Building a website is an exciting step for any business. Whether you’re launching a brand-new company or revamping an existing site, one of the most important steps in the process is selecting the right keywords. These are the words and phrases that help search engines understand what your website is about and connect you with potential customers. Without the right keywords, your site may never reach the audience you’re trying to attract.
At Thrive Web Designs, we know that choosing the right keywords isn’t just about guessing what people are searching for. It requires research, strategy, and an understanding of how search engines work. If you want your website to show up in search results and drive real traffic, here’s what you need to know about selecting the right keywords.
Start with Keyword Brainstorming
Before diving into research tools, start with a brainstorming session. Think about the words and phrases your customers use when searching for your products or services. Put yourself in their shoes and consider the different ways people describe what you offer.
For example, if you run a landscaping business, some people might search for “lawn care in Boise,” while others might type in “sprinkler repair in Boise.” Every industry has multiple ways of describing the same thing, and it’s important to capture those variations.
Talk to your customers or team members to get additional ideas. You may find that people use different terms than you expect. Creating a broad list of potential keywords will give you a strong foundation for the next step—keyword research.
Use Keyword Research Tools
Once you have a list of potential keywords, it’s time to validate them using keyword research tools. Platforms like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush can help you see how often people search for a particular keyword and how competitive it is.
Keyword research tools show valuable data like search volume, which tells you how many people are looking for a specific term each month. They also provide keyword difficulty scores, which indicate how hard it will be to rank for that keyword. If a keyword has a high difficulty score, it means there’s a lot of competition, and ranking on the first page of search results may take time.
A mix of high and low-competition keywords is usually the best approach. High-volume keywords can bring in more traffic, but low-competition keywords may help you rank faster. A well-balanced keyword strategy includes a mix of both to give your website the best chance of gaining visibility.
Relevance Matters More Than Popularity
While it’s tempting to choose keywords with the highest search volume, relevance should always come first. If a keyword gets thousands of searches per month but doesn’t match what your business offers, it won’t bring you the right visitors.
For example, if you own a local bakery, targeting a keyword like “best dessert recipes” might get you traffic, but it won’t necessarily bring in customers who want to buy from you. Instead, keywords like “custom cakes near me” or “local bakery in Boise” would be much more effective.
The goal is to attract visitors who are actually interested in your services. A smaller number of highly relevant visitors is far more valuable than a large number of people who aren’t looking for what you offer.
Understanding Keyword Statistics
One of the most important pieces of keyword research is understanding search volume. Keywords are often measured by how many times they are searched per month. A keyword with 10,000 searches a month might sound appealing, but it also means there’s more competition. On the other hand, a keyword with 300 searches a month might be easier to rank for and still bring in steady traffic.
If a keyword has little to no search volume, it might not be worth targeting. At the same time, extremely high-volume keywords can be difficult to rank for unless you have an established website with strong authority. Finding the right balance between search volume and competition is key to choosing effective keywords.
The Role of Keyword Difficulty
Keyword difficulty is a score assigned to keywords based on how competitive they are. The higher the difficulty, the harder it will be to rank on the first page of search results.
For a new website, targeting highly competitive keywords isn’t always the best strategy. Established businesses with high-ranking authority sites will already dominate those terms, making it difficult for a new site to break through.
A better approach is to start with medium-to-low difficulty keywords that still have decent search volume. Over time, as your website gains more authority, you can begin targeting more competitive keywords.
Don’t Forget About Keyphrases
While individual keywords are important, keyphrases—also known as long-tail keywords—can be even more valuable. These are longer search phrases that are more specific than a single keyword.
For example, instead of targeting “web design,” a long-tail keyword would be “affordable web design services in Boise.” Even though fewer people search for long-tail keywords, the ones who do are often closer to making a decision. They’re looking for something specific, which means they’re more likely to convert into customers.
Keyphrases also tend to have lower competition, making them easier to rank for. If you’re just starting out, focusing on long-tail keywords can help you gain traction in search results faster.
Leverage “People Also Ask” for Keyword Ideas
A great way to find additional keyword ideas is by looking at Google’s “People Also Ask” section. When you search for a term, Google often provides related questions that people commonly ask. These are great insights into what your audience is searching for.
For example, if you search for “best running shoes,” you might see questions like “What are the best running shoes for beginners?” or “How do I choose the right running shoes?” These related questions can give you ideas for additional keyphrases to target, helping you create content that answers real user questions.
Including these questions in your website content not only improves your SEO but also makes your site more helpful to visitors. Google prioritizes websites that provide useful, in-depth answers to common questions, so incorporating this approach can give your site a ranking boost.
Thrive Web Designs – Expert Web Design in Boise
Selecting the right keywords for your website is a critical step in building a strong online presence. Keyword brainstorming helps generate ideas, while research tools validate those ideas with real data. Relevance should always come before popularity, and balancing search volume with keyword difficulty ensures a better chance of ranking.
At Thrive Web Designs, we specialize in helping businesses create and optimize websites that attract the right audience. If you looking for expert web design in Boise, and need help choosing the best keywords for your site, contact us by filling out our online form or calling (208) 391-2504. A strong foundation starts with the right words—let’s make sure your website is built to succeed.
