Ecommerce Keyword Research for Beginners: The Easy Guide to Higher Sales

1. Introduction

1.1. Importance of Keyword Research

Keyword research is very important for your online store from ecommerce SEO point of view. It helps you find the exact words and phrases people use when searching for products like yours. By knowing these keywords, you can attract more visitors to your website, which can lead to more sales. It’s like understanding what your customers are thinking and looking for.

1.2. Overview of the Guide

In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about keyword research for your ecommerce store. You will learn:

• Different types of keywords and how to use them
• The best tools for finding keywords
• How to analyze and choose the right keywords
• Tips for staying ahead of your competitors

By the end of this guide, you will have a clear understanding of how to do keyword research and use it to grow your online store.

2. Understanding Keywords

2.1. Types of Keywords

There are different types of keywords that you can use for your ecommerce store. Here are the main ones:

• Short-Tail Keywords
• These are very general and short, usually one or two words. For example, "shoes."
• They have high search volume, meaning many people search for them.
• They also have high competition, meaning many websites are trying to rank for them.
• Long-Tail Keywords
• These are more specific and usually longer, like "best running shoes for women."
• They have lower search volume but are less competitive.
• They attract visitors who are looking for something specific and are more likely to buy.
• Product-Specific Keywords
• These keywords focus on specific products, like "Nike Air Max 2024."
• They help attract customers looking for a particular item.
• Informational Keywords
• These keywords are used when people are looking for information, like "how to clean leather shoes."
• They are great for creating blog posts and guides to attract visitors to your site.

2.2. Importance of Search Intent

Search intent is the reason why someone is searching for something. It helps you understand what people want when they use certain keywords. There are three main types of search intent:

• Navigational Intent
• People are looking for a specific website, like "Amazon" or "Nike official site."
• Informational Intent
• People want to learn something, like "best running shoes for beginners."
• Transactional Intent
• People are ready to buy something, like "buy Nike running shoes online."

By understanding and using the right types of keywords and search intent, you can attract the right visitors to your ecommerce store and increase your chances of making sales.

3. Tools for Keyword Research

3.1. Free Tools

There are several free tools you can use to find the best keywords for your ecommerce store. Here are some popular ones:

• Google Keyword Planner
• This tool helps you find keywords and see how many people search for them each month.
• You can also see how much competition there is for each keyword.
• Google Trends
• This tool shows you how popular a keyword is over time.
• You can use it to find trending keywords that are becoming more popular.
• AnswerThePublic
• This tool helps you find common questions people ask about your products.
• It gives you lots of keyword ideas based on what people are searching for.

3.2. Paid Tools

If you want more detailed information, you can use paid tools. These tools provide more data and features to help you with your keyword research:

• SEMrush
• This tool gives you a lot of information about keywords, including search volume and competition.
• It also shows you what keywords your competitors are using.
• Ahrefs
• This tool is great for finding keywords and analyzing your competitors.
• It helps you see which keywords bring the most traffic to their sites.
• Moz
• This tool helps you find keywords and see how difficult it is to rank for them.
• It also gives you suggestions for related keywords.

Using these tools, you can find the best keywords for your ecommerce store, understand what your customers are searching for, and stay ahead of your competitors.

4. Conducting Keyword Research

4.1. Brainstorming Initial Keywords

Start by thinking of keywords related to your products and categories:

• Your Products: Write down the names of your products and their features. For example, if you sell shoes, think of keywords like "running shoes" or "leather boots."
• Customer Feedback: Look at the questions and comments your customers leave. They can give you ideas for keywords.
• Competitors: Check out what keywords your competitors are using by looking at their websites.

4.2. Expanding Your List

Once you have your initial list, use tools to find more keywords:

• Keyword Tools: Use free and paid tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs to find related keywords.
• Related Searches: Look at the "related searches" section at the bottom of Google search results to find more ideas.
• Competitor Analysis: Use tools to see what keywords your competitors rank for and add those to your list if they are relevant.

4.3. Analyzing and Selecting Keywords

Now that you have a long list of keywords, it's time to choose the best ones:

• Search Volume: Choose keywords that have enough searches each month. You can find this information in keyword tools.
• Competition: Look for keywords with low to medium competition. These are easier to rank for.
• Relevance: Make sure the keywords are relevant to your products. They should match what people are looking for and what you are selling.

