When I first started writing for SEO, I kept hearing the phrase ‘blog keywords,’ but I didn’t realize just how powerful they were until I began tracking their performance.
If you ask me now, blog keywords are the backbone of SEO content. They tell search engines what your content is about and help users find your blog organically.
So, in this guide, I’ll walk you through how I personally choose, use, and optimize blog keywords to drive real visibility and how tools like SEOBoost simplify the process without compromising content quality.
Let’s start with a definition.
What Are Blog Keywords?
Blog keywords are specific words or phrases that people type into search engines like Google to find blog content.
Think of them as the bridge between what your audience is searching for and what your blog offers.
These can be both words and long-tail phrases.
For example, if someone is searching for “how to optimize blog content,” that entire phrase is a long-tail blog keyword. If your blog post uses this phrase naturally and answers the query well, it’s more likely to rank.
But blog keywords do more than just help with rankings. They also guide your content strategy.
When chosen strategically, they ensure that your content:
- Matches search intent
- Aligns with what your audience wants
- Competes effectively with similar content online
Types of Blog Keywords
Earlier in my writing days, when I was still transitioning from an amateur writer to an SEO writer, I thought keywords were just one-size-fits-all.
But I quickly learned that there are different types of blog keywords, each serving a unique role in attracting traffic to varying stages of the user journey.
Let me break down the main types and how I use them.
1. Short-Tail Keywords
These are one- or two-word phrases, such as “marketing” or “SEO tools.” They usually have high search volume but are extremely competitive and often lack clarity in their intent.
That’s because they are too broad to pin the exact intent of the searcher.
So, short-tail keywords might bring visibility, but they rarely bring conversions unless you’re already an established authority.
This is why I now use these sparingly, mostly in broad content or pillar pages.
2. Long-Tail Keywords
These are longer, more specific phrases, such as “best marketing tools for small businesses” or “how to search low-competition keywords for blogs.”
Long-tail keywords usually have lower competition, but they reflect clearer intent.
They help you target readers who are closer to making a decision and can be best categorized under commercial intent.
Using a keyword research tool like LowFruits, you can filter for these high-intent, low-difficulty terms that make a real difference in traffic and conversions.
3. LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) Keywords
LSI keywords are semantically related terms that help search engines understand context. For example, if your main keyword is “content writing,” your LSI keywords might be “blog strategy,” “tone of voice,” or “SEO optimization.”
I naturally incorporate these elements throughout my content to enhance relevance.
And the reason I can do it so easily is because I optimize the content using SEOBoost’s Content Optimization feature, which automatically suggests related keywords while I write.
This makes it easier to avoid keyword stuffing while still signaling topic depth to Google.
4. Branded and Navigational Keywords
These keywords include your brand name or specific product names (e.g., “AIOSEO Schema Generator” or “SEOBoost Topic Reports”).
They are used by people who are already aware of your brand.
Even if your brand is small, incorporate these keywords into your content, product updates, and testimonials to gradually establish visibility over time.
5. Transactional and Commercial Keywords
These keywords show buying intent, like “SEO tools subscription” or “best CRM for startups.”
You can map these keywords to BOFU (bottom of funnel) content, like product pages or comparison articles.
Doing so will help you create more targeted content that is likely to increase conversions.
How to Do Keyword Research for Blog Keywords?
Now, that you know the types of blog keywords, let’s look at the steps on how to research them.
When I first got serious about SEO, keyword research felt like trying to find a needle in a haystack. There were too many options, tools, and metrics.
However, over time, I’ve developed a system that helps me identify blog keywords that are not only popular but also strategic, relevant, and winnable.
So, here’s how to do keyword research for blogs:
1. Use Keyword Research Tools
Every successful content strategy begins with a solid foundation, and that means conducting thorough keyword research. Over the years, I’ve refined my tool stack and workflow to maximize both precision and efficiency.
Here’s exactly how I do it.
I start with Semrush to identify high-potential keywords using Semrush’s keyword overview and keyword magic tools.
Using this, I can easily get keyword metrics such as volume, keyword difficulty and intent which helps me focus on keywords that strike the right balance between search volume and difficulty.
Or has enough volume to be worth targeting, but not so competitive that they’re out of reach.
