In my last survey Keyword Research was one of the two biggest problems people are having in their internet marketing career. (Building links/getting traffic being the other).
I love keyword research so I thought I’d start a regular keyword finding mission here. I think the more you see the process in action the easier it gets. So here’s today’s first keyword finding mission.
1. Get an idea.
Doesn’t matter where you get the idea. At the store, looking out the window, browsing a shopping site online, looking around your house. Ideas are everywhere. Just grab one and get started.
2. Don’t be too attached to the idea.
So many times I see people get an idea and then go to the search tool and hold on to that idea so tightly ~ whether it’s going to work or not, that they completely miss 5 or 6 great keywords that are right in front of them because they aren’t exactly the idea they went in with.
3. Identify basic information during your research.
Ok so let’s see how I do it.
Today I was looking out my window thinking about starting a worm compost bin, when it dawned on me to check and see if it might be worth doing a lens on. (yes, starting keyword research CAN be that easy!)
I checked to see what worm bins cost. (I checked at Gardener’s Supply ~ only because that’s where I buy most of my gardening stuff ~ but they have the same worm bins on Amazon.)
Opened micro niche finder and did a search of the broad words “worm bins” to see what all would come up. I found a few options and a couple that I would go ahead and build lenses out of.
Here’s the video:
So take it easy, have a little fun, don’t be too attached, and if you have any questions about how I did this, or how YOU can do it too, please ask in the comments section.
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[...] last time I did a “finding killer keywords” post the idea came from daydreaming and staring out my window. Although I’m sure [...]
Is it ok to use product names in your domain name (for example Senseo coffeemachine or as keywords?
yes ~ I have done that many times without issue.
Hi Jackie,
For those who do not own MNF, they can make use of this online free tool http://adlab.microsoft.com/Online-Commercial-Intention/Default.aspx for reference.
Just key in your keywords in the box provided, select “Query” and press “GO”.
Paul@Tony Little’s Gazelle Edge´s last blog ..Tony Little’s Gazelle Edge – Total Body Workouts Without The Gym updated Sun May 23 2010 8-27
Quick question. I am using MNF for keywords. Do you think it is a good idea to use High OCI keywords for your money pages and lower OCI keywords for articles, blogs etc. that are linking to your money pages. Or should high OCI keywords be used for both?
I don’t think for articles the OCI is the most important number to be looking at. Depending what kind of article marketing you’re doing. If you are posting to 1 or 2 directories looking to get traffic ~ then you want to look for kw that have some searches ~ but not too much competition that are related to your product (but not the kw you are targeting for your lens). If you are writing articles for mass distribution I don’t think any of those things matter ~ because it’s the link in the resource box that matters ~ not the people who actually see the articles.
Hey there Woman,
You have got to be one of the most practical honest advice givers on marketing I’ve come across. I always pick up pearls of wisdom from your succinct information.
I used to focus on a product like Kelly and now after practice I’m amazed at the amount of traffic I get on different lenses because of keyword research and using keywords I would NEVER have thought of.
Jane’s funny, it really is amazing how your mind shifts after awhile and how you start listening differently.
Jackie thank you for your sound and purposeful content and advice. It’s a rare thing!
Jan Morgan´s last blog ..How to SEO- White Hat SEO Versus Black Hat Tactics
Isn’t that interesting Ingrid, KW research is my favorite part. In fact, I’ve often thought about trying to find a way to just make money from doing kw research.
Just break it down to the simplest level.
1. what are you using the kw for? (this helps to identify how much search volume and competition levels you want)
2. Go hunting around for words that fit the levels you’ve defined.
No matter who says what, if you do it long enough you’ll get a feel for the levels of search and competition that work for you and the sites you run. You’ll come up with your own system, and it will work for you.
Hi Jackie,
I really like your video tutorials. You address the issues we all struggle with.
I love keyword research, too. In fact, the part of the process I don’t enjoy is creating content. I’d much rather do the research than anything else. Of course, that doesn’t do me much good unless I sell my keyword lists.
Thanks for continuing to provide a great resource, Jackie.