Prioritize the keywords that have a good balance of search volume, competition, and relevance. This will help you attract more visitors to your ecommerce store and increase your chances of making sales.

5. Competitor Analysis

5.1. Identifying Competitors

To start, find out who your main competitors are:

• Search for Your Products: Type in keywords related to your products in Google. See which websites come up on the first page. These are your competitors.
• Look at Similar Businesses: Identify businesses that sell similar products as yours. They can be local or online stores.

5.2. Analyzing Competitor Keywords

Next, see what keywords your competitors are using:

• Use Keyword Tools: Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs can show you which keywords your competitors rank for. Type in their website URL to get a list of keywords.
• Look at Their Website: Visit your competitors’ websites and look at their product titles, descriptions, and blog posts. Note any keywords they use often.

5.3. Identifying Gaps and Opportunities

Finally, find gaps and opportunities in your competitors' keyword strategy:

• Find Missing Keywords: Look for keywords that your competitors are not using or are not ranking well for. These can be good opportunities for you.
• Compare Performance: See where your competitors are strong and weak. Focus on keywords where you can outperform them.
• Unique Keywords: Think of unique keywords that describe your products better than your competitors' products. Use these to attract specific customers.

By understanding what keywords your competitors are using, you can find new opportunities to improve your own keyword strategy. This can help you attract more customers and grow your ecommerce store.

6. Seasonal Keywords and Trends

6.1. Importance of Seasonal Keywords

Seasonal keywords are words and phrases that are popular during certain times of the year:

• Why They Matter: People search for different things depending on the season. For example, "Christmas gifts" is popular in December. Using seasonal keywords helps you attract more visitors during these times.

6.2. Identifying Seasonal Keywords

Here’s how to find seasonal keywords:

• Google Trends: This tool shows you how keywords trend over time. You can see when certain keywords are most popular.
• Past Sales Data: Look at your own sales data from previous years. See which products were popular in each season and find related keywords.
• Seasonal Events: Think about holidays, weather changes, and special events. These can all create seasonal search trends. For example, "summer clothing" becomes popular in spring.

6.3. Planning Content Around Seasonal Trends

Use seasonal keywords to create timely content:

• Content Calendar: Plan ahead by creating a calendar. Schedule blog posts, product updates, and promotions around key seasons and holidays.
• Seasonal Blog Posts: Write blog posts that fit the season. For example, a post about "top summer fashion trends" in early spring.
• Product Promotions: Highlight products that are in demand during certain seasons. Use seasonal keywords in your product descriptions and titles.

By using seasonal keywords and trends, you can attract more visitors during peak times. This helps you stay relevant and boost sales throughout the year.

7. Implementing Keywords in Your Ecommerce Store

7.1. On-Page Optimization

Make sure your keywords are used effectively on your website. Here’s how:

• Product Titles and Descriptions
• Product Titles: Include your main keywords in product titles. For example, instead of just "Running Shoes," use "Best Running Shoes for Women."
• Product Descriptions: Write detailed descriptions that include your keywords naturally. Describe the features and benefits of the product.
• Category Pages
• Category Names: Use keywords in your category names. For example, instead of just "Shoes," use "Men's Running Shoes."
• Category Descriptions: Add a brief description at the top of each category page using relevant keywords.
• Meta Tags and URLs
• Meta Titles: Write a unique meta title for each page that includes your main keyword. Keep it concise and descriptive.
• Meta Descriptions: Write a short meta description for each page that includes your keywords. This should summarize the content of the page and entice users to click.
• URLs: Make your URLs clean and include your keywords. For example, use "yourstore.com/best-running-shoes" instead of "yourstore.com/product123."

7.2. Blog Content

Use keywords in your blog content to attract more visitors:

• Creating Blog Posts: Write blog posts about topics related to your products. Use your keywords naturally in the title, headings, and throughout the content.
• Example: If you sell fitness equipment, write a post titled "Top Home Workout Equipment for 2024."
• Internal Linking Strategies: Link to other pages on your site using relevant keywords. This helps search engines understand the structure of your site and improves navigation for users.
• Example: In your blog post about home workout equipment, link to your product pages for each type of equipment you mention.

