
In the last post in the ‘how to make a blog‘ series we covered the subject of finding your niche. That is a crucial step and so is this one…keyword research.
The vast majority of people who go onto the internet, go for one reason.
To find information.
They perform a Google or MSN or BING search to see what information is available for free or to buy.
What individuals enter in the search criteria is called the ‘keyword phrase’.
For instance, if you performed a Google search for “how to get fit books”, then you have just used the keyword phrase “how to get fit books”. After you did your first search you may not like or find what you are looking for, you may perform another search. For instance, “how to get fit from home books”. That would be another keyword phrase.
Google records all the keyword phrases people have entered every day for the past few years and we can tap into that information to find out what the best keywords we should be using for our chosen niche.
Why is Keyword Research important?
Because if we use the correct keyword phrases then we have a much better chance of our site being displayed on the first page of Google.
Once we find the best keyword phrases to use for our chosen niche, we shall try and use the phrase in our domain name…but more of that in a later article in our ‘how to make a blog’ series.
How To Make A Blog: What Makes A Great Keyword Phrase?
There are 3 key rules:
Keyword Research Rule #1
90% of keyword phrases get no traffic. When creating your blog you MUST ONLY target keyword phrases that have significant traffic to make it worth the time and effort.
Keyword Research Rule #2
90% of keyword phrases have very POOR profit potential. You MUST ONLY target keyword phrases that will bring you in CASH, NOT just traffic.
Keyword Research Rule #3
Unfortunately, for most bloggers, 90% of most keyword phrases are simply TOO COMPETITIVE to appear on the first page of Google. How many other websites are using the same keyword phrase as you? We want it to be as low as possible.
Taking those 3 key rules into consideration, we have to do some research to find the best keyword phrases for our blog.
We are looking for 6–8 keyword phrases associated with our niche.
Finding Great Useable Keyword Phrases
What are the best ‘how to make a blog’ guidelines for finding great useable keyword phrases?
You want a keyword phrase that:
1. Is attracting more than 100 searches per day
2. Sells
3. Less than 500,000 other blogs / websites are using
For each keyword phrase you are aiming for:
1. As high number of searches as possible
2. As high number of sales as possible
3. As low number of other blogs / websites using the same keyword phrase as possible
Get that combination right and you’ve got a great keyword phrase to target.
Remember, your aim is to have 6 – 8.
How to find great useable keyword phrases
The easiest and quickest way is with a tool called Market Samurai. The Market Samurai tool is made up of many functions but the Keyword Analysis part is free.
Click on this link to download a free trial version: Market Samurai
It’s an awesome tool.
Please note: Market Samurai also works on MAC
Follow this video to show you how to find the keyword phrases for your blog using Market Samurai. Click on this link to watch me pick my 6 – 8 keyword phrases and my primary keyword for a new niche:
Use Keyword Research To Get On The First Page Of Google
In the next post on the series, “How to make a Blog” we shall cover the topic of monetizing with Affiliate Products.
The previous blog posts in the ‘how to make a blog’ series:
How To Make A Blog Part One: Getting Your Niche Right Is Crucial
image by Kai Hendry








I
was impressed with the excellent service.
I
approached Andrew in February 2010, because I needed to enhance the way I communicated
my business.
I was introduced to Andrew by a dear friend Corinne Edwards and Andrew as transformed by blog in ways that have reaped results. My membership has gone up and my blog always looks clean and easy to read. Whenever I send Andrew a request to check out - it's ALWAYS prompt and easy to understand. In my humble opinion he is the BEST when it comes to knowledge of the blogging world.
The best blog builder, and the best blog maintenance, I've ever met is Andrew Rondeau. This fellow is an authentic professional in every sense of the word. He's lightning fast, knowledgeable, competent, a skilled listener. He goes the extra mile. He's able to share his passion for his work and products without being pushy. He as other great internet skills, too, but his most impressive attribute is mastery of website building.
Andrew is the real deal and he knows his stuff! His customer service is superb and he gets your work done FAST! You won't need to wait around for endless weeks to see results. Most importantly he works on the site as if it's his own, thus you are assured that you will get the best quality service. I now give Andrew all of my new and old sites to work on. Trust me; you cannot go wrong with this gentleman!
