Keyword SEO: Essential Tips for Finding the Right Keywords to Rank on Google

Keyword SEO
Every website owner or online marketer wants their site to appear at the top of Google’s search results to attract more visitors. But why do some websites easily achieve high rankings while others struggle? The answer lies in effective Keyword SEO! Today, we’ll thoroughly explore how to master keyword research for SEO and transform your website’s performance.

Table of Contents

What is Keyword in SEO? Why are Website Keywords for SEO Important?

Keyword SEO

Keyword SEO refers to the strategic use of words or phrases people type into search engines (like Google) when looking for information. When someone enters a search query that matches the website keywords for SEO on your site, your pages have a chance to appear in the Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs).

For a simple example, if someone wants information about “Chiang Mai hotels with good atmosphere” and types this phrase into Google, “Chiang Mai hotels with good atmosphere” becomes a valuable keyword for SEO targeting.

Finding appropriate keywords for SEO is crucial because they act as:

  1. A bridge between customers and your website – helping filter people genuinely interested in your content or products
  2. Your online store’s location – similar to opening a shop in a prime location; if you choose high-volume SEO keywords and your site ranks well, it’s like having a storefront in a high-traffic area
  3. An indicator of success opportunitykeyword research for SEO helps you analyze whether your website has a chance to rank highly and how much investment the competition requires

Types of Keywords Every SEO Professional Should Know

Understanding different types of keywords in SEO will help you develop effective keyword research for SEO strategies. Each type has different advantages and disadvantages, suitable for different objectives:

1. Generic Keywords (Seed Keywords)

Generic keywords for SEO are broad, non-specific terms, usually consisting of 1-2 words with very high search volume but equally high competition.

Examples of Generic SEO Keywords:

  • Shoes
  • Phone
  • Coffee
  • Clothing
  • Cars

Advantages: If you rank for these website keywords for SEO, you’ll get many website visitors. Disadvantages: Extremely competitive, difficult to rank for, and visitors may not be your target audience.

Generic keywords are better used as “starting points” for keyword research for SEO rather than as primary optimization targets.

2. Niche Keywords

Niche keywords in SEO are more specific, providing additional details beyond generic keywords. They have lower search volume but also less competition.

Examples of Niche Keywords for SEO:

  • Men’s Adidas shoes
  • Samsung mobile phones
  • Doi Chaang coffee
  • Korean fashion clothing
  • Electric cars

Advantages: Less competitive than generic SEO keywords, reaching a more targeted audience. Disadvantages: Lower search volume.

Niche keywords are suitable for categories or subcategories on your website. Effective Keyword SEO optimization will help these terms rank better.

3. Long-tail Keyword

Long-tail keywords for SEO are highly specific phrases usually containing more than 3 words. They have low search volume but higher conversion rates, making them some of the most effective targets in keyword research for SEO.

Examples of Long-tail SEO Keywords:

  • Men’s Adidas STAN SMITH 2025 model shoes
  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra black mobile phone
  • Riverside cafes with good atmosphere in Chiang Mai
  • Minimalist Korean fashion clothing for women
  • Electric cars under 1 million baht with fast charging

Advantages: Low competition, easy to rank for, reaching audiences with high purchase intent. Disadvantages: Very low search volume.

Long-tail keywords are considered “money-making keywords in SEO” with high business value because people searching with these terms often have high purchase intent. Using the Yoast SEO plugin can help manage these website keywords for SEO effectively.

4. Branded Keyword

Branded keywords for SEO contain your brand or business name, suitable for brands that are already recognized.

Examples of Branded SEO Keywords:

  • CIPHER Digital Marketing
  • CIPHER Company
  • CIPHER’s SEO services
  • CIPHER online marketing services

Advantages: Very low competition (because it’s your own brand name) and potential to attract customers who already know your brand. Disadvantages: Limited to people who already know your brand.