Theresa
Theresa, Keyword Angel´s last blog ..What Niche Market Are You In
I am so afraid of keyword research, I avoid it at all cost. Whenever I try to find a keyword for any niche, its just not good enough. And believe me I dont get hang up, any keyword within the niche will do just fine for me. So what do I do, outsource my keyword research. Saves me tons of time.
I really hope to get good at this. I am getting along great at driving traffic and backlinking, its just the keyword thing that has me choked up.
grrrr… you make it look so easy. and quick. i always seem to get caught up in this kw maze.
most of all, that was inspiring. kw research can be easy. and quick.
happy composting.
It can be that easy ~ or you can allow yourself to get caught up. I just think it’s fun so there’s not a lot of additional “stuff” connected to it. Let go of your expectations, and just play with it for a while. That should lighten it up for you. Make it a game ~ a big treasure hunt (that’s what it is to me)
My biggest problem is getting started on keyword research, it’s not that bad after you start but all the unimportant things have to be done first, checking emails etc. I guess the research has to be a priority, I need to prioritize. You do have great information that simplifies the process.
Robert @ Reverse Cell Lookup´s last blog ..How To Catch A Cheating Partner With Their Cell
Excellent video but how do we know which are buying KWs and which are information KW?
atul´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
If you have micro niche finder you can check the OCI which will tell you commercial intent. Otherwise I just think about it. If I myself put that keyword into Google what would I be looking for? Something to buy or free information? It works pretty well. You can mostly guarantee with product related keywords they will do pretty well on the buying side.
I appreciate these blog posts. I’m done with my 2nd Christmas cash lens and ready to dig into my third. This tutorial came at just the right time1
Lisa
Nespresso Le Cube C185 Espresso Machine´s last blog ..Nespresso Le Cube C185 Espresso Machine updated Wed Jul 7 2010 1-32 pm CDT
I made my first amazon sales barely within 7 days of posting my first squidoo lens.
This lens is ranking on the second page (the one that I have mentioned above) and still it converted to one sales which is simply amazing.
I have subcribed to MNF a few days back and this post could not have been more timely for me.
Jasmine by Takamine S35 Acoustic Guitar´s last blog ..Jasmine by Takamine S35 acoustic guitar updated Sun Jul 4 2010 4-41 am CDT
Congrats! That’s fantastic, and expect that lens to move around. In a week or so it will probably drop off in ranking. That’s just part of the process. Build some links to it and then let it “simmer”. It will come back.
Jackie,
I truly believe that you need to “practice” as you say. When I first started doing the research… I HATED IT. Now, I see and hear keywords everywhere. I keep a notepad of paper in my purse and if I see something out in a store that looks like it may be popular, I write it down to do research later, if I see a commercial I write the product down to do research later.
Another thing to do is to LISTEN to your kids at this time of year. Last year my daughter saw a commercial for Zhu Zhu pets and LOVED them…. I thought who in the world is gonna want fake hamsters… boy, was I wrong and really missed the boat on that one!! Just keep your eyes open.
Also, MNF is the best tool as it gives you lots of variations of what you enter in as keyword and it will lead you in directions you could never think of.
Thanks so much Jackie – you are a gem!!
Jane ~ MoneyMom
I have one question. I am working on my first “Christmas” product lens and I chose a product in Amazon based on your “instructions” using your tutorial. I have MNF…I then got a little lost in getting my keywords…I put the name of the product in the search and came up with some keywords…so I look for the keywords to use in the list of keywords there is that correct?
That’s right. You’ll want to look through the list of keywords that MNF brings up. As you’re looking through the list (which will be keywords on more topics/words than the one you put in) you want to look for search volume over 1000 (under the global column), and then check the SOC (which shows level of competition) on the far right hand side. Those are the numbers you’re really interested in for this process. I try to stick with an SOC under 30 for lenses.
#2 was the one that was hanging me up! I was doing keyword research by finding a product I wanted to sell, then trying to find a kw to sell it with. As a result, I’ve ended up with some KWs that aren’t really the best they could be.
Now, I do like you said here – I look around, type in something I see or something I though of… just a random phrase – and then see what keywords pop up.
I’ve started finding some really great ones!
Kelly @ Costume for Babies´s last blog ..Shrek Costume for Babies