Search engine optimization (SEO) is a key element of an effective marketing strategy for any WordPress website. One of the basic steps in the optimization process is to conduct keyword research. These are phrases or terms that users enter into the search engine when looking for content related to the topic of your website. Properly identifying and implementing keywords can significantly improve the visibility of your website in search results.
In this article, we will walk you through the steps to conduct effective keyword research for your WordPress site. We'll focus on both free methods and paid tools that can make this process easier. In addition, we will present useful WordPress plugins and PHP snippet examples that will help you optimize your website for your chosen keywords.
1. Define the purpose of your keyword research
Before you start keyword research, it is important to set a goal for this activity. Do you want to increase traffic to your website, acquire new customers, or improve the conversion of existing traffic? Answering these questions will help you determine which keywords are most important for your site.
2. Use free keyword research tools
Fortunately, there are many free tools that can help you with your keyword research. Here are a few of them:
Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a powerful tool provided by Google Ads. You can use them to find keywords related to your website. Enter a few potential phrases and you will receive keyword suggestions along with data on search volume and competitiveness.
Google Trends
Google Trends allows you to track changes in the popularity of specific keywords over time. You can compare different phrases and find out how their popularity changes in different geographic regions.
Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is another useful keyword research tool. It provides many suggestions related to your topic, as well as data on search volume, competitiveness and price per click (CPC).
3. Analyze the competition
Keyword research for your WordPress site isn't just about finding popular phrases. You also need to understand what keywords your competition is using. This way, you can identify niches worth attacking or find unique phrases that your competitors haven't paid attention to yet.
4. Use WordPress plugins for SEO optimization
WordPress has many plugins to offer that make SEO optimization easier. Using the right WordPress plugins for SEO optimization can make the keyword research and implementation process much easier. Here are some popular plugins to consider:
a) Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is one of the most popular SEO plugins for WordPress. It helps optimize the content on your website for selected keywords. After installing the Yoast SEO plugin, you get special fields that allow you to specify the main keywords for each post or page. This plugin analyzes your content and gives you optimization tips such as meta description length and keyword density.
b) All in One SEO Pack
All in One SEO Pack is another popular SEO plugin for WordPress. It is a comprehensive tool that helps you optimize your entire website for search engines. This plugin allows you to set advanced metadata for pages, entries and categories, and also provides keyword analysis and generates a sitemap for better indexation by search engine robots.
c) Rank Math
Rank Math is a relatively new plugin that has gained great popularity due to its advanced features and intuitive interface. It helps you optimize your content for multiple keywords, analyzes whether they are placed in the right number, and tracks various SEO statistics for your website.
d) KeywordTool.io for WordPress
The KeywordTool.io for WordPress plugin integrates the KeywordTool.io tool with your WordPress site. This allows you to get keyword suggestions related to your topic directly from the WordPress admin panel. This allows you to easily find new keywords that are popular among users.
e) Google XML Sitemaps
This plugin helps you generate an XML sitemap, which makes it easier for search engine bots to index your site. Indexing is the process by which search engine robots crawl and index your website's content to show it in search results. An XML sitemap allows for faster and more efficient indexing.
f) Broken Link Checker
Links leading to pages that do not exist (so-called broken links) can negatively impact the user experience and SEO of your website. The Broken Link Checker plugin automatically scans your website for broken links and allows you to repair or remove them.
In summary, using the right WordPress SEO optimization plugins can automate many of the processes involved in keyword research and implementation. Remember, however, that plugins are supporting tools, and effective optimization also requires careful adjustment of the content and structure of the website. When choosing plugins, make sure they are compatible with the latest versions of WordPress and have positive reviews from other users.