By implementing keywords throughout your ecommerce store, you can make it easier for search engines to find and rank your pages. This helps more customers discover your products, leading to more traffic and sales.

8. Monitoring and Adjusting Your Strategy

8.1. Tracking Performance

To see how well your keyword strategy is working, you need to track your performance:

• Google Analytics: This free tool shows you how many people visit your site, where they come from, and what pages they look at. You can see which keywords bring in the most traffic.
• Google Search Console: Another free tool that shows how your site appears in Google search results. You can see which keywords you rank for and how many clicks you get.

8.2. Analyzing Results

Look at the data from these tools to understand what’s working and what’s not:

• Keyword Rankings: Check how well your pages rank for your chosen keywords. Are you on the first page of search results?
• Traffic: See which keywords bring the most visitors to your site.
• Conversions: Look at which keywords lead to the most sales or sign-ups. This shows which keywords are most valuable to your business.

8.3. Adapting to Changes

Based on what you find, you may need to adjust your strategy:

• Improving Low-Performing Keywords: If some keywords aren’t bringing in much traffic or aren’t ranking well, try to improve the content on those pages. Add more relevant information and use the keywords more naturally.
• Focusing on High-Performing Keywords: If certain keywords are doing well, create more content around those topics. This can attract even more visitors.
• Keeping Up with Trends: SEO is always changing. Keep learning about new trends and updates to search engine algorithms. Adjust your strategy as needed to stay ahead.

By monitoring your performance and making adjustments, you can keep improving your keyword strategy. This helps you attract more visitors, get higher rankings, and increase your sales over time.

9. Case Studies and Examples

9.1. Successful Ecommerce Keyword Strategies

Let's look at some real-life examples of successful keyword strategies:

• Example 1: Nike.com - Online Shoe Store
• Keywords Used: "Best running shoes for women," "affordable athletic shoes," "buy sneakers online."
• Strategy: This store focused on long-tail keywords that described specific types of shoes. They used these keywords in their product titles, descriptions, and blog posts.
• Result: They saw a 30% increase in website traffic and a 20% increase in sales.
• Example 2: Home Decor Store
• Keywords Used: "Modern living room decor," "cheap home decorations," "buy wall art online."
• Strategy: This store used a mix of product-specific and informational keywords. They created blog posts and guides on how to decorate different rooms using their products.
• Result: Their blog posts brought in a lot of new visitors, leading to a 25% increase in sales.

9.2. Lessons Learned

Here are some lessons from these examples that you can apply to your own store:

• Use Specific Keywords: Focus on long-tail keywords that describe your products in detail. These are less competitive and attract visitors who are ready to buy.
• Mix Informational and Product Keywords: Use both types of keywords to attract different kinds of visitors. Informational keywords can bring in people looking for advice, while product keywords can attract ready-to-buy customers.
• Create Valuable Content: Write blog posts, guides, and product descriptions that provide value to your customers. Use your keywords naturally in this content.
• Monitor and Adjust: Keep track of your performance and be ready to adjust your strategy based on what works best.

By learning from these examples, you can develop a keyword strategy that attracts more visitors and boosts your sales.

10. Conclusion

In this guide, you’ve learned the importance of keyword research for your ecommerce store. Here’s a quick summary of what we covered:

• Understanding Keywords: We explored different types of keywords like short-tail, long-tail, and product-specific keywords. These help you reach your target audience effectively.
• Tools for Keyword Research: We introduced tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Google Trends to help you find the best keywords for your business.
• Implementing Keywords: You learned how to use keywords in your product pages, category names, and blog content to improve your search engine rankings.
• Monitoring and Adjusting: We discussed the importance of tracking your keyword performance and making adjustments based on the data you collect.
• Case Studies and Examples: We looked at real-life examples of successful ecommerce stores using effective keyword strategies to grow their businesses.

Now that you understand the importance of keyword research, it’s time to put this knowledge into action for your ecommerce store. Start by brainstorming keywords, using tools to refine your list, and implementing them across your website.

Contact Me for Expert Help!

Ready to boost your ecommerce store’s visibility and sales with effective keyword research? Contact me today for personalized ecommerce SEO services. Whether you need help brainstorming keywords, analyzing competitors, or optimizing your website, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.