For businesses in the Philippines, effective SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is essential to appear in online searches and attract potential customers. One of the first steps in any successful SEO strategy is keyword research—finding the words and phrases that people type into search engines when looking for products or services like yours. With the help of automation, keyword research has become easier, faster, and more accurate, allowing you to focus on what matters most: reaching the right audience.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on performing keyword research for SEO, and how automated digital marketing solutions can help.
What is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of identifying keywords that your target audience uses to search for your business, products, or services online. By understanding and using these keywords in your content, you increase the chances of appearing in search results. This is especially valuable for businesses in the Philippines, where connecting with local customers can drive sales and growth.
Steps to Perform Keyword Research with Automated Tools
1. Define Your Goals
Start by identifying what you want to achieve. Are you aiming to increase website traffic, generate leads, or boost sales? Your goals will guide the type of keywords you need, as different keywords can target different stages of the buying journey.
How Automation Helps:
Automated keyword research tools can analyze industry trends, suggesting keywords that align with your specific goals. For example, if your goal is to drive local traffic, automation tools will prioritize location-based keywords that help your business reach nearby customers.
2. Identify Your Target Audience
Understanding your target audience is key to selecting the right keywords. Think about who your ideal customers are and what they might be searching for. For Filipino businesses, this often means considering local needs, preferences, and cultural relevance.
How Automation Helps:
Automated tools can analyze user behavior to provide insights into your audience’s interests and online habits. By learning more about your audience, automation can suggest keywords that resonate with them, making your SEO strategy more effective.
3. Start with Broad Keywords
Broad keywords are general terms related to your business. For instance, if you own a restaurant in Manila, broad keywords might include “restaurant,” “food delivery,” or “dining in Manila.” These terms help you get an initial idea of popular topics in your industry.
How Automation Helps:
Automated keyword research tools can generate lists of broad keywords relevant to your business. By analyzing large datasets, these tools identify popular terms and give you a foundation to build upon, saving you time and effort.
4. Use Keyword Research Tools for Specific Suggestions
Keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush offer data on search volume, competition, and related keywords. For local businesses, these tools can highlight keywords that include specific locations, making it easier to connect with nearby customers.
How Automation Helps:
Automation tools streamline the process by showing you important data at a glance, such as search volume (how often a keyword is searched) and keyword difficulty (how hard it is to rank for that keyword). This information helps you choose keywords with a balance of search volume and competition, so you target words that are easier to rank for and still valuable.
5. Find Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are more specific phrases, often containing three or more words. They may have lower search volume but usually attract more qualified leads. For example, instead of “restaurant,” a long-tail keyword might be “vegan restaurant in Manila.” These keywords are more targeted and can bring in customers who are closer to making a purchase.
How Automation Helps:
Automated tools can identify long-tail keywords by analyzing trends and user queries. By using automation, you can quickly discover niche keywords that match what people are specifically looking for, helping you capture customers with clear intent to buy.
6. Analyze Competitors
Checking what keywords your competitors are using can give you ideas and help you spot opportunities they may have missed. If a competitor ranks highly for certain keywords, those terms might also be valuable for you.
How Automation Helps:
Automated tools can analyze competitor websites and show which keywords they rank for. This data helps you understand what’s working in your industry, making it easier to choose competitive yet achievable keywords. Automation can even suggest keyword gaps—terms your competitors haven’t targeted but are valuable to your audience.
7. Prioritize Local Keywords
For businesses in the Philippines, using local keywords is essential. Local keywords help you appear in searches from nearby customers, making your business more visible in the community. Adding location-specific terms like “in Cebu” or “near Quezon City” helps localize your content and attract local customers.
How Automation Helps:
Automated digital marketing solutions offer geo-targeting capabilities that suggest local keywords based on your area. This feature makes it simple to find terms that are popular in your specific region, helping you reach customers who are searching for businesses nearby.
8. Organize Keywords by Search Intent
Not all keywords serve the same purpose. Some users are looking for information, while others are ready to buy. Organize your keywords based on search intent, which is generally divided into informational, navigational, and transactional:
- Informational: Keywords where users seek information (e.g., “how to make Filipino adobo”).
- Navigational: Keywords where users look for a specific website or brand (e.g., “Jollibee menu”).
- Transactional: Keywords where users are ready to make a purchase (e.g., “order flowers in Manila”).
How Automation Helps:
AI-powered tools categorize keywords by search intent, making it easier to organize your SEO strategy. This helps you create content that meets the needs of your audience at different stages of their journey.
9. Monitor and Adjust Keywords Regularly
SEO is not a one-time effort. Keywords can fluctuate in popularity, and new terms may emerge. Regularly reviewing your keywords ensures you stay relevant and competitive.
How Automation Helps:
Automated keyword tracking tools monitor your rankings and alert you to changes. This helps you identify which keywords are performing well and which may need adjustment. With automated tracking, you can adapt quickly to search trends, keeping your SEO strategy effective over time.
Benefits of Using Automated Digital Marketing Solutions for Keyword Research
For Filipino businesses, automation in keyword research offers many advantages:
- Time Savings: Automation quickly generates keyword lists and data, reducing the time spent on research.
- Improved Accuracy: AI-powered tools provide up-to-date and accurate data, improving decision-making.
- Competitive Insights: Automated solutions give a clearer view of competitor strategies, helping you stay competitive.
- Greater Efficiency: Automated tools track performance and trends, allowing you to adjust strategies without manual monitoring.
Final Thoughts
Keyword research is essential to any SEO strategy, and automation makes it easier and more effective. With AI-powered digital marketing solutions, businesses in the Philippines can identify high-impact keywords, reach the right audience, and improve their search rankings.
By following these steps and using automation, you can build a keyword strategy that drives traffic and grows your business. Start by defining your goals, exploring broad and long-tail keywords, and refining your list with data-driven insights. This approach ensures your SEO efforts are targeted, relevant, and built for long-term success.