Keyword Research: Finding the Words Your Customers Use to Search Online

Before creating content or selling anything online, you must understand what your audience is searching for and why. This is where keyword research becomes extremely important.

Keyword research helps you discover the exact words and phrases people type into search engines when they are looking for information, products, or services like yours. When you choose the right keywords, your website attracts the right visitors, not just random traffic.

Think of keywords as a bridge between your audience and your website. If the bridge is strong, people reach you easily. If it’s weak or wrong, they never find you.

What Are Keywords?

In SEO, a keyword is not just a single word. It can be a word or a phrase that users type into Google or other search engines.

Types of Keywords

Single-word keywords

• tea
• travel
• car

These have very high search volume but unclear intent.

Short-tail keywords

• green tea
• budget travel
• electric car

They are slightly more specific but still competitive.

Long-tail keywords

• best organic green tea for weight loss in India
• affordable family travel packages from Delhi
• cheapest electric car under 10 lakh

Long-tail keywords are less competitive and show clear search intent. A person using these searches usually knows exactly what they want and is closer to taking action.

👉 Example:
Someone searching for “tea” could be doing research or just browsing.
But someone searching for “best organic green tea for weight loss in India” is ready to buy or learn something specific.

Brainstorming Keyword Ideas: Start With What You Know

Before using any tool, start with your own knowledge. Write down ideas related to your business.

Ask Yourself:

1. What products or services do I offer?

• Ayurvedic hair oil
• Yoga classes in Mumbai
• Custom wedding invitations

2. What problems do I solve?

• Hair fall control
• Stress relief
• Unique wedding designs

3. What questions do customers ask?

• How to use Ayurvedic oil for hair growth?
• Are online yoga classes effective?
• What is the cost of wedding invitations in Delhi?

4. What are the related words or synonyms?

• Hair care
• Meditation
• Marriage invites

5. What keywords do competitors use?
Look for inspiration, not copying.

💡 Pro Tip:
Talk to customers or read comments, emails, and reviews. They often use the exact words your future customers will search for.

Simple Keyword Research Tools (Free & Easy)

You don’t need expensive tools when you’re starting. These free tools are enough.

1. Google Keyword Planner (Free)

• Shows average monthly searches
• Gives keyword ideas
• Shows competition level (for ads, but still useful)

👉 Use it to expand your keyword list and check popularity.

2. Ubersuggest (Free + Paid)

• Shows search volume
• SEO difficulty
• Related keyword ideas

👉 Select your country (India) for better results.

3. Google Search (Very Powerful & Free)

Just type your keyword into Google and observe:

• Autocomplete suggestions
• People Also Ask questions
• Related searches at the bottom

These are real searches from real users.

Example: Using Google Search

Search for “Ayurvedic hair oil”

You may see:

Autocomplete

• Ayurvedic hair oil for hair growth
• Ayurvedic hair oil benefits

People Also Ask

• Which Ayurvedic oil is best for hair growth?
• Can I apply Ayurvedic oil daily?

Related Searches

• Best hair oil for hair fall
• Bhringraj oil benefits

👉 These are excellent long-tail keyword ideas.

Understanding Keyword Metrics (Simple Explanation)

You only need to focus on two things:

Search Volume

• High volume = more searches but more competition
• Low volume = fewer searches but easier to rank

Keyword Difficulty

• High difficulty = hard to rank
• Low difficulty = good opportunity

🎯 Your goal:
Choose keywords with decent search volume and low competition.

Long-Tail Keywords: Your SEO Secret Weapon

Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific.

Short-tail: coffee
Long-tail: best espresso coffee machine for home India

Why Long-Tail Keywords Work Better

• Less competition
• Higher conversion rate
• More targeted traffic

Someone searching for “affordable yoga classes in Mumbai for beginners” is more likely to enroll than someone searching for “yoga”.

Mapping Keywords to Website Pages

Each page should focus on one main keyword and a few related keywords.

❌ Don’t use all keywords on one page
✅ Match keywords with search intent

Example Keyword Mapping Table

Final Thoughts

Keyword research is the foundation of SEO. It helps your content reach the right audience at the right time. This is not a one-time task—update your keywords as trends and customer behavior change.

When you understand how people search, you can create content that truly helps them—and that’s how you grow online.