Keyword research is a big job, and you need the right tools to do it successfully. There are plenty of keyword suggestions and research tools on the market — here are seven of them (in alphabetical order) you should be using to better meet your audience’s needs and rank better in search.

1. Answer The Public
2. Bing Webmaster Tools Keyword Research
3. Google Ads Keyword Planner 
4. Google Trends
5. Keyword Generator (Ahrefs)
6. Keyword Suggestions (SEOToolSet)
7. QuestionDB

FAQ: How can I leverage keyword research tools to enhance my content strategy and SEO efforts?

1. Answer The Public

Answer The Public serves questions and phrases related to your keyword by using autocomplete data from search engines.

Add the data to your keyword research list, then write content to address each relevant question or phrase. You can write a separate webpage for each question or phrase, or include a bunch of them within one article (you might even rank for a featured snippet if you do it the right way).

You can do a couple of searches for free each day, or upgrade to a paid subscription.

2. Bing Webmaster Tools Keyword Research

If you’re trying to compete in Bing, then you’ll want to use its Webmaster Tools keyword research tool to discover the keywords and phrases people are using on the Bing search engine.

Take your seed list of keywords and input them into the tool. The keyword tool will suggest matching or relevant keywords related to them, including search volume and trends. Keywords suggestions fall into the following three categories: related, questions, or newly discovered.

Plus, the tool also provides the top-ranked URLs for the root keywords and can also give data on the keywords that are already driving traffic to your website. There are all sorts of filters you can apply to the data to refine it as well.

Bing Webmaster Tools keyword research feature is free for those who have an account.

3. Google Ads Keyword Planner

The Google Ads Keyword Planner is not just for advertisers; it’s also a handy SEO keyword research tool for websites competing in Google.

Input your seed list and the keyword suggest tool will help you find the most relevant keywords. Or, you can enter your website and Google will look for keywords related to the content.

The Keyword Planner gives data on search volume and will provide bid estimates for advertisers (which can also help gauge how competitive a keyword in organic search will be). You can narrow down your search by using various filters as well.

Keyword Planner is free for anyone who has a Google Ads account.

4. Google Trends

Google Trends offers — you guessed it — trends on search queries. You can enter a given keyword and get various data points on it, including:

• Interest over time
• Interest by region
• Related topics
• Related queries

You can also apply filters like what type of search — web search, image search, news search, etc.

You can also check out the Trending Now page to see what’s currently trending around the world. This can be useful for writing on timely topics.

Google Trends is a free keyword research tool.

5. Keyword Generator (Ahrefs)

Ahrefs’ Keyword Generator is a keyword suggestion tool that lets you enter up to 10 words or phrases and generates keywords for the search engine of your choice (there are nine of them), including Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon and more. Filter by country.

The data is offered up into six categories of keyword types, including: Phrase match, having the same terms as your seed list, keywords the top-competing pages also rank for, search suggestions via autocomplete, newly discovered keywords and question formats.

Get data like keyword difficulty scores and search volume for each keyword listed. You can use filters to find those keywords with good search volume and low competition (the sweet spot!).

Also, find out any SERP features associated with that keyword (a must when you are doing a whole-SERP SEO strategy). And, you can use this tool to find out SEO metrics on the top-ranked webpages for a term, too.

You can use the free version with limited functionality, or try a paid trial for a small fee. After that, if you upgrade to a subscription, the Lite version is $99 per month, and the Standard version is $199 per month at the time of writing.

6. Keyword Suggestions (SEOToolSet)

Of course, we have to mention our solution to keyword research, too, and that’s our Keyword Suggestions tool, which is part of our SEOToolSet®.

With the Keyword Suggestions tool, you can find terms that are semantically related to the keywords in your seed list. The tool can provide search activity for each keyword, three metrics to indicate competitiveness, categories, and a trending chart.

The SEOToolSet allows you to research keywords further by presenting more data, including keyword relative “activity” as a search query.

You can use the Keyword Suggestions tool for:

• SEO research
• Content planning
• Discovering word associations for video descriptions
• Finding keywords you might want to exclude from your PPC campaign, and more.

The SEOToolSet offers a free trial and then is $24.95 per month after that. The free version of the Keyword Suggestion tool will serve up five related words and phrases to your keyword (entered one at a time) pulled from search engine data.

7. QuestionDB

QuestionDB allows you to enter a broad keyword and find relevant questions related to it, pulled from its database of more than 32 million questions that “have been asked on various websites over time.”

