Keyword research can be the difference between a successful blog and one that goes nowhere, but it often seems as if many bloggers think it’s something that doesn’t apply to them, or is “only for SEO.” To the contrary, keyword research goes way beyond search engine optimization, and is all about discovering what real live people are actively interested in.
That means keyword research helps you choose profitable blog subjects, identify content topics that are in high demand, and spot monetization methods that work. With that in mind, Copyblogger associate editor Jonathan Morrow and I have put together a 5-part comprehensive guide to keyword research for bloggers that walks you though the entire process using real-life niche examples.
Here’s what’s covered:
- Keyword Research: It’s Not What You Think
- How to Choose a Popular Niche for Your Blog
- How to Find Post Topics That Score Big
- Keyword Research Can Help You Make Money From Your Blog
- A Primer on Keyword Research Tools
It’s 7,739 words of juicy content, and it’s all free with no registration or other hoops to jump through.
Check it out here, and make sure to bookmark it for future reference since we’ll be updating it from time to time.
42 comments... add one
#1 Tyler @ Building Camelot → 02.20.08 at 10:48 am
Simply a great resource - I struggle with finding the right key words and this has been very helpful.
Not only have I bookmarked this, I have also printed it out so I can have it to read over and over.
#2 Latarsha Lytle → 02.20.08 at 11:17 am
Wow! What a juicy read.
You had me from the first word…and held my captive attention all the way throughout.
Thanks for the detailed analysis of all three sites as well as boosting my appreciation for a proper keyword search.
The clincher for me was: “There is your audience. There is the language. There are the words that they use. ”
THAT’s what keyword research boils down to: developing a strong grasp on what it is that you niche audience is REALLY looking for on the web.
Thanks for sharing such rich insight!
#3 Chad | ProFreelancing → 02.20.08 at 11:36 am
This is the kind of thing that separates you from the crowd, Brian.
You could sell it, you could use it to beg for subscribers…but instead you hand it out for free (and probably attract more readers anyways). Great stuff!
#4 John Hoff → 02.20.08 at 11:41 am
Once again Brian you show that your site is an invaluable tool for online success. Thanks for helping.
#5 Rob → 02.20.08 at 12:38 pm
Wow, Brian. Thanks so much for your tireless efforts. Outstanding.
#6 Connie Ragen Green → 02.20.08 at 1:49 pm
Brian - I will pass this along to my ebook writing students. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
#7 Jeff Jones → 02.20.08 at 2:00 pm
Brian,
I have a blog I created 3 months ago by using the Wordtracker free tool and I now see why I need to re-do this research to make sure I’m really reaching the people I need to consistently.
Thanks again for your always excellent content!
Jeff
#8 Steve Olson → 02.20.08 at 3:27 pm
Brian,
Thanks for the paper and the post. Keywords are one of the things I’ve neglected over the last 18 months. I just write and take what hits. Fortunately quite a bit has hit. But a better plan would have probably gotten me farther faster.
#9 Martin → 02.20.08 at 9:30 pm
Wonderful article, but why leave out the free Google keyword suggestion tool (which also gives you the CPC data without needing to setup a fake adwords campaign)?
It doesn’t show specific search numbers for each term, instead showing relative search frequency in the form of a bar (which might take a bit of getting used to), but combined with the additional data of Adwords Advertiser Competition (showing which keywords have the most bidders - i.e. which keywords are the most commercial), it is an invaluable resource… and completely free.
..also it’s suggestions for related keywords are just as good, if not better than the paid resources too.
..it also let’s you tailor the results to virtually any specific country on the planet, so if your target market lives anywhere other than US, you’re going to get your most relevant data from here without question.
http://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
#10 Brian Clark → 02.20.08 at 9:41 pm Copyblogger
Because the Google keyword suggestion tool, alone, is not comprehensive, objective or entirely trustworthy.
People who make a living online don’t rely on Google for anything in total. That’s a valuable lesson for anyone.
#11 5 Lessons In Keyword Research | Blog Gigs → 02.21.08 at 1:05 am
[…] at all. For them, Brian Clark of Copyblogger wrote a very easy to understand 5 part series titled Keyword Research for Bloggers, which, if you haven’t read any other articles on the same topic, would be an eye opener for […]
#12 Chris Norton → 02.21.08 at 5:15 am
Hi Brian, I just wanted to say thanks for a brilliant post this is really useful and I will be using your advice for getting a bigger audience to mine. Thanks C
#13 bluxed → 02.21.08 at 10:11 am
Great article. I had to skim thru some of it though.
#14 lawton chiles → 02.21.08 at 10:24 am
Brian, thank you for this PACKED article…
I used all the tools you mentioned. The real thing that confuses me is after looking at the numbers, even if the word returns a high number of searches, usually the KEI is really low.
That confuses the heck out of me. Any ideas?
#15 Angela Williams Duea → 02.21.08 at 11:16 am
What a helpful resource! I don’t use keywords as effectively as I should, and this will help me beef up my skills. Thanks for sharing your tips!
#16 Gregg → 02.21.08 at 11:55 am
Thanks for the report Brian. When helping my clients start an online business I’ve found that keyword research is one of the biggest hurdles they have. A lot of people give up at this stage in the process but with tips like this they should be able to move forward.
Gregg
#17 Pay Per Click Advertising Roundup for Wednesday 2/20/2008 | semvironment → 02.21.08 at 1:08 pm
[…] Keyword Research for Bloggers - This is a “must read” 5 part series! […]
#18 Matt → 02.21.08 at 2:48 pm
Here’s what always struck me as weird. In part 1 you say “approximately 11,222 people search for the term “blogging” each month.”
I realize this is number is an approximation, but it seems way to low to me. I’m not just talking about this keyword, but whenever I do a keyword search.
