Hey there! If you’ve been working in SEO or content creation for any amount of time, you know that finding the right keywords is crucial. The right keywords can make your content soar in the rankings, while the wrong ones might leave it buried on page two or worse. Today, I’m going to share with you a step-by-step process that I’ve used to identify keywords that consistently drive traffic and boost rankings. Whether you’re new to SEO or just looking for a fresh approach, these strategies should help you rise to the top.
Step 1: Start with a Popular Forum in Your Niche
Why Forums?
Forums are treasure troves of keyword opportunities. They’re full of real questions and concerns from your target audience, giving you direct insight into what people are searching for. Unlike general keyword research, starting with forums allows you to find the actual language your audience is using, which is critical for effective content creation.
Actionable Advice:
Identify one or two popular forums in your niche. Look for forums that have a high level of engagement—lots of threads and active discussions. If you’re in the fitness niche, for example, you might explore forums like Bodybuilding.com or MyFitnessPal. If you’re in tech, consider Stack Overflow or specific product forums.
Real-World Example:
When I was working on content for a financial advice blog, I spent some time on forums like Reddit’s r/personalfinance. I noticed a recurring question: “How do I start investing with $1000?” This led me to create an article specifically addressing this question, which quickly became one of the top-performing pieces on the site.
Common Challenge:
One challenge you might face is sifting through the noise in these forums. Not every post will be relevant to your content goals. To stay focused, use the forum’s search function to find threads that align with the topics you’re interested in.
Step 2: Use SEO Tools to Explore Organic Keywords
Why SEO Tools?
Once you’ve identified the questions and topics your audience cares about, it’s time to validate these ideas with data. Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush are invaluable here. They allow you to see the search volume, competition, and potential traffic for specific keywords. This step ensures that you’re not just creating content based on assumptions but on real search demand.
Actionable Advice:
Input the questions or topics you found on the forums into your chosen SEO tool. For example, if you discovered a question like “How to lose weight fast,” enter this into Ahrefs or SEMrush to see related keywords, their search volume, and keyword difficulty (KD). Look for keywords with a balance of decent search volume and manageable competition.
Real-World Example:
For the financial advice blog I mentioned earlier, I used Ahrefs to check the keyword “investing with $1000.” I found that it had a good search volume but relatively low competition. This data confirmed that it was a valuable keyword to target. I then created a detailed guide around this keyword, which attracted consistent organic traffic over time.
Common Challenge:
A common challenge here is finding keywords that aren’t too competitive. If you’re seeing a lot of high competition keywords, try to narrow your focus. Look for long-tail keywords or more specific variations of your main keyword, like “how to invest $1000 in the stock market.”
Step 3: Filter SERP Positions and Focus on Question-Based Keywords
Why Question-Based Keywords?
Questions often indicate high intent. When someone types “how,” “what,” “why,” “where,” or “when” into a search engine, they’re usually looking for specific answers. These types of queries are fantastic opportunities because they allow you to directly address your audience’s needs.
Actionable Advice:
Use your SEO tool to filter the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) positions. Focus on keywords that are ranking in positions #10 or lower. These keywords are often ripe for the picking because the content currently ranking for them may not fully satisfy the search intent.
Real-World Example:
During a content audit for a tech blog, I noticed that the keyword “how to fix a slow laptop” was ranking on the second page of Google. By creating a more comprehensive, step-by-step guide that addressed this issue in detail, I was able to move our content to the first page within a few months. The key was in answering the question thoroughly and providing actionable solutions.
Common Challenge:
One challenge is making sure your content truly answers the question better than the existing results. To overcome this, focus on creating content that’s not just longer but more detailed and easier to digest. Break down your answers into clear, actionable steps and include visuals or videos if possible.
Step 4: Optimize Your Content for Forums and Beyond
Why This Matters:
Forums often rank well because they’re full of user-generated content, but they’re not always optimized for search engines. This gives you a golden opportunity. By creating content that’s better optimized and more authoritative, you can outrank forum threads and capture their traffic.
Actionable Advice:
Once you’ve selected your keywords, tailor your content for SEO. This means including the keyword naturally in the title, headers, and throughout the text, but also ensuring that your content is structured in a way that’s easy to read and navigate. Use bullet points, subheadings, and short paragraphs to make your content more accessible.
Real-World Example:
While working on a travel blog, I noticed a forum thread discussing “best places to visit in Japan.” The thread ranked well but was scattered with fragmented advice. I created a well-organized article titled “Top 10 Must-Visit Places in Japan” with detailed descriptions, travel tips, and a downloadable itinerary. The result? My article quickly overtook the forum thread in the rankings.
Common Challenge:
One potential roadblock is staying relevant and engaging while optimizing for SEO. The trick is to write for humans first—make sure your content is helpful, engaging, and easy to read. Then, refine it with SEO in mind, ensuring it’s also search-engine friendly.
Step 5: Check Keyword Difficulty and Craft Unique, Relevant Articles
Why Keyword Difficulty Matters:
Keyword difficulty (KD) is a crucial metric that tells you how hard it might be to rank for a particular keyword. You want to aim for keywords that are within your reach, especially if your site is new or doesn’t have a lot of domain authority yet.
Actionable Advice:
Before you start writing, check the KD of your chosen keywords. Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush provide a KD score that ranges from easy to hard. For new sites, focus on keywords with a lower KD but still enough search volume to make your effort worthwhile.
Real-World Example:
I was once tasked with improving the rankings for a niche e-commerce site. We identified “best eco-friendly kitchen products” as a keyword with moderate KD and decent search volume. Instead of just listing products, I added a detailed buying guide, including pros and cons, environmental impact, and user reviews. This unique angle helped the article rank higher than competitors who were only listing products.
Common Challenge:
It’s tempting to go after high-volume keywords with high KD, but this can be a waste of resources if your site isn’t ready to compete. Start with lower KD keywords to build momentum, then gradually target more competitive terms as your site gains authority.
Wrapping It Up: Your Roadmap to SEO Success
Finding the right keywords isn’t just about picking phrases with high search volume. It’s about understanding your audience, using the right tools, and crafting content that truly meets their needs. By starting with forums, validating your ideas with SEO tools, and optimizing your content for both search engines and users, you can create content that not only ranks well but also provides real value.
Remember, the goal is to rise to the top by being the most helpful, relevant, and authoritative source on your topic. If you follow these steps, you’ll be well on your way to achieving just that.
Thanks for sticking with me through this guide! I hope these insights help you in your own SEO journey. If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s rise to the top together!