The Ultimate 2024 SEO Keyword Research Checklist

A solid keyword research checklist is the foundation for any successful SEO or content marketing strategy. The keywords you target must attract qualified visitors who are searching for solutions to their problems.

This is more true now than ever and it’s time to do some self-evaluation and see if your current keyword research checklist is up to the task to get your content to rank.

As of January 2024, Google had 81.95% market share in the search engine market, making it by far the most popular place users go to get their information and search for things.

By following a tried and trusted process for finding and implementing keywords in your content, you could get in some of the juicy traffic Google has to offer.

In this post, I’ll break down the keyword research checklist that I follow and if you also make sure all these boxes are ticked, you might just be able to finally crack the Google SEO puzzle and drive more traffic to your traffic to your site and revenue to your bank account.

Using a systematic approach along with cheap SEO tools like Google Keyword Planner or pricier options like Ahrefs, and SEMrush, you can quickly find high-value long-tail keywords and build authoritative content centered around real questions from your preferred customers.

Following this checklist step-by-step will help future-proof your SEO efforts and open the door to more organic traffic, leads, and revenue in the new year. Let’s get started

Understanding Your Audience

Having a thorough knowledge of your target audience is one of the first and most important things that you should consider when starting your keyword research checklist.

Whether you’re a business reaching out to customers, a solo content creator speaking to your followers, or a professor speaking to their students, knowing who you’re talking to is crucial to understanding what will resonate with them.

This knowledge goes beyond basic demographics; you need to understand their general behaviors, preferences, challenges, and motivations.

It helps you to tailor your language, tone, and content to match their expectations, making your communication more effective and meaningful.

Additionally, a deep understanding of your audience creates empathy, allowing you to connect on a more personal and emotional level.

This will help to improve the effectiveness of your content to generate leads and sales as well as build trust and loyalty over time, creating a strong and lasting connection with your audience.

This is what I call a bulletproof business model that will last the test of time.

Keyword Types to Consider

When making any kind of content online, understanding the types of keywords to consider is key.

Keywords, the building blocks of search engine optimization (SEO), are more than just terms users type into search engines; they are the reflection of the intents and needs of your audience.

Broadly, keywords can be categorized into three main types:

• Short-Tail Keywords
• Long-Tail Keywords
• Branded keywords.

Short-tail keywords are broad and often highly competitive, whereas long-tail keywords are more specific and usually indicate a user closer to making a decision or purchase.

For instance, short-tail keywords might include terms like:

• “laptops”
• “coffee shops”
• “car insurance”

These types of keywords, while generating a large volume of search traffic, are highly competitive.

This means they might not necessarily attract users with a specific search intent which is crucial if you want to push a viewer towards taking some kind of action on your site.

On the other hand, long-tail keywords could be:

• “best budget gaming laptops”
• “organic coffee shops in downtown Seattle”
• “affordable car insurance for young drivers”

These keywords, typically three or more words, target users who have a clearer idea of what they are looking for and are potentially further along in the decision-making process.

This makes them more likely to take action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a service.

It’s important to strike a balance between short-tail and long-tail keywords in your SEO strategy. While short-tail keywords can bring in a higher volume of traffic, they may not always lead to conversions.

On the other hand, long-tail keywords have lower search volumes but tend to attract more qualified leads who are closer to making a decision.

Lastly, branded keywords refer to specific terms related to your brand or business.

They can include your company name, product names, or slogans such as “Dell XPS 13” or “Starbucks downtown location,” which attract users already familiar with the brand and possibly closer to a point of sale.

When creating content or conducting keyword research, it’s crucial to consider all three types of keywords and their relevance to your target audience.

Each type serves a unique purpose in aligning your content with the audience’s search intent, enhancing visibility, and driving more targeted traffic to your site.

The Bulletproof Keyword Research Checklist

Creating a bulletproof SEO strategy all starts with nailing your keyword research, which might sound overwhelming at first.