My guts tells me there should be something like 500k searches a month words like this.
Aren’t there like a tra-billion people on the internet, but only 375 searches/day.”
Am I just way off here?
#19 Wahm ~ Work at Home Mom → 02.21.08 at 5:15 pm
Wow what an informative report. I have been seriously neglecting the whole keyword research aspect of blogging until recently. This has made the whole subject much clearer. Thank you.
Jackie
#20 Glen McNiel → 02.21.08 at 6:01 pm
Brian, you never cease to amaze me. Once again I will be passing this on to my students.
I agree with you on the comments about the Google keyword suggestion tool. I do like to use the part of it that extrapolates keywords from a web page though. It’s a neat way to get suggestions when I’m drawing a blanks as to where to start. This way, I can just plug in a competitors web page and see what keywords the tool finds and it groups them too. Sometimes, it’s a nifty way to stimulate my thinking when working with a niche I don’t know much about.
I’ve also been looking at SpyFu with some interest lately. Anybody else have experience with it?
#21 Joseph Stein → 02.21.08 at 7:19 pm
bookmarked, stumbled, sphinned, you name it.
I almost missed my bus stop reading this on my mobile because I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. I always enjoy seeing case studies with very specific examples given. Thanks a bunch Brian, and keep it coming!
#22 Kin-Lee → 02.21.08 at 7:23 pm
I’ve not been able to perfect the skill of keywords research. I’ll like the part about discovering and indentifying target audience segmentations.
Will adopt writing reviews/recommendations for other products earning affiliates commission on other project this year.
Thank you very much for such valuable informations.
Kin-Lee
#23 gene → 02.22.08 at 1:32 pm
Hi,
It’s a great article. However it would be more helpful if you could include and explain alternative free online tools like AdWords and other similar programs in keyword research.
#24 Link Love: Win $5000 Worth of Prizes, Get a Keyword Research Guide, Know How to Price Your Services → 02.23.08 at 8:54 am
[…] design group writing project. Be sure to participate in it. Brian Clark and Jon Morrow release a keyword research guide for bloggers. It’s not just another guide from SEO perspective. Brian goes into detail as to why keyword […]
#25 apu → 02.23.08 at 9:12 am
Great resource. cleared up many confusions I had. thanx for sharing
#26 Blog Idea Factory » Blog Archive » Keyword research for Bloggers → 02.24.08 at 5:35 am
[…] research for Bloggers Copyblogger writes : Keyword research can be the difference between a successful blog and one that goes […]
#27 Ed Advocate for Top Online Schools → 02.25.08 at 1:26 am
This was superb, engaging and highly informative. I am totally “digging” it. I may even give it a plug on DP or WF!
#28 The Freelance Writer's Blog → 02.25.08 at 10:10 am
I’m an SEO content provider and have been blogging for three years now, and keyword research for my own blog is something I never think about to any great degree (bad, bad SEO writer!).
Thanks for the in-depth coverage from the blog perspective. I’m definitely bookmarking it in an attempt to raise my blog’s profile.
Sincerely,
Yuwanda
#29 Forum for writers → 02.25.08 at 10:52 am
I agree with your blog post and think that nowadays too many bloggers just undervalue the importance of keyword research to promote own blogs. I feel that it would be interesting for forum readers to read your article and have posted a part of it at writer’s forum here.
You are welcome to comment and participate in other forum discussions.
#30 robemmerson → 02.28.08 at 12:11 pm
Brian,
Thanks for the great information, I intended to skin the first article and come back. You grabbed my attention from the start and I couldn’t stop reading until I finished the entire series.
Thanks again for putting in such an effort.
#31 Santa Barbara Real Estate Voice → 03.02.08 at 1:24 pm
Great resource!!! There is so much info out there on how to write a blog. Key is always writing for your intended audience and consumer…not just SEO. I appreciate the insight and will myself spend some time looking at the pointers you give.
thanks
#32 41 Blog Success Tips from 10 Years of Blogging You Can Learn Today @ chrisg.com → 03.03.08 at 6:49 am
[…] Go for keywords - Find out what your readers are looking for and write about it […]
#33 Keywords Does Not a Blog Make - Epiblogger → 03.03.08 at 1:54 pm
[…] you were going to blog about. You poured over keywords lists, read about keyword research by the A-list bloggers and even did some keyword research yourself. You want to be famous! You want to be rich and you […]
#34 Keyword Research for Bloggers | Copyblogger → 03.04.08 at 9:21 am
[…] Keyword Research for Bloggers | CopybloggerKeyword research can be the difference between a successful blog and one that goes nowhere, but it often seems as […]
#35 Link Love: Win $5000 Worth of Prizes, Get a Keyword Research Guide, Know How to Price Your Services | net is everything → 03.07.08 at 4:05 am
[…] design group writing project. Be sure to participate in it. Brian Clark and Jon Morrow release a keyword research guide for bloggers. It’s not just another guide from SEO perspective. Brian goes into detail as to why keyword […]
#36 Rob → 03.09.08 at 12:26 pm
It was really helpful , even more for me for English is not my native but I try to write a blog in English
#37 Peter → 03.21.08 at 7:15 am
Only been blogging for a month. This is the best I’ve read so far.
Thanks
BAKIN
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#40 Write Service → 03.26.08 at 1:08 pm
Hi Brian,
Brilliant info; “keyword research” really is King! I’m going to start refining my keyword skills today!
Many thanks and keep up the great work!
#41 Keyword Research for Bloggers | Copyblogger → 04.03.08 at 6:52 am
[…] Keyword Research for Bloggers | Copyblogger […]
#42 Greener Pastures → 04.27.08 at 4:52 pm
Very informative- thanks- I’m at a point where I really need to get this going.
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