Andrew is an asset to our ongoing website and social media needs. He responds quickly, accurately, and cost effectively. Andrew plays a consultative role in many aspects to our online needs.
Thank you Andrew for your patience in getting my website and on-line courses on-line and selling. You were fantastic in learning the delivery platform software that I had chosen and you were across the complexities quickly. Your detailed approach in setting guidelines and deliverables bought my focus back to where it should be and got the job done. Thank you for all your efforts it was a pleasure.
Andrew was kind enough to offer up his own time as part of an initiative to make the world a better place, and I was one of the beneficiaries of that effort. He spent an hour with me working on improving my bounce rate; he suggested several helpful strategies. Most importantly, he helped me with some key processes to help speed up my site, which had bogged down considerably with overuse of graphics. Andrew helped me get set up with Rackspace, which helped so much. From a load time of almost 30 seconds, the site sped up to about a 6 second load. Thanks so much, Andrew!
Andrew
has extensive knowledge about internet marketing, SEO and building web
sites/blogs. His course explained everything in an easy to understand
way and I now have a web site that is generating me new clients and
producing income from internet product sales.
The
end result is a fantastic site that is attracting a lot more attention
and visitors than my old one.
I have been online since 1996 and in that time I have been involved in the development of almost 400 web sites for my clients. I have worked with a wide variety of vendors and I have to tell you that Andrew @ We Build Your Blog has far exceeded my expectations. In addition to his vast knowledge and expertise, he is a genuinely great guy, who always goes the extra mile. I highly recommend him, in fact I only recommend him now for web development.
Having worked with Andrew on and off over the last year, I have found him to be very patient, helpful and easy to work with. He is also very knowledgeable, supportive and a true expert.
I wanted a stylish website that presented my original abstract art in a visually attractive way. Andrew came highly recommended to me as a "no nonsense" practitioner. He does exactly what he says he will do: I give him the parameters to work within and he provides a quick and precise service. You will receive nothing but the best from Andrew!
I've spent insane amounts of money in the past with former webmasters until I discovered Andrew Rondeau.
I first connected with Andrew in early 2010 as I was looking to start a blog. I didn't do anything straight away as I could not decide what subject to write about. Every so often I contacted him with ideas and found him very honest and helpful. He gave me some great advice and I found him very inspiring because he makes you sit down and think about what it is you really want to do and whether it can work for you online. He gives you all the time you need and you never feel you are taking up too much of his time.
I happened to stumble upon Andrew's website (WeBuildYourBlog.com) while searching for blogging services that would help me start my very own blog. I was a total newbie when it came to the blogging world. Fast forward 3 months and not only do I have my own awesome blog, but friends and family are actually asking me how to start their own blog and I am able to set their blogs up for them! In only 3 months under Andrew's guidance I went from total newbie to being sought after. Thanks Andrew!
Andrew is highly knowledgeable about blogs and very customer service focused. I knew nothing about blogs and Andrew was very kind, patient, pleasant to work with, receptive and responsive. Work was delivered in timely manner and if I need anything done for blog again I would use Andrew. If you are looking for quality work, excellent customer service and someone that really gets YOU and your needs, I recommend Andrew!.
Andrew
is highly knowledgeable about blogs, and you can get your blog up and running
successfully and fast. Andrew has helped me immeasurably with
my blog and he is patient and good natured and a wonderful teacher.
Without Andrew, I wouldn't even have a blog -- I would still just be sitting here, staring at my computer, feeling confused and helpless. With Andrew, I no longer fear confusion and it's impossible to feel helpless. He exerts any and all necessary efforts to resolve any problem or perplexity -- quickly, kindly, intelligently, up to and including IM exchanges in real time via skype. I would urge anyone at any level of expertise (or not) to make the most of his extraordinary talent.
I
am very happy to provide a testimonial for Andrew Rondeau. All the parts of
the process of working with Andrew were a pleasure. He clarified what I was
wanting and he delivered it without fuss. He was courteous and prompt in all
his dealings with me. I have no hesitation in recommending Andrew to anyone
who wants work done on their blog.