For the longest time, I could not get my head around how to do this stuff but with a simple, straightforward keyword research checklist, you can make the whole thing a simple, even fun skill to learn.

Let’s get into it.

Know The Search Intent

At the heart of any successful keyword strategy lies the simple task of understanding what your audience is looking for.

In other words, what is the searcher’s intent when he goes to a Google search and types specific search queries into the search bar?

Is it to find out how to do something? If so, this would be informational search intent and your content should aim to provide valuable information on the topic.

Is it to buy a product or service? This would be transactional intent and your keywords and content should be geared towards conversion.

If you can consistently assess what the specific search intent is for a specific keyword, you can better match your content to meet the needs of your audience.

Google has been getting better at recognizing this, so if your content matches what people want to know or buy, you’re more likely to end up in front of them online.

If your article or product page helps someone learn something new or moves them closer to a purchase, you’ve hit the mark.

It’s all about making your content as relevant and helpful as possible to what your audience is already searching for.

Keep this in mind, and you’ll not only meet their needs but also boost your site’s visibility.

Find Low Competition Keywords

One of the most important tasks when building your online presence is finding low-competition keywords.

As a beginner, targeting high-competition keywords can be frustrating and pointless since you have no authority yet.

This is where low-competition keywords come in. These are the easy, early wins for your site that can boost your search engine rankings and increase your visibility.

Additionally, keeping updated on trends and finding high-value, relevant keywords before they become competitive is crucial.

But, how do you find these golden keywords? One of the first steps is to determine the keyword difficulty using a keyword research tool.

From there, you can analyze the search volume, competition, and relevance of potential keywords.

Another helpful tactic is to research your competitors and see which keywords they are ranking for. This can give you insights into what keywords may be valuable in your industry.

Create a master keyword list

If you’re looking to improve your website’s search engine ranking, the first step I would take is to create a master keyword list.

This list will help you store and categorize your keywords and will be the place you instantly save a juicy keyword opportunity that you saw on a keyword tool like Ahrefs.

It will, more importantly, allow you to plan out your content calendar and what content you are going to create and when.

The easiest way to create a master keyword list is to start by brainstorming a list of potential keywords and keyword phrases that relate to your business or website.

These days, we are helped by the rapid advances in AI technology and you can use tools like ChatGPT or Jasper to come up with more ideas and refine your list.

Once you have a substantial list, organize them into different categories based on their relevance and intent.

For example, if you run a fitness blog, your categories could be “workout routines”, “nutrition tips”, “weight loss strategies”, etc.

Next, consider the search volume and competition for each keyword.

A good rule of thumb is to focus on long-tail keywords (more specific phrases with lower search volume) as they tend to have less competition and can bring in more targeted traffic.

As we have already discussed, you should use a mix of informational and transactional keywords in your content.

Once you have a well-researched and organized list of keywords, it’s time to start creating high-quality content that incorporates them naturally.

Remember, the primary goal of your content should be to provide value and solve a problem for your readers.

Create A Topical Map

When it comes to SEO strategy, creating a topical map can make all the difference in planning out your content.

Not only does it provide a clear structure for related blog posts, but it also helps Google to scan your site for relevant information.

By having a well-organized topical map, your website can rank higher in search queries, thanks to a strong internal linking structure.

To get started, focus on creating a pillar post of content and then attach other informational and transactional content to it.

By using internal links, the pillar post supplies “link juice” to all other posts and boosts their rankings.

To create a strong topical map, ensure that all posts are related to one another and that there is a clear hierarchy of information.

For example, a good topical structure might look like:

• Pillar post: Ultimate Guide to Digital Marketing
• Related posts: Top 10 Social Media Marketing Tactics, Content Marketing Trends for 2021, How to Create an Effective Email Marketing Strategy

Internally linking these posts together forces the pillar post to become a central hub of information that not only provides valuable content but is also a great signal to Google and boosts the rankings of all related posts as a result.

