What Is a Seed Keyword and How Can I Use It in My Research?

Keywords are the driving force in generating traffic, engaging your target audience and boosting your online visibility.

But to conduct keyword research effectively, you’ll need to identify seed keywords. Seed keywords are essential, serving as the foundation upon which your entire strategy is built.

In this article:

• Understanding Seed Keywords
• Expanding Your Keyword Universe
• Organizing and Prioritizing
• Creating High-Quality Content
• Monitoring and Adapting
• FAQ: How do you choose your seed keyword? 

Understanding Seed Keywords

A seed keyword is a fundamental term or phrase representing your research’s core topic or theme. It’s the starting point from which you branch out to discover related keywords and ideas.

For instance, if you’re in the fitness industry, “exercise routines” could be your seed keyword. When you drop your seed keywords into a keyword tool, you’ll get millions of different keyword options, both short-term and long-term.

So, how do you find the seed keywords you want to use in your content?

At times, your most powerful tool is your own intellect. To unearth seed keywords, initiate the process by compiling a roster of evident variations and synonyms related to the subject of your investigation. This step holds significance due to the operational methodology of the majority of keyword research tools.

If you have limited familiarity with the industry and require inspiration, consider examining the keywords for which related websites are achieving rankings. One of the most valuable sources of information is the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) — just enter one of your initial keyword concepts and explore the search results to find inspiration.

Compiling a list of products or services linked to your keyword can prove to be a straightforward method for discovering seed keywords. For instance, “REI” could feature items like “hiking gear, hiking backpacks, hiking apparel,” and so on.

To identify these associated products and services, simply conduct Google searches and explore niche-specific websites that offer related items. Additionally, examining navigation menus can be a valuable tool, especially for e-commerce websites with extensive product pages.

Expanding Your Keyword Universe

Once you have your seed keyword, you can expand your keyword universe. Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, or our SEOToolSet® to discover related keywords and phrases. These tools will provide valuable data, including search volume, competition and keyword trends.

Utilize the Google Keyword Tool, and if available, tools like Wordtracker and Keyword Discovery, to broaden your initial keyword list and gain insights into the relative search volumes of all your keywords.

A word of caution: Google’s estimated monthly search volumes can be misleading, so they should mainly be used as an indication of keyword popularity. If Keyword A’s monthly search volume is 5,000 and 10,000 for Keyword B, then keyword B would likely be more popular. It would also be safe to assume that ranking highly for this particular keyword would automatically bring in 10,000 users each month; although, of course, nothing guarantees it!

For more, read:

• What Are Keywords? Why Are Keywords Important to SEO? And How Do You Do Keyword Research?

Organizing and Prioritizing

After gathering a list of potential keywords, organize and prioritize them, considering the relevance of each keyword to your content or marketing campaign.

High search volume and low competition are generally desirable as they indicate the potential for attracting a larger audience while facing less competition. However, don’t overlook long-tail keywords, which can be highly targeted and may bring in users who are more inclined to convert into customers or engage with your content.

When organizing your keywords, it’s helpful to categorize them into different thematic groups. Dividing keywords into groups serves multiple keyword objectives while maintaining a cohesive and user-friendly website structure, and it allows for a more structured approach to your content creation and marketing efforts.

Additionally, it’s wise to regularly revisit and update your keyword list, as search trends and user behavior can change over time. This ongoing keyword management ensures that your strategy remains effective and adaptable to evolving search engine algorithms and user preferences.

For more on long-tail keywords, read:

• How Can I Find Long-Tail Keywords and Why Are They Valuable?

Creating High-Quality Content

Seed keywords are not just for SEO; they should also guide your content creation. Develop high-quality content around your seed keyword and its related terms. This will not only improve your search engine rankings but also engage your audience more effectively.

Using seed keywords as an outline for your content is an excellent strategy for creating well-structured and search engine-friendly material. They represent the core concepts and themes of your topic, providing a roadmap for your content creation process. Starting with seed keywords ensures that your content remains focused and aligned with your target audience’s interests and needs.

Once you have your seed keywords, expand upon them to create a content outline. This outline can help you organize your thoughts, identify subtopics and ensure that your content covers all the essential aspects of your subject.

Each seed keyword can become a major section or heading within your content, and you can use related keywords and phrases to develop the subpoints or details. Structure your content so it is both easier to write and more readable for readers. Search engines will reward you for well-structured, organized material.

For more, read:

• 5 Steps To Help Writers Create Expert Content for SEO
• What Makes a Webpage Quality?

Monitoring and Adapting

Keyword research is an ongoing process. Regularly monitor the performance of your selected keywords and adjust your strategy accordingly. As search trends evolve, so should your approach.

Seed keywords are the foundation for your entire keyword research strategy. Start your digital marketing off right by selecting and expanding on a relevant seed keyword, then broadening it as needed to meet the needs of your target audience.

Our SEO experts can help you identify the best seed keywords for your business. Contact us today for a free consultation.

FAQ: How do you choose your seed keyword?

Choosing the right seed keyword is a critical first step in any successful keyword research process. Here are some considerations to help you select the most suitable seed keyword for your project.

Start by identifying keywords directly related to your website’s niche or the topic you want to focus on. These keywords should reflect the core themes and subject matter of your content.

For example, if you run a fitness blog, a seed keyword like “weight loss tips” is highly relevant. Consider your target audience’s interests and needs to ensure that your seed keyword aligns with their search.

Analyze the search volume and competition for your chosen seed keyword. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, or SEOToolSet® can help you assess this data.

Aim for keywords with a healthy search volume, but be mindful of overly competitive ones, as it may be difficult to rank for them as a beginner. Finding a balance between search volume and competition is essential to ensure your efforts yield results.

Long-tail keywords are more specific and can often be easier to rank for. Once you have your seed keyword, explore long-tail variations that stem from it. These are often longer and more detailed phrases that potential visitors might use in their search queries.

For instance, if your seed keyword is “healthy recipes,” long-tail keywords like “quick healthy breakfast recipes” or “low-calorie dinner recipes” can help you capture a more targeted audience. Long-tail keywords can be a goldmine of untapped potential.

Step-by-Step Procedure:

1. Identify the core theme or topic of your research, which will serve as your seed keyword.
2. Utilize keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, or SEOToolSet® to discover related keywords and phrases.
3. Analyze the data provided by these tools, including search volume and competition, to evaluate the potential of each keyword.
4. Organize your list of keywords based on relevance and potential impact on your content or marketing campaign.
5. Prioritize keywords with high search volume and low competition, but also consider long-tail keywords for targeting specific audiences.
6. Develop high-quality content centered around your seed keyword and related terms.
7. Ensure your content is optimized for SEO by including keywords naturally within the text, headings and meta tags.
8. Monitor the performance of your selected keywords using analytics tools and track changes in search trends.
9. Regularly review and adapt your keyword strategy to stay aligned with evolving search behaviors and industry trends.
10. Continuously refine your content and SEO efforts based on the insights gained from monitoring and analysis.

Bruce Clay is founder and president of Bruce Clay Inc., a global digital marketing firm providing search engine optimization, pay-per-click, social media marketing, SEO-friendly web architecture, and SEO tools and education. Connect with him on LinkedIn or through the BruceClay.com website.

See Bruce's author page for links to connect on social media.