Hi, Andrew Rondeau here and this blog, my blog, will not lie to you. I will give it to you straight.This blog is about blogging, the Internet and sharing my experiences and advice on
Twitter: happymakernowco
Hi Andrew,
Yes, you have taught me how important those key words are and I thank you. I am lokking forward to your next post of monetizing with Affiliate Products.
Thanks again you always keep me on track.
Blessing to you,
Debbie
Debbie recently posted..The Zen of Friendship in your Relationship
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Debbie,
You are welcome!
Keyword research is important. It’s also worth doing every 6 months or so.
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Two: Finding The Best Keywords For Your Chosen Niche
This is a great and generous series, Andrew. Making sure it gets around on Digg and FB.
Corinne Edwards recently posted..ARE WE SPIRITUAL YET? – Paperback and on Kindle
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Thanks, Corinne for the ‘shares’.
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Two: Finding The Best Keywords For Your Chosen Niche
Can you explain for a key word phrase, must i use it exactly and by itself in the title or can i use it in combo with others
http://www.danpetrosini.com
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Dan,
Use the keyword as a ‘combo’.
Just like I have used ‘how to make a blog’ in this blog post title.
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Two: Finding The Best Keywords For Your Chosen Niche
forgot to also ask how you determine the number of other blogs etc using that keyword/phrase
thx dan
http://danpetrosini.com
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Dan,
When using Market Samurai – it is one of the columns of details you get back from the research.
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Two: Finding The Best Keywords For Your Chosen Niche
Twitter: Yoursinfo
Thanks! Andrew Rondeau you given points are incredible. I’m using market samurai
abhiz recently posted..Tools for Increasing Websites Speed
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Abhiz
How are you getting on with market samurai ?
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Three: Monetizing with Affiliate Products
Twitter: insitedesignlab
Great information on keyword research.
Unfortunately, there are just too many blogs out there for yours to succeed without some good marketing. Posts like these help bridge the gap!
Jon recently posted..Decision Time – Picking A Web Browser
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Jon
I agree…it is getting harder and harder.
Content has to be better and better.
‘Good enough’ is no longer good enough!
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Three: Monetizing with Affiliate Products
Twitter: problogsuccess
I wouldn’t be blogging without Market Samurai, Andrew. It is very important that bloggers pay attention to keyword research right from the beginning of starting a blog. It helps them to categorize and structure their blog in a good standing!
Jane recently posted..Google Social Search Includes Your Personal World
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Totally agree, Jane.
It’s a shame so many don’t!
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Three: Monetizing with Affiliate Products
Until lately, a month in time to be specific.i had no much idea about SEO and keywords etc., I kind of thought the web designer or client build their web according to their wish and as it gets popular search engines make note of it,then produce them back in the research pages.How ignorant can i be.
johnavery recently posted..South India tour package
Thanks for these tips! That’s funny how almost no one finds my website for the keywords I am targeting. But I get found a lot for the most weird keyword combinations, that I never used and it would never occur to anyone to use these words on a wbesite. Some of them with bad mistakes/types, one comes to mind “shiepest otels that have a kitshen and will let me lieve with a dog” . Of course they are related to my content and I am amazed at how smart Google is in figuring out what users want!
Svetlana recently posted..Jan 22, Toronto Entertainment Calendar – What’s On In Toronto Today – Toronto Events and Things to Do
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Svetlana
No one finds your site for your targetted keywords…most probably because they are too competitive?
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Six: The Tools I Use To Make A Full-Time Income
Twitter: katiepecbvda
When I started out, I chose the wrong keywords to market to. I chose ones that received the most views in my niche, but at the same time they were the most competitive keywords. I have been doing SEO constantly for a year and still haven’t gotten to page 1. Don’t make that mistake.
Katie Woodard recently posted..Khleo Thomas Interview with Spate TV
Twitter: andrewrondeau
Katie
Picking the wrong keywords can make or break your site.
I think many of us, when we start out are tempted to go for the most competitive ones…thinking it will be easy to get to page one.
Unfortunately, we learn it’s not that easy!
Andrew
Andrew recently posted..How To Make A Blog Part Six: The Tools I Use To Make A Full-Time Income