LeadMagnetGeniusBefore optimizing, you need to know which searches you want to rank for. These are called keywords (though often it’s a phrase, not just a single word). For example, a bakery might want to rank for “best birthday cakes in [City]” or “gluten-free bakery [City]”.
How to find good keywords: - Brainstorm: List down what you think people would search related to your site. If you offer a service, think of “service + location” queries, or problems that service solves (“how to fix ____”). - Use tools: There are free and paid tools. Free options include Google’s own suggestions (start typing in the search box and see auto-complete suggestions) and the “People also ask” or “Related searches” that show up on Google results. There’s a site called AnswerThePublic where you put a word and it shows common questions people ask around it. Paid tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz can give search volume data (how many people search a term per month) and difficulty estimates. For beginners, using Google’s Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account) or Ubersuggest (Neil Patel’s tool, has free tier) can be helpful to get an idea of volume. - Pick relevant, moderate competition keywords: As a beginner, you likely won’t rank for super broad terms like “shoes” (too competitive). Look for more specific phrases (called “long-tail keywords”). They have lower search volume but also often less competition, and they’re usually more intent-driven (someone searching “women’s trail running shoes size 8” knows what they want). For instance, a small blog might not rank for “healthy recipes” but could rank for “healthy vegan breakfast recipes with oats”. - Look at competitors: Search some terms you think you want to rank for. See who’s on page 1. If big brands or heavy-hitter sites dominate, you might aim for more niche terms. But if you see other small players, that keyword might be attainable.
Once you have say 5-10 key phrases that are relevant and realistic, you can optimize your content around them.