How do I find keywords for my website?
Start with seed keywords
Seed keywords are the broad topics your business is about. For a bakery, seeds might be 'bread,' 'cakes,' or 'pastries.' List 5–10 seeds that describe what you offer.
Next, think like a customer. What would they type into Google to find you? Write down those phrases, even if they seem obvious.
You can also check your competitors' websites and see what terms they use in their page titles and headings. This gives you ideas for keywords you might have missed.
Use free keyword tools
Google Keyword Planner is free with a Google Ads account. It shows search volume and related keywords. You can also use Google Trends to see interest over time.
Google autocomplete and 'People also ask' are goldmines. Type your seed into Google and see what suggestions pop up. These are real searches people make.
Other free tools include Ubersuggest, AnswerThePublic, and Keyword Surfer. They give you keyword ideas and basic metrics like volume and difficulty.
- Google Keyword Planner: search volume and competition
- Google autocomplete: real search suggestions
- AnswerThePublic: question-based keywords
- Ubersuggest: free keyword ideas and difficulty
- Competitor headings: find gaps in your content
Evaluate and prioritize
Not all keywords are worth targeting. Look for terms with decent search volume (say, 100+ monthly searches) and low-to-medium competition. High-competition terms are harder to rank for.
Consider search intent: are people looking to buy, learn, or compare? Match your content to that intent. For example, 'best running shoes' is commercial, while 'how to tie running shoes' is informational.
Finally, group keywords by topic and create a page for each group. This helps you build topical authority and avoid keyword cannibalization.
Common mistakes
- Targeting only high-volume keywords that are too competitive for a new site.
- Ignoring search intent and creating content that doesn't match what users want.
- Forgetting to check keyword difficulty; some terms are nearly impossible to rank for without a strong backlink profile.