5. Keywords by Search Intent

Beyond categorizing by length and specificity, keyword research for SEO also analyzes terms based on the searcher’s intention:

Transactional Keywords: Terms showing intent to purchase or conduct transactions

  • Buy iPhone 17
  • Book a hotel in Phuket
  • Sign up for online English course

Informational Keywords: Terms showing a need for information or knowledge

  • What is keyword in SEO?
  • How to make carbonara pasta
  • Flu symptoms

Commercial Keywords: Terms used to compare options before making a purchase decision

  • Compare electric cars 2025
  • Mirrorless camera reviews
  • Dental braces clinics under $1,500

Navigational Keywords: Terms used to find specific websites or web pages

  • Facebook login
  • CIPHER contact
  • Channel 3 live

Understanding search intent is a crucial part of effective Keyword SEO strategy development.

How to Find Website Keywords for SEO Suitable for Your Business

Finding good keywords for SEO will help your website rank higher on Google. Here are the proper steps for thorough keyword research for SEO:

1. Understand the 3 Main Factors in Choosing Good Keywords for SEO

Relevance: SEO keywords must be relevant to your content and match user intent. Google has algorithms working behind the scenes to display results that best match user intent.

Authority: Content using those keywords in SEO must demonstrate expertise, provide value, and benefit readers—not content copied from elsewhere.

Search Volume: Check if website keywords for SEO have sufficient search volume using tools like Google Keyword Planner.

Understanding these fundamentals is essential according to proper Keyword SEO principles.

2. Identify the Types of Keywords Suitable for Your Website

As we’ve discussed the types of SEO keywords, consider which ones align with your business goals:

  • If you want to build brand awareness, start with Generic Keywords
  • If you want to increase sales quickly, focus on Long-tail Keywords for SEO with high purchase intent
  • If your brand is already recognized, use Branded Keywords alongside others

3. Place Keywords on Web Pages That Match User Intent

Once you’ve found keywords in SEO, place them on appropriate web pages:

  • If they’re product-related website keywords for SEO, place them on Product Pages
  • If they’re knowledge-based keywords, place them on Blog Posts

Test by searching the keyword for SEO on Google to see what kind of results appear, ensuring they match user intent.

4. Use Keyword Analysis Tools to Filter for the Best Words

Many tools can help with keyword research for SEO:

Google Keyword Planner: A free tool from Google that helps find SEO keywords by providing search volume data and keyword trends

Ubersuggest: A tool that supports multiple languages, is easy to use, and provides good insights for efficient Keyword SEO analysis

Ahrefs: A professional-level tool with high accuracy, providing comprehensive information on keywords for SEO and competitors

SEMrush: An all-in-one tool that helps analyze website keywords for SEO and monitor competitors

Google Trends: Helps view trends and popularity of various search terms, providing target keywords in SEO that are currently popular

How Much Should Businesses Focus on Keyword SEO?

A common question when starting keyword research for SEO is: how many keywords should I focus on? The answer depends on three main factors:

1. Business Product Categories

If your business has diverse product categories, you’ll need more keywords for SEO. For example, a bank with products including loans, credit cards, insurance, etc. needs to plan website keywords for SEO covering all products.

2. Target Customer Groups

For general markets (Mass Market) where your brand is recognized, you can use Branded SEO keywords along with Non-For specific markets (Niche Market) or less-known brands, focus more on Generic keywords in SEO and Niche Keywords related to your products/services

3. Goals for Each Website Page

Each page on your website should have clear goals and main keywords for SEO. Don’t use the same SEO keywords on every page, as this creates internal competition within your website (Keyword Cannibalization).

Creating Personas to Find Keywords That Target Your Audience Effectively

Creating Personas for Targeted Keyword Discovery Creating a persona means establishing a clear fictional identity of your target audience, which helps make keyword research more effective because you’ll understand how customers think and search.

Why Create Personas for Keyword SEO

When you deeply understand your target customers, you can select keywords that better match user intent. This makes your website more responsive to users’ needs and increases your chances of ranking higher.

