Key Points:
- Conversational keyword research refers to the use of natural-sounding phrases and verbal cues that trigger search queries.
- Study your competition
- Find the keywords your competition is ranking for
- Use Long-tail keywords.
The first five organic results in the SERPs account for 67.6% of all clicks, which means that natural conversational keyword research has a direct correlation to ranking high on Google.
What makes conversational keyword research such an important and innovative way to find your audience and target each stage of the buyer’s journey? Conversational keyword research is a core targeting strategy used by thousands of large companies and small businesses alike to drive web traffic and audience engagement.
The remaining content explains conversational keyword research and offers blogging tips and tricks.
Ready to dig in? Keep reading!
What is Conversational Keyword Research?
Conversational keyword research refers to the use of natural-sounding phrases and verbal cues that trigger search queries. Search queries are interpreted and indexed by search engines such as Google that use artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms (Google bots or crawlers.)
Instead of including only words and phrases that are grammatically correct, it would be best to be more natural in your writing. This ensures your content ranks in voice search SEO as well as Google’s SERPs.
First, voice search consists of the following:
- Where
- Why
- When
- How
- Question modifiers
- Long-tail keywords
- Conversational and intent-rich
Additionally, there are four different keyword match types for Google:
- Broad match: a broach keyword match is when your ads are displayed in SERPs for searches related to your keywords but aren’t an exact match.
- Phrase match: a phrase match is keywords that are used either before or after your primary keyword, although it isn’t usual for in-between words.
- Exact match: this is exactly as it sounds, an exact keyword phrase match.
- Negative match: keywords that are used to exclude your content from specific searches to help you drive your content toward the correct audience.
Using the correct keyword match type ensures that you make the most of your money, time, and effort. Subsequently, it also makes it more likely to bring in the right traffic to your blog or business. New customers boost sales which maximize your ROI.
How to Find the Right Keywords
Picking the best type of keywords is one of the more important aspects of SEO and blogging in general. If you aren’t using the right words then you may not bring in the right type of organic traffic if any at all.
Google’s algorithm is extremely complex and will only show its users the best of the best content.
Additionally, your business goals as a blogger or website owner ensure that your content is not only fully optimized but also keyword-rich.
That isn’t to say you shouldn’t write your content for algorithms, quite the opposite actually. Google’s Helpful Content Update reinforced that crawlers may begin to phase out SEO content in favor of people-first content.
With that said, here’s how to find the right keywords for your content:
- Study your competition
- Find the keywords your competition is ranking for
- Think like your target audience
- Search through “people also ask”
- Check out what keywords you’re ranking for and make content for those keywords
- Use the best tools on the market today (most are free!)
- Analyze and track your results, efforts, and SEO metrics
Furthermore, the four elements of keyword research are:
- Relevance: keywords need to be relevant to your content or blog niche.
- Authority: focus on building authority to your domain via backlinks because Google favors authoritative sources.
- Volume: search volume matters, you may be ranking for keywords no one is searching for.
Lastly, make a list of important, relevant to you topics and base them on what you already know about your blog or business. Come up with about a dozen topics and begin entering those keyword or phrases into a keyword research tool. Focus on higher monthly search volume in SEO rates with low competition.
Conversational keyword research example
This conversational keyword research may look similar to this:
Let’s use graphic design as an example here:
Use your preferred keyword-researching tool. I prefer Google’s Keyword Planner. If that isn’t your cup of tea then you do you. If you don’t have a preferred tool yet, I will include a list below.
Close your eyes and pretend you are a designer with a new blog. You should start with a content idea piece, “how can I do graphic design for free?” Don’t forget to pay attention to the monthly searches and competition in SEO.
Input that conversational keyword and see what pops up:
It would be best to focus your content on that primary keyword and include naturally written secondary keywords that are relevant to your content. You would include those keywords in your captions, alt-text, headers, and first paragraph.
You would then go on to describe your process for creating free logos using Canva. Your content should answer questions your audience may ask. Furthermore, your content should also go above and beyond to fulfill any other questions your audience hasn’t asked yet. You aren’t just a content creator, you are a mind-reader.
For instance, you would then fill in your content with your bucket list as your sub-topics within your copy.
- How Can I Do Graphic Design for Free? (primary keyword)
- How to Use Graphic Design for Business?
- What Programs are Best for Graphic Design?
- Where Can I Learn Graphic Design for Free?
- Etc.. etc.. etc…you get it, right?
Pro tip: Find out what keywords you are already ranking for and make content based off of those keywords. Use Google Analytics to find those search queries.
Best keyword research tools
Leads from search engines have a 14.6% close rate, while outbound leads (ex. cold-calling, direct mail, etc.) have a 1.7% close rate. Not only that but, 57% of B2B marketers stated that SEO generates more leads than any other marketing effort. That’s why natural and conversation keyword research is so important to incorporate into your web pages and content pieces.
List of the best keyword research tools:
- Google Keyword Planner: for paid and Google keywords
- Moz Keyword Explorer: best overall for SEO
- Semrush: for advanced SEO experts
- QuestionDB: Question-based
- AnswerThePublic: Conversational Keywords
- Jaaxy: for affiliate marketers
- The HOTH Keyword Planner: good Google Keyword Planner alternative
Wrapping it Up!
Keyword research can be kind of confusing at first, especially if you’re new to the SEO world. Outsourcing content to freelancers like me can help to ensure that your copies get written correctly the first time without having to send them back for revisions.
Contact me today, I’m positive I can be an impact on your business!