The generated list will give you the relevant questions for keywords, plus volume and difficulty data from DataForSeo, an SEO data API provider. (“Keyword difficulty represents the median backlink profile strength of the top 10 webpages ranking for a specific keyword,” according to DataForSEO.) From here, you can view related topics and download the list of questions.

QuestionDB is free with limited functionality, offering 50 results per search. You can upgrade for deeper dives into the data and unlimited searches for $15 per month at the time of writing.

Keyword research is not a small feat, and the right tools can help you get the keywords most relevant to your audience and your business. For more on keyword research, check out:

• What Are Keywords?

Don’t have the time or resources to conduct thorough keyword research? Let our SEO experts do the work for you. Schedule a free 1:1 consultation to discuss how we can help.

FAQ: How can I leverage keyword research tools to enhance my content strategy and SEO efforts?

Navigating the complexities of content strategy and search engine optimization demands strategic precision. Keyword research tools are beacons of insight, guiding your content toward relevance and your SEO efforts toward success.

Engaging in a comprehensive content strategy necessitates more than just high-quality writing; it involves strategic keyword integration. Keyword research tools serve as the compass in this journey. By delving into these tools, you uncover trending keywords and gain insights into what your target audience seeks. This valuable understanding empowers you to curate content that resonates deeply with your readers.

Seamless integration of meticulously researched keywords directly influences your search engine rankings. Search engines thrive on relevancy, and these tools offer you the means to align your content with user intent. As you strategically pepper your articles with these keywords, you provide search engines with clear signals, ultimately enhancing your chances of climbing the results ladder.

One key advantage of leveraging keyword research tools lies in uncovering untapped niches. These tools illuminate the uncharted terrain of long-tail keywords, where competition might be less fierce and relevance is more attainable. Incorporating these hidden gems into your content enriches your strategy and helps you reach a more targeted audience.

Beyond keyword discovery, these tools facilitate monitoring and adaptation. Continuously tracking keyword performance offers insights into user behavior shifts. As search trends evolve, these tools empower you to adjust your strategy in real time, ensuring your content remains aligned with your audience’s evolving needs.

Keyword research tools transcend mere words; they are the compass, guide and beacon illuminating your path to successful content strategy and SEO. By harnessing their power, you position your content to resonate with audiences and increase search engine ranks.

Step-by-Step Procedure: How To Leverage Keyword Research Tools for Enhanced Content Strategy and SEO

1. Understand the significance of keyword research in content strategy and SEO.
2. Familiarize yourself with different keyword research tools available in the market.
3. Research your target audience’s preferences, interests and pain points.
4. Explore trending keywords related to your niche using keyword research tools.
5. Identify long-tail keywords that align with your content’s focus.
6. Analyze the search volume and competition level of selected keywords.
7. Prioritize keywords with a balance of search volume and competition.
8. Incorporate relevant keywords organically into your content.
9. Ensure that keywords match user intent and enhance the overall reader experience.
10. Monitor the performance of integrated keywords using tracking tools.
11. Adapt your content strategy based on emerging keyword trends.
12. Utilize keyword research tools to identify content gaps and potential niches.
13. Create content that addresses specific long-tail keywords and user queries.
14. Incorporate keywords in key areas such as headings, subheadings and meta descriptions.
15. Regularly update your content to reflect evolving keyword trends.
16. Engage in competitor analysis to identify keywords driving their success.
17. Leverage keyword research tools to refine and optimize paid advertising campaigns.
18. Collaborate with your SEO team to align keyword research with technical optimization.
19. Continuously educate yourself on emerging SEO and content trends.
20. Keep a pulse on your audience’s preferences to consistently refine your keyword strategy.

The post 7 Keyword Suggestion and Research Tools to Figure Out the Right Keywords for Your SEO Strategy appeared first on Bruce Clay, Inc..

If you’ve ever worked with an SEO you’ve probably heard the phrase “optimize your content” one too many times.

In search engine optimization, you not only want to create quality content, but also make sure it’s optimized in the best way possible. This is so it has a better chance of performing in the search results.

In this article, I’ll outline what content optimization is in SEO and how to go about doing it.

I will discuss:

• What is SEO content optimization?
• How to do SEO content optimization
• FAQ: What exactly is SEO content optimization and how can I implement it?

What Is SEO Content Optimization?

Content optimization in SEO is all about making sure the content is streamlined for both search engines and website visitors.

Generating content is the most important part of the content creation process. But there are some things that you have to consider to help your content perform better in the search results and to offer a better experience for your visitors.

