How To Do Keyword Research for Your WordPress Website?

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Table of Contents

• How To Conduct Keyword Research for WordPress?
  • Step 1: Brainstorm Topics Relevant to Your Niche
  • Step 2: Use Keyword Research Tools
  • Step 3: Analyse Keyword Metrics
  • Step 4: Identify Long-Tail Keywords
  • Step 5: Select Your Primary and Secondary Keywords
  • Step 6: Practices To Rank The Keywords
• Tracking and Refining Your Keyword Strategy
• Maximise Your WordPress Potential with WP Creative
• Conclusion

Most WordPress websites never reach the first page of Google and here’s why.

The competition is fierce, and without the right keywords, even the best content gets buried. The biggest challenge marketing managers often face is choosing the right keywords that actually drive traffic and conversions and not just vanity metrics.

At WP Creative, we’ve tested countless keyword research strategies using tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush to find the best one. In this guide, we’ll break down how to do keyword research the right way.

How To Conduct Keyword Research for WordPress?

You can find the most appropriate keywords for your WordPress website by following these 6 simple steps!

Step 1: Brainstorm Topics Relevant to Your Niche

Start by considering what your website is about and what your audience is searching for. Your goal is to choose keywords that match your business needs while also addressing user intent.

Think like your audience. What problems are they looking to solve? What questions might they ask? Putting yourself in their position can help you discover valuable search terms.

Different websites require different keyword strategies, but a strong approach often includes:

• Branded Keywords – Ideal for businesses with an established brand (e.g., “Nike running shoes” or “Yoast SEO plugin”).
• Commercial Keywords – Best for e-commerce sites and businesses selling products/services (e.g., “best budget smartphones” or “buy ergonomic office chair”).
• Informational Keywords – Great for blogs, review sites, and knowledge-based websites (e.g., “how to optimise WordPress SEO” or “best practices for website speed”).

To refine your keyword list, conduct market research using tools like Google Trends and browse industry forums, Reddit, or Quora to spot trending topics.

Step 2: Use Keyword Research Tools

Once you have a list of general articles, it’s time to generate specific keyword phrases. Popular tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Keyword Planner can help simplify the process.

1. Ahrefs

• Open Ahrefs Keyword Explorer and enter a broad keyword (e.g., “WordPress themes”).

• Check Keyword Difficulty (KD) and Search Volume to find high-potential, low-competition keywords.

• Use the Related Keywords and Questions sections for long-tail keyword opportunities.

• Analyse the SERP Overview to see which sites are ranking.

2. SEMrush

• Enter a keyword into SEMrush Keyword Overview (e.g., “WordPress themes”).

• Explore Keyword Variations and Related Keywords for more ideas.

• Use the Keyword Gap Tool to compare your rankings with competitors.

• Check Search Intent to ensure the keyword aligns with user needs.

3. Google Keyword Planner

• Open Google Ads Keyword Planner and choose “Discover New Keywords.”

• Enter a broad keyword (e.g., “photography”).
• Review Average Monthly Searches and Competition Level to find the best options.

• Use the Refine Keywords feature to filter results based on intent or industry.

Step 3: Analyse Keyword Metrics

With your keyword list ready, the next step is to evaluate their performance based on:

• Search Volume – Shows how often a keyword is searched per month. High-volume keywords can drive traffic but are often competitive.
• Keyword Difficulty (KD) – Measures ranking difficulty. High KD means tough competition, while lower KD suggests better ranking chances.

Aim for keywords with moderate to high search volume but low competition to maximise visibility.

Additionally, study Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs) before finalising your keywords. Look at:

• Who is ranking? If large, established websites dominate the search results, ranking may be challenging.
• Content Type & Intent – Ensure your content matches the intent of the keyword.
• SERP Features – Some keywords trigger featured snippets, FAQs, or local results. Optimising for these can increase visibility.

Step 4: Identify Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are essential for a strong keyword research strategy, especially for WordPress websites. Unlike short, generic keywords, long-tail keywords are more specific phrases that users search for.

Why Long-Tail Keywords Matter

• Less Competition: Short, high-volume keywords are extremely competitive. Long-tail keywords, however, have lower competition, making it easier for smaller websites to rank.
• Higher Conversion Rates: Since these keywords are more specific, they attract users with a clearer intent so that you have better conversion opportunities.

In order to find long-tail keywords, use phrases like “how to” and “what is” because that is how users often search. For example, Instead of targeting “WordPress SEO,” a better long-tail keyword would be “how to improve SEO on WordPress.”

You can also use tools like Also Asked, to help find commonly searched questions in your niche. Another way would be to Enter a keyword in Google and look at the “People Also Ask” section for related queries. Clicking on a question expands more related questions, giving you an endless supply of long-tail keyword ideas.

Before choosing long-tail keywords, analyse their search volume and difficulty to ensure they are worth targeting.

Step 5: Select Your Primary and Secondary Keywords

Now that you have selected a mix of long-tail and high-impact keywords, it is time to select your primary and secondary keywords.

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Your primary keyword is the main focus of your content that best represents the topic. It usually has a high search volume and is competitive.

Your secondary keywords are related keywords that support and add context to the primary keyword. These are the long-tail phrases that are less competitive and rank for additional queries.

Step 6: Practices To Rank The Keywords

Once you have identified your right set of keywords, the next crucial step is using them effectively in your content to maximise on-page SEO impact. It is important to strategically place these keywords to maximise their impact.

Some Tips:

• Use primary keyword naturally in the title, meta description and url
• Mention your primary keyword early in the content (within the first 100 words)
• Use secondary keywords in headings or subheadings. You can also add them via file names and alt texts.

Wondering how to prepare the content? Here are 10 types of content to create on your website.

Tracking and Refining Your Keyword Strategy

Keyword research doesn’t stop after optimising your WordPress content. To keep improving your search rankings, you must monitor your site’s performance and adjust your strategy based on the SEO KPIs you choose.

Once your content is live, use tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs, and SEMrush to track keyword rankings, impressions, and click-through rates (CTR). Focus on key metrics such as:

• Ranking Position: Are your target keywords appearing on the first page?
• Organic Traffic: How many visitors are coming through search engines?
• Bounce Rate: Are users staying on your page or leaving quickly?
• Conversion Rate: Are these keywords attracting the right audience who take action (sign-ups, purchases, etc.)?

By analysing these results, you can determine if your keywords are effectively driving traffic and engagement. Regular performance reviews help refine your strategy, ensuring your content continues to meet search intent and stay competitive.

Want to learn more SEO? Read our comprehensive guide on On-Page SEO here.

Maximise Your WordPress Potential with WP Creative

At WP Creative, we help you unlock the full potential of your WordPress website with expert solutions tailored to your needs. From custom web design that enhances user experience to high-performance web development, we create visually appealing, fast, and fully responsive websites that align with your brand.

Our SEO services help boost your search rankings, drive organic traffic, and improve conversions. We conduct in-depth keyword research, optimise site structure, and implement on-page and technical SEO strategies to ensure long-term visibility.

Ready to take your WordPress website to the next level? Contact WP Creative today and let’s build something amazing together!

Conclusion

Keyword research is the backbone of a successful WordPress SEO strategy. By identifying and strategically using the right keywords, you can drive targeted traffic, improve search rankings, and boost conversions. Understanding search intent, optimising content, and continuously tracking performance ensures that your website remains competitive in search engine results.

Remember, refining your keyword strategy based on tracking is key to long-term success. Start applying these techniques today, and watch your WordPress site grow in visibility and engagement!

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