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Keyword research is vital for everyone involved in search engine marketing.
Whether you are buying ads or optimizing pages for natural search results, doing a little research before you start can save you a huge amount of time and money.
You only have enough time and resources to target a finite number of search phrases, so make sure you choose realistic targets. Only one site can be at the top of the page. If there are hundreds of sites competing for that spot then it wont be easy to reach, and you may be better off elsewhere. But that isn't the only factor. Some search queries are easy to conquer, but what's the point if nobody ever uses that search?
The solution: Find some keywords and phrases that are both popular and not too competitive. It isn't all that difficult with the correct tools.
WordTracker always used to be the tool of choice. It's very useful, but a new tool called Keyword Discovery now offers an even larger database and much better features. You have to pay for both these tools, so to start with you may want to try a free option called Niche Searcher. This free tool isn't as powerful, but it does provide the basics and is perfect for beginners and those on a budget.
Only fools rush in. Remember:
- There's no point targeting searches that nobody uses.
- There's no point targeting searches that are incredibly competitive.