These days most professional search engine marketers all have access to the most common research tools.
For this article, we'll explore one of my favorite research tools,
Wordtracker.com.
But before we get started, have you ever wondered why some people experience limitations initially in performing effective keyword research? What are the most common elements can that block some people from doing fast and effective keyword research? Why can't some people find the best results as quickly as others?
Let's talk about this first. Then I'll share some quick and easy "how to" tips that I hope will help you.
A few years ago, I wrote an e-book called Wordtracker Magic and now I have just completed volume two which is called,
Wordtracker Magic 2.0 - Keyword Forensics .
I've spent time helping to teach students about how to quickly tap into the best keyword phrase trends and niches very quickly. Let's start by outlining a couple of the more common errors some people can make initially, when first using Wordtracker. For a while, I actually had the privilege of working with Wordtracker support and answering peoples keyword related questions on a regular basis, a few years ago. That was a great learning experience.
What I learned was that often, people were sometimes not finding the best niche phrases available, simply because many people naturally tended to want to "guess" at keywords, rather than fully explore the existing fresh data.
Some people say and use the word "research," but then tend to want to rely on their own "logic" or recent real world experience to examine specific phrases. In short, whether we admit it or not, there is a tendency for some of us to "guess at the keywords" that we *think* that make the most sense, but at the same time we miss a wealth of information in the process of having such a narrow focus.
Let's give you a few creative examples to get you started.....
1 - If you are a real estate agent, instead of using an obvious logical phrase like "real estate" (with 323 million competing pages on Google) or using a keyword acronym such as MLS (over 40 million competing pages on Google.)
Let's try a researching a single "root word" term like "listing" just all by itself.....leaving Wordtracker to do the hard part.
Here are a few examples which I grabbed in under 3 minutes of Wordtracker research:
(each example here with under 1000 competing pages)
At the time of writing this article.....
"house listings parry sound" - Currently only has 90 competing pages for this exact phrase.
"Wyoming MN home listings" - Currently only has 197 competing pages for this exact phrase.
"michigan real estate listing" - Currently only has 197 competing pages for this exact phrase.
"Wisconsin Home listings" - Currently only has 697 competing pages for this exact phrase.
"Central Virginia land listings" - Currently only has 95 competing pages for this exact phrase.
"north oaks minnesota home listings" - Currently only has 233 competing pages for this exact phrase.
2 - If you are an affiliate marketer.
Instead of researching the exact product you want to explore in a phrase (for example "candlestick holders,") try using a single word like "holder" to determine exactly what type of "holders" are in highest demand with lowest competition.
You may discover many other products with much better windows of opportunity.
Examples using a root word of "holder"....(my research time here was 90 seconds - each phrase under 10 competing)
"motorcycle wheel holders" KEI 676.0 Competing pages on Google 1
" southwest pot holders" KEI 768.0 Competing pages on Google 3
"hanging vine holder" KEI 924.5 Competing pages on Google 2
" folbe fishing rod holder" KEI 1156.0 Competing pages on Google 9
" .30 Remington shell holder" KEI 1444.0 Competing pages on Google 1
3 - Try working with descriptive verbs.
Instead of researching a specific product using comprehensive search, try researching descriptive verbs like "new" or "old" or "rare" or "limited" or "reconditioned" or "polished" or "bronzed" or whatever...? Try using any type of descriptive terms to explore all kinds of interesting data.
4 - Did you know there are differences between the written word and spoken dialogue?
Instead of researching common descriptive terms, try exploring natural sounding "dialogue." Try to remember to explore "words" based on dialogue, not just on written copy. Your customers often will say things to you in their dialogue that give you a great starting place to explore data.
5 - Don't forget to research and explore the world of color.
What happens if you enter a single term representing a color like "red," or "aqua" or green or any color?
6 - Explore any type of data at all in terms of a root word.
Don't forget to explore everything and anything that comes to mind. From a topic you notice on the news to something that may not even be a word at all. What happens if you try to explore a number or a price like $9.95 instead of a word?
7 - Instead of just thinking of your research as "keywords" try thinking in terms of your audience's "topics of interest."
8 - Instead of researching keyword phrases try watching for "behavioural trends" or keywords that "tell a story."
Examples of keywords that are telling:
"miniature doll instructions" KEI 961.0
"golf swing instruction dvds" KEI 1741.0
"how to build secret compartments" KEI 280.3
"building a basement in your home" KEI 512.0
"easy build shed kit" KEI 520.0
"How to Build an Icehouse" KEI 661.0
"build a reptile rack" KEI 676.0
"how to build military bunkers out of sand bags" KEI 729.0
"how to build custom furniture" KEI 1444.0
9 - Consider any type of tools that you might research using terms like "calculator" or "maps" or "directions."
10 - Consider exploring topics related to specific seasons, which may be appropriate for your Web audience.
Please visit
searchengineworkshops.com to view all 15 Tips. Thank you.