Key Components of Personas for Keyword SEO

  1. Demographic Information: Age, gender, income, education, occupation
  2. Online Behavior: Platforms used, internet usage times, search devices
  3. Needs and Problems: Problems they’re trying to solve, what they’re searching for
  4. Language Used: Group-specific vocabulary, common expressions
  5. Purchase Decision Process: Which stage of the customer journey they’re in

Examples of Personas and Appropriate Keywords

Persona: Khun Nuch (28-year-old female digital marketer)

  • Problem: Wants the company website to rank on Google but has limited budget
  • Decision stage: Researching information (Awareness Stage)
  • Language used: Digital marketing vocabulary, prefers concise content
  • Appropriate keywords: “DIY SEO low budget”, “Basic SEO methods”, “Free SEO tools in Thai”

Persona: Khun Somchai (45-year-old SME company manager)

  • Problem: Wants to increase online sales but lacks SEO knowledge
  • Decision stage: Comparing services (Consideration Stage)
  • Language used: Focuses on business results, likes clear numerical data
  • Appropriate keywords: “SEO services price ROI worthwhile”, “Hire SEO to increase sales”, “Compare SEO companies Bangkok”

How to Apply Personas in Keyword Research

  1. Think from the persona’s perspective: “If I were Khun Nuch, how would I search?”
  2. Analyze channels the persona uses: Search forums, Facebook groups, or blog comments frequently used by the target audience
  3. Group keywords by Customer Journey: Categorize keywords according to the persona’s purchase decision stages
  4. Adjust language to match the persona: Use vocabulary and tone suitable for the target audience

When combining personas with the keyword analysis techniques mentioned earlier, you’ll get a more comprehensive and effective SEO strategy, helping you reach your target audience precisely and increasing opportunities to convert visitors into customers.

Keyword SEO Services from CIPHER

At CIPHER, we have a team of experts ready to help you professionally find website keywords for SEO to sustainably rank your website at the top of Google.

Professional Keyword Analysis Services for Your Business

We use tools and experience in keyword research for SEO to find the highest potential keywords for SEO for your business, considering search volume, competition, and relevance to your business.

Comprehensive Keyword Mapping

We don’t just find keywords in SEO but also create keyword mapping that specifies which SEO keywords should be used on which pages of your website to cover all user needs.

Competitor Analysis and Market Gap Identification

By analyzing keywords for SEO used by competitors, we can find market gaps that competitors haven’t occupied, giving you a competitive advantage.

Creating Content That Matches Keywords and User Needs

Beyond Keyword SEO strategy, we help create quality content that matches website keywords for SEO and meets user needs, showing Google that your website is valuable and deserves good rankings.

Continuous Keyword Strategy Improvement

User search behavior changes constantly, so we monitor and regularly update keyword research for SEO strategies to help your website maintain good rankings sustainably.

Summary

Analyzing and choosing appropriate keywords in SEO is the key to SEO success. Keyword SEO selection shouldn’t just consider search volume but also relevance to content, user intent, and competition level. Start with systematic keyword research for SEO, combining Generic, Niche, and Long-tail Keywords to create a comprehensive and highly effective SEO strategy for your business. For optimal results, consider how Core Web Vitals impact your overall SEO performance alongside your keyword strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Keyword in SEO?

A keyword in SEO is a word or phrase users type into search engines to find information. It connects users to websites. When people type words matching keywords for SEO on your website, Google shows your website in search results.

How to Find Keywords for SEO?

  • Use keyword research for SEO tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Ahrefs
  • Analyze competitors to see what SEO keywords high-ranking websites use
  • Think from the customer’s perspective, imagine how customers would search for your products/services
  • Check search volume and competition for each website keyword for SEO
  • Choose keywords in SEO with sufficient search volume and not too much competition

What Types of Keywords Are There in SEO?

Keywords in SEO can be divided into 5 main types:

  • Generic Keywords – Broad terms like “shoes,” “phones” (high competition)
  • Niche Keywords – More specific terms like “Nike running shoes,” “Samsung phones”
  • Long-tail Keywords – Very specific long phrases like “women’s black Nike Pegasus running shoes,” “how to choose mobile phones for seniors”
  • Branded Keywords – Terms containing brand names like “CIPHER Digital Marketing”
  • Keywords by Intent – Divided into Transactional (buy), Informational (find info), Commercial (compare), and Navigational (find specific sites)
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