app solution, allowing access to a large user base. Rather than requiring the user to download an app to their device, web apps are run directly in a browser like Chrome or Safari, which is likely already installed. Web apps are coded in languages like HTML5, CSS, and Javascript. Benefits of Custom Web Application Development.

What is a Native App?

A native application is one that is developed with a specific platform in mind. Users typically download them through their mobile platform’s app store, and run them from their device’s memory. The language in which they are coded is dependent on the platform, such as iOS or Android.

What is a Hybrid App?

As the name suggests, a hybrid app combines aspects of web and native apps. Hybrid apps run in a virtual machine, or shell, that can easily be compiled to run on different platforms. Hybrid apps are coded in the same languages as web apps and then packaged in an application that interprets the code to run natively on a device. Like native apps, hybrid apps are usually downloaded from the app store.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Web App vs Native App vs Hybrid App Development

At Split Reef, our team of experts can guide you in the right direction if you’re unsure which type of application works best for your business. But here are some strengths and weaknesses to keep in mind as you decide for yourself. 

Web Applications

Choosing a web app can be a great way to give wide access to your application because all the user needs is a compatible web browser. Since users access the app via a website, you can be sure they are always using the latest version (and your users may be happy they don’t have to worry as much about keeping up with downloading updates). Cloud based vs web based app.

Depending on the complexity of your application, development can be straightforward, and it may even be possible to find code templates to meet many of your needs. A web app has the potential to be the fastest way to get your application into as many hands as possible, especially if it is simple in nature.

However, this universal appeal may come at the cost of performance. By their nature and necessity, web apps don’t excel at taking advantage of the hardware. If you plan on your application making use of a graphics-intensive interface, or platform-specific features, perhaps a different approach will work better.

Native Applications

While web apps let the browser do the heavy lifting, native apps are built from the ground up to take advantage of platform-specific features, working in tandem with native hardware and software. This gives you the most freedom to develop exactly the app you want.

However, with greater performance comes the potential cost of the available user base. For example, if you want your application to run on Android and iPhone devices, you will need to develop and maintain separate code bases for Android, iOS, and any other platform you wish to support.

Developing for specific platforms also takes a specific knowledge base that may be harder to come by. Native app developers need to understand more complicated languages, making this approach more difficult and expensive. Despite the boost in potential app performance, it may be overkill if your problem just needs a simple solution.

Hybrid Applications

Hybrid apps make use of a single code base to run in multiple environments, making it easier to maintain an application that can make better use of processing power and other features. Modifications can allow your application to utilize platform-specific features, but make the code more complex and error-prone. So, for more complex applications, a native app may end up being the better choice.

In the end, the type of app development you choose likely comes down to three factors:

  • Budget/time constraints
  • Scope of the application
  • User experience

For applications that require speed and robust features, native apps offer the most competent solution but may be more difficult and expensive to develop. Hybrid apps help bridge this divide, but if you need to add too many platform-specific features, code may be more difficult to maintain and upkeep. Web apps work great for simple needs, but slow performance may frustrate users.

It’s important to consider the needs of your application, as well as your target user base to decide whether a hybrid, native, or web app would best meet your goals. For help determining the best choice for you, or for development assistance, contact Split Reef online or by phone at (614) 721-2854.