This is because search engines view internal links as a sign of relevance and credibility.

Improving your website’s SEO and organizing your content into a clear topical map enhances user experience. Easy navigation encourages visitors to stay longer and engage with more pages.

This can also lead to higher conversion rates as visitors are exposed to more relevant and valuable information.

Creating a topical map is an ongoing process and should be regularly reviewed and updated as new content is added

However, a poor topical structure might look like this:

• Pillar post: Best Healthy Recipes
• Unrelated posts: Top 10 tech gadgets of 2021, How to organize your closet, Reasons to practice gratitude daily.

It’s also important you include some external links on specific keywords to increase your site’s credibility and establish you as a reliable source of information.

These links should be relevant to the content and add value to your readers.

Use Semantic Keywords

This is something that new bloggers and content creators often miss as something important when they first start.

I know I did since when I first started my blog, I thought I only needed to worry about the main seed keyword and nothing else.

Oh, how naive I was.

To improve Your SEO fortunes, you must be using semantically related keywords in all your posts.

These keywords refer to terms that are closely related to your primary keyword, which helps to give some additional context and relevance to your post.

First and foremost, using semantic keywords will improve the user experience by making your content more focused, easy to read, and informative.

In addition, it makes your site more likely to appear in search engine results for search queries, enhancing your visibility.

Examples of semantically related keywords compared to non-related keywords include words like “seaside,” “ocean,” and “beach” related to the primary keyword “coastline.”

Including phrases like these can enhance the value of your content, leading to more backlinks to your site and a higher likelihood of showing up in the search results.

When creating your keyword research checklist, ensuring that you have relevant, semantically related keywords should be at the top of that list.

For those who want to save time, SurferSEO stands out as my No.1 SEO tool for quickly and easily finding these keywords and putting them into your content.

Front-Load Your Keyword In Your Title

One step you should make sure not to miss is including the main keyword in your title which should be a crucial step in your on-page SEO checks.

Doing this can provide many easy benefits such as improving visibility in search engines and better search engine rankings.

From personal experience, I know firsthand how easy it is to overlook this important step. When I wrote my first few articles, I gave them any old name I thought was cool, not realizing that I was shooting myself in the foot.

When I realized the positive effect it has on overall on-page optimization, I made sure not to ignore it again.

It’s an excellent way to optimize your blog post and increase your visibility across search engines, ultimately leading to higher traffic and engagement.

Use Your Keyword in H1, H2 or H3 Tags

Using your target keyword in different headings throughout your article is one of the most important SEO practices to implement.

Not only does it provide a clear structure for readers, but it also gives search engines an idea of what your content is about.

Your keyword should be included in at least one H1, H2, or H3 tag, depending on the length of your content.

Without these tags, your site structure can become confusing and search engines may not understand what your page is about, leading to poor rankings and low website traffic.

On the other hand, I would say that you should avoid keyword stuffing in both your headings and body content, as this can harm your optimization efforts and be viewed as spam by search engines.

More than anything, your content should always look and feel natural to both Google and your readers.

One way you can strike a good balance is by using variations of your main keyword throughout the headings and body content.

It does not always have to be the main keyword exactly. This feeds back into our earlier section about semantic keywords.

Google can constantly compare keywords and understand the search intent behind different keyword variations you might use.

These can be synonyms, related terms, or long-tail keywords that are relevant to your topic.

Let’s take a primary keyword example:

• “Social Media Marketing,”

With this one, you could use variations such as “digital marketing on social media” or “social media strategy.”

This will help with SEO but also make your content more engaging and informative for readers.

Don’t get bogged down on this point either, just make sure to use your main keyword naturally throughout your content.

Perform Keyword Gap Analysis

If you find yourself struggling with keyword research and just can’t seem to find those diamonds in the rough, performing a keyword gap analysis can help you break through that wall.

A keyword gap analysis is quite simply finding the keywords that your competitors are ranking for.

