Keyword research is one of the most important aspects of PPC advertising. Choosing the right keywords to target can make the difference between a successful and profitable campaign, or a campaign that fails to generate results. Business owners who want to run successful PPC campaigns need to learn how to conduct keyword research to identify the terms that potential customers are using to search for products or services like theirs.
The goal of keyword research is to find the right balance between high search volume and low competition. High search volume means that many people are searching for a particular term, while low competition means that there are few advertisers targeting that term. By targeting keywords with high search volume and low competition, business owners can maximise their chances of generating clicks, conversions, and revenue from their PPC campaigns.
Here are some examples of how to conduct keyword research and identify strong keywords for PPC advertising:
Brainstorming and understanding your target audience
The first step in conducting keyword research is to brainstorm a list of potential keywords. Business owners can start by putting themselves in the shoes of their potential customers and thinking about the terms that they might use to search for products or services like theirs. It's also important to consider the different variations and synonyms that people might use to describe the same thing.
For example, if a business sells running shoes, they might start by brainstorming terms such as "running shoes," "sneakers," "athletic shoes," "jogging shoes," "trail running shoes," and "cross-training shoes." They could also consider variations such as "men's running shoes," "women's running shoes," and "kids' running shoes."
Using keyword research tools
Once a business owner has brainstormed a list of potential keywords, they can use keyword research tools to refine their list and identify strong keywords. Google Ads Keyword Planner is a popular tool for keyword research, and it provides information on search volume, competition, and suggested bid prices for each keyword.
To use the Keyword Planner, business owners can start by entering their list of potential keywords. The tool will then generate a list of related keywords, along with data on their search volume, competition, and suggested bid prices. Business owners can use this data to refine their list and identify strong keywords to target in their PPC campaigns.
Analysing competitor keywords
Another way to identify strong keywords for PPC advertising is to analyse the keywords that competitors are targeting. By using tools such as SEMrush or SpyFu, business owners can see the keywords that their competitors are targeting, and how much they are spending on each keyword.
To use these tools, business owners can enter the website of a competitor or a similar business, and the tool will generate a list of the keywords that the website is targeting in their PPC campaigns. Business owners can use this data to identify keywords that their competitors are targeting, and to find opportunities to target similar or related keywords that their competitors may have missed.
Refining and testing keywords
Once a business owner has identified a list of potential keywords, they can refine their list by focusing on keywords with high search volume, low competition, and high relevance to their products or services. It's important to test different variations and combinations of keywords to see which ones generate the most clicks, conversions, and revenue.
Business owners can use A/B testing to test different variations of their ad copy, landing pages, and keyword targeting. By analysing the data from these tests, business owners can refine their keyword list and optimise their PPC campaigns for better performance and ROI.
Keyword research is essential for any successful PPC advertising campaign. Business owners who want to attract more clicks, conversions, and revenue need to focus on identifying strong keywords that are relevant to their products or services, have high search volume, and low competition.
By following the examples and tips provided in this post, business owners can conduct effective keyword research, refine their keyword lists, and optimise their PPC campaigns for better performance and ROI. They can also use A/B testing to test different variations of their ad copy, landing pages, and keyword targeting, and use the data to continually improve their campaigns over time.
Remember, the goal of PPC advertising is to generate more business, and keyword research is an essential part of achieving that goal. With the right approach to keyword research, businesses of all sizes can create successful PPC campaigns that generate more leads, sales, and revenue.