In fact, not doing certain optimization practices can impede your ability to rank in the search results. One example that comes to mind is a slow webpage when compared to your competition in the search results.

Now you might not equate a slow webpage with SEO content optimization, but it’s very much a part of ensuring the webpage your content is on performs. And I’ll talk more about that next.

How To Do SEO Content Optimization

You might think that SEO content optimization involves just slapping a few keywords onto a webpage. But it’s actually more involved than that.

See, it’s not just the words on the page that need to be optimized — it’s the entire webpage (which means getting into the technical stuff). Bottom line: You cannot view content optimization as separate from other types of optimization that need to happen on the webpage.

That said, let’s look at some of the things that go into SEO content optimization. While not an exhaustive list, here are some of the many things you can and should do:

Keyword Research

Keywords are the foundation of SEO content. They tell us what our target audience is searching for and how they are searching for it when looking for what you have to offer.

But keyword research goes beyond that. It helps us better understand what our target audience wants so that we can deliver more targeted content to them, and to better compete in the search results.

Once you have done your keyword research, you can begin to create content for those keyword topics. That is the first step in optimizing SEO content.

Choosing a Content Type

Analyze the search engine results pages (SERPs) and see what type of content shows up for each of your keywords. For example, do you only see webpages? Or do you also see things like videos and featured snippets?

Take note of the SERP features that show up. This is the type of content you want to create.

Read more:

• What Is a Whole-SERP SEO Strategy?
• Content Types and Goals: Find the Right Fit for Your Marketing
• 3 Surprising On-Page SEO Techniques You May Not Know About

On-Page Optimization

Now we get to the part of SEO content optimization that most people are familiar with — on-page optimization. This involves optimizing your content from top to bottom with SEO best practices.

Here are just a few of the things to keep in mind as you optimize your SEO content …

Competitor Research

Before you put pen to paper (or in this case, finger to keyboard) you want to be sure you are creating content that will meet or exceed your competition in the SERPs. That requires some competitor research.

Competitor research can reduce wasted efforts and give you better targets for your content. Think about it: If all the top-ranked webpages in the SERPs are 1,000 words, why would you write 2,000?

You can do competitor research the old-fashioned way by going to the SERPs (in incognito mode), typing in your keyword and then analyze the top-ranked webpages. But this takes time.

Easier yet is using SEO tools for the job. (We have one for competitor research and you can learn more about the Bruce Clay SEO WP plugin at any time.)

Read:

• How to Do Competitor Research for SEO
• Want Customized SEO Advice per Keyword? There’s a Plugin for That!

Mobile-Friendly Writing

Given that 63% of traffic to search engines and 54% of traffic to websites comes from mobile devices, it only makes sense that you optimize your content with mobile readers in mind. How do you do that? Think tiny screens.

Mobile content means breaking up long chunks of content into bite-sized pieces. Paragraphs can be two sentences long (or in some cases, even one sentence).

You can use bullets and subheads to keep things organized and to guide the reader along. Think about how much effort it would take to read a long article on a phone, and adjust your formatting to make it easier for your visitors.

Read:

• Page Experience Matters: The Mobile-Friendly Site

Link Targets

Most SEO content optimization will take into consideration the outbound links from the page. Outbound links are the links that you embed that go out to another page either on your website or to another website.

In either case, you want to be strategic about what you are linking to. This is especially important if you are SEO siloing to boost your content performance. And it’s also important to your link profile. You want to make sure you are linking out to quality, relevant websites.

Read:

• What Are Outbound Links?
• SEO SIloing: What, Why, How
• The New Link Building Manifesto: A Complete Guide to Earning Links That Count

Keyword Optimization

In many cases, you end up naturally optimizing your content when you write — using different variations of a keyword and related keywords. But any optimization effort is about being as precise as possible and also beating the competition.

So it cannot hurt to ensure the page has the most relevant keywords showing up a reasonable number of times. There are tools you can use to help with optimizing your keywords with content, like the Bruce Clay SEO WP plugin.

Read:

• How a WordPress SEO Plugin Can Help You Optimize Your Content with Keywords

Meta Data

Meta data (aka meta tags) is another area that is widely known as a standard part of SEO content optimization. You want to get this part right because your meta data is your first impression to both search engines and users.

Why? The meta data is the first bit of content the search engines encounter when crawling a webpage to understand what the page is about. And, the meta data serves as the snippet in the search results, so it’s the first thing a potential visitor sees.