Simply pick out a competing site in your niche and identify the keywords they are ranking for that didn’t look too competitive.

This can help you identify gaps in your content strategy and help you to boost your site growth quickly.

In other words, you are a spy but not the 007 kind, unfortunately.

As a keyword spy, you can find keywords you may never have found on your own, and it’s one of my favorite ways of finding keywords.

To perform a keyword gap analysis, follow these steps:

• Select Competitors In Your Niche: List out your direct competitors. These are sites within your niche that target the same audience or offer similar products or services.
• Leverage SEO tools: Advanced SEO/keyword tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz allow you to quickly see all the key relevant metrics and have features specifically designed for competitor keyword research.
• Analyze Their Keyword Strategy:
  • Enter your competitor’s URL in the SEO tool’s search bar.
  • Navigate to the ‘Organic Keywords’ section to see a list of keywords they rank for.
  • Pay special attention to ‘Position’ and ‘Volume’ to prioritize keywords.
• Discover Long Tail Keywords: Don’t just focus on the high-volume keywords. Look for long-tail keywords that are more specific and less competitive. These can be valuable targets for your content.
• Evaluate Content Gaps: Identify topics and keywords your competitors have not fully exploited or covered. These represent opportunities for your site to stand out and attract traffic.

Adding a keyword gap analysis to your keyword research helps you target the best keywords for your industry and can boost your Google rankings fast and bring more visitors to your website.

Optimize for Location-Specific Keywords (For products sold in specific areas)

Most people don’t care about their search engines. However, search results can vary hugely based on location and keywords.

With a good keyword research or SEO tool you can find a local business by searching with specific keywords.

This allows for location-based searches, helping you to find products or services similar to what your customers offer.

For instance, if your client runs a hotel in Tokyo that specializes in traditional Japanese accommodation, you could use specific search terms like “traditional stay in Tokyo” and set the location to Japan.

This way, you can identify which keywords are popular in that area and optimize your website content to match this.

You can also use location-specific long-tail keywords, such as “best wine in Tuscany” or “top vineyards near Florence”, to target a more niche audience.

Not only will this help your website rank higher for these keywords, but it will also attract local customers who are specifically looking for what you offer.

Optimizing for location-specific keywords is especially important for small businesses or those with a physical presence in a particular area.

By targeting these specific search terms, you have a better chance of standing out among your competitors and reaching potential customers who are nearby.

It’s also beneficial to include your business’s location keyword in the content of your website, such as in your meta description, title tags, and within the body of your web pages.

This will further emphasize to Google that your business is relevant to a particular place and improve your chances of appearing in local search results.

Monitor your rankings

Keeping track of your keyword performance and search rankings is a crucial aspect of managing your website’s SEO.

Regularly checking your rankings will help you identify which keywords are bringing in traffic and which need more attention.

The posts where these keywords reside can be updated to include affiliate links, ads, and other assets to better monetize your content.

One way to monitor your rankings is by using Google Analytics, a powerful and free tool that provides you with various helpful metrics.

To start tracking your keyword performance, you’ll need to set up an account, create a new view, and enable keyword tracking.

You can then use the “Acquisition” tab to view your organic search traffic and see which keywords are driving the most visitors to your site.

Regularly checking your rankings will help you identify which keywords are bringing in traffic and which need more attention.

Thankfully, Google Analytics has made it easier to keep track of your search rankings.

Simply follow these easy steps:

1. Log into your Google Analytics account
2. Analyze your dashboard to see which keywords are driving the most traffic to your website.
3. Identify any keywords that have dropped in rankings and investigate why this may have occurred.

Tracking your rankings enables you to refine and enhance your content efficiently. Don’t forget to make use of our SEO suggestions and keyword research checklist for optimal outcomes.

Leverage Keyword Research Tools

Leveraging the right keyword research tools is pivotal in sharpening your SEO strategy and gaining a competitive edge.