For this, you want to make sure that:

• The meta data is compelling
• It accurately describes what the reader can expect
• It stays within character count guidelines
• It uses the target keywords

Read:

• What Are Meta Tags?

Technical SEO

Really great content will get you pretty far in the search results. But all else equal, if a competitor for your keyword has a faster website or offers a better user experience, your website will likely not stack up in the SERPs.

What do I mean when I say “all else equal”? Search engines like Google use a variety of factors in their ranking algorithms to determine which page is the most relevant to a search. No website is going to be perfect for a query, and Google knows that.

So the search engines essentially rank the webpages by those that are closest to matching the most factors. So let’s say there are 50 ranking factors for a given query — if you have 39 of the most important and your competition has 40, who do you think will rank above whom?

So a key part of SEO content optimization is actually making your website run better. For this, you need the help of a technical SEO person and/or your web team. It’s not something that a content creator can easily tackle without the know-how.

Read:

• SEO Should Beat the Competition, Not the Algorithm
• Technical SEO vs. On-Page SEO: The Differences
• Google’s Page Experience Update: A Complete Guide

Follow these SEO content optimization tactics to help your content perform better in the search results.

For a more comprehensive list on optimization, check out our SEO checklist.

FAQ: What exactly is SEO content optimization and how can I implement it?

SEO content optimization stands as a pivotal strategy for achieving online success. By tailoring your content to align with search engine algorithms, you can exponentially increase your chances of appearing prominently in search results. This article guides you in understanding and implementing SEO content optimization effectively.

At its core, SEO content optimization refers to the strategic process of refining your online content to make it more attractive to search engines like Google. The goal is simple yet powerful: to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) and subsequently draw more organic traffic. This process involves a harmonious blend of keyword research, quality content creation, and technical finesse.

The cornerstone of successful SEO content optimization lies in thorough keyword research. You can strategically incorporate these terms into your content by identifying relevant keywords and phrases that potential visitors might use to find content like yours. However, it’s crucial to strike a balance – keyword stuffing can result in a negative user experience and harm your ranking. Instead, aim for an effortless integration that enhances readability and value in your content.

Content creation remains essential. Search engines prioritize content that provides genuine value to users. Craft articles, blog posts, or other forms of media that not only address your audience’s needs and showcase your expertise. Engaging content encourages longer time spent on your website and reduced bounce rates, signaling to search engines that your content deserves recognition.

Technical optimization is equally vital. Ensure your website is mobile-responsive, as search engines prioritize mobile-friendly sites. Furthermore, optimize your meta titles, descriptions, and headings to reflect your content’s essence accurately. Internal linking, which connects different pages on your website, also aids navigation and boosts SEO performance.

To implement SEO content optimization successfully, embrace a holistic approach. Regularly update your content to reflect current trends and changes in your industry. Monitor your website’s performance using analytical tools to gauge the effectiveness of your optimization efforts. Stay informed about search engine algorithm updates and adapt your strategy accordingly.

Step-by-Step Procedure: Implementing SEO Content Optimization

1. Conduct comprehensive keyword research to identify relevant and high-traffic keywords.
2. Prioritize long-tail keywords that align closely with your content’s focus.
3. Develop high-quality, informative, and engaging content that addresses user needs.
4. Integrate selected keywords naturally into your content, including titles, headings, and body.
5. Ensure your website’s mobile responsiveness for a seamless user experience.
6. Optimize meta titles, descriptions, and headings to represent your content accurately.
7. Implement internal linking to connect relevant pages within your website.
8. Regularly update and refresh your content to reflect current trends and information.
9. Monitor your website’s performance using analytical tools like Google Analytics.
10. Analyze user behavior to identify areas for improvement and optimization.
11. Stay informed about search engine algorithm updates and adjust your strategy accordingly.
12. Leverage social media platforms to promote your optimized content.
13. Build backlinks from reputable sources to enhance your website’s authority.
14. Collaborate with influencers or industry experts to expand your content’s reach.
15. Encourage user engagement through comments, shares, and discussions.
16. Optimize images and multimedia elements for faster loading times.
17. Use schema markup to provide additional context to search engines.
18. Implement a consistent content posting schedule to maintain audience engagement.
19. Continuously track and measure the impact of your SEO content optimization efforts.
20. Adapt your strategy based on performance insights and evolving SEO best practices.

Following these steps will help you navigate the complex world of SEO content optimization and help drive organic traffic while creating a strong presence online. Staying current with industry trends and best practices is key for long-term SEO success.

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