When it comes to targeting keywords effectively, the choice of tool can make a significant difference in the depth of insight and value you derive.

A premium option like Ahrefs stands out for its comprehensive data analysis capabilities, offering detailed insights that can help refine your keyword targeting strategy.

Although its LITE plan starts at $99/month, the investment is justified for those seeking an in-depth understanding of their SEO landscape and competitors.

On the other hand, Keysearch presents a more budget-friendly alternative at only $18/month and unlike Ahrefs, this has a generous 1 month free trial for you to take advantage of.

While it may not match Ahrefs in terms of power and depth, Keysearch is still an effective tool for uncovering valuable keyword ideas that can drive traffic to your site.

It’s an excellent option for small businesses or individual bloggers who need to optimize their SEO efforts without breaking the bank.

Both tools offer unique advantages:

• Ahrefs with its detailed analytics and powerful features, is ideal for those who require extensive SEO insights.
• Keysearch provides a cost-effective solution that still delivers on performance.

Depending on your budget and needs I would recommend selecting the right tool for your budget and personal circumstances.

If you can’t afford Ahrefs, Keysearch is more than capable as a keyword research tool and it’s the one I use when I am brainstorming keyword ideas for this blog!

SEO Trends and Algorithm Updates

In 2024, we are still at the mercy of algorithms and as things continue to develop at insane speed, it’s more important than ever to stay up to speed with what’s happening.

In this situation, using a detailed SEO checklist and thorough keyword research is crucial. These tools are key to keeping up with changes and making strategic decisions for your website.

A great example of a recent algorithm update was the recent Google Helpful Content update.

This update underlined the value of high-quality, user-focused content and that this was going to be the kind of content Google rewards with high rankings going forward.

This is why it’s so important to tailor content strategy to the real needs and interests of your readers so that your site delivers good value

Following these steps should help you to stay ahead of the curve:

• Continuously Update Your SEO Checklist: As Google’s algorithms evolve, so should your strategies. Regularly refining your checklist ensures your tactics remain effective and current.
• Elevate Keyword Research: Integrate your keyword research checklist with a focus on quality and user intent, moving beyond simple search volume.
• Audit Your Site for Quality Content: Regularly review your content to ensure it meets the criteria for high-quality, user-focused information, aligning with Google’s Helpful Content guidelines.
• Stay Informed on SEO Trends: Keep your finger on the pulse of the SEO community to quickly adapt to new trends and updates.
• Monitor Your Site’s Traffic Closely: Use analytics to understand how much traffic your efforts are generating and to identify areas for improvement.

But it’s not just about staying updated with algorithm changes, it’s also important to keep up with SEO trends such as:

Voice Search Optimization

New, virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant are making voice search more and more normal in our lives

This means that optimizing for voice search is now more important than ever.

To effectively optimize for voice search, you need to understand how people speak and what questions they are asking their virtual assistants.

Using long-tail keywords and natural language in your content can help improve your chances of appearing in voice search results.

User Experience (UX) Optimization

Google has always prioritized user experience when ranking

Embedding these practices into your SEO routine not only shields your site from potential penalties but also positions you to capitalize on new opportunities to engage with your audience and improve your search rankings.

The objective is to create a rich, user-oriented online experience that Google recognizes and rewards in its search results.

What now?

Keyword research is simple in theory but can be tricky in application.

That’s why having a keyword research checklist that takes the guesswork out of the equation is a real help to any blogger.

Now more than ever, aspiring bloggers will need to outshine competitors and connect with their readers effectively to know what the search intent is so that they can create high-quality content that will strike a chord with readers.

With the steps we have covered, you should be able to quickly turn keyword research from a chore into something you look forward to.

Keep updating your keyword list regularly, perform keyword gap and competitor analysis, and always track your keyword metrics.

This will be an ongoing process that demands attention and adaptation but with the right knowledge, it doesn’t need to be difficult.

I hope you have found this post useful and I can’t wait to see you again for the next one!