I also use LowFruits to uncover long-tail, low-competition variants that big tools often overlook.
It bulk analyzes the SERPs to identify the low-hanging opportunities and content gaps.
This step can be especially valuable if you’re working on newer domains or niche sites where quick wins are crucial.
After I have the list of seed keywords, I plug them into SEOBoost’s Topic Reports.
This is where the real magic happens.
SEOBoost not only presents a competitor analysis but also organizes these keywords into 7 different types of reports.
Each of these is targeted at different aspects of the keyword. Together, this data ensures that your content is rich in the right keywords and intent.
It also surfaces important phrases and words related to the seed term that often perform surprisingly well when optimized correctly.
2. Analyze Search Intent
This can be done simultaneously with the first step, but it’s important to highlight it.
To do this, you must first understand the different types of search intent and their relation to keywords.
Once you have a clear understanding of it, you can easily identify where most of your audience lies. If your audience wants a mix of informational and commercial content, you can prioritize those two categories, and the same goes for others as well.
To decode this, I:
- Google the keyword and study the top-ranking pages: are they blog posts, how-to guides, or product pages?
- Check if the content matches one of the 4 types of search intent (informational, navigational, transactional, commercial investigation).
- Semrush’s keyword overview feature also identifies the intent clearly.
This tells me exactly what kind of blog post I need to write.
3. Identify Keyword Difficulty and Search Volume
Sometimes, even if a keyword sounds perfect, but is too competitive, it might be better to skip it. And that’s because keyword selection isn’t just about having high volumes, as I’ve explained above. It’s about hitting the right keyword intent.
My general rule of thumb for this is:
- New blogs: target KD under 30.
- Mid-tier blogs: aim for KD between 30–50.
- Established sites: target those with 50+ backlinks and domain authority.
You can also balance this with search volume.
Ideally, try to strike a good balance between volume and difficulty. But at the same time, you should be fine with going after a keyword with 90 monthly searches if it’s highly relevant and has commercial value.
4. Competitor Analysis
Competitor analysis can be done in several different ways.
You can do it by following the traditional ways of scanning top search results on Google. Or by seeing competitor data using tools like SEOBoost or Semrush.
But, sometimes I skip tools entirely and just reverse-engineer what’s working for others.
I plug my competitor’s domain into SEOBoost’s Content Audit feature.
This feature identifies the content gaps in an existing piece of content. All you have to do is insert the existing URL and the focus keyword.
When you do this, you receive a comprehensive report on the content, highlighting content gaps and providing suggestions for improvement.
This data identifies the overall content score and different readability metrics, along with keyword integration.
I look at these gaps to identify what’s missing in their content, then use that to craft better content for those same keywords.
Trust me, this tactic alone can help you create better-ranking content and even outrank more established brands on blog posts.
5. Use LSI and Keyword Variations and Synonyms
Once you’ve picked a focus keyword, expand it using LSI keywords to cover a topic more comprehensively.
SEOBoost’s Content Optimization suggests semantically related terms when you’re writing in the editor.
But you can also check Google’s “People Also Ask” and “Related Searches,” which are goldmines for these.
I weave these into subheadings, FAQs, and naturally into the body of the post.
Also, instead of repeating the same keyword awkwardly, you can mix it up with variations and synonyms.
SEOBoost helps catch these nuances during real-time optimization checks.
6. Monitor Keyword Performance
This is an additional step, but an important one as it helps ensure that you’re on the right track.
A few weeks after publishing, track how each keyword performs using Google Analytics and Google Search Console for impressions, clicks, and average position.
Keeping track of this also helps you identify content decay or underperforming content, which you can update to improve its performance.
4 Places to Integrate Blog Keywords in Content
Once you’ve done the keyword research and finalized your blog keywords, the real magic happens: integrating them naturally into the content.
This part is often overlooked, but it’s what separates a well-optimized post from keyword-stuffed junk.
Here’s exactly how I do it:
1. Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
Your title tag and meta description are the first things users see in search results. This is why it’s important always to include the primary keyword near the beginning of the title.
I use AIOSEO’s TruSEO feature for this. If you’re a WordPress user, you should also download the plugin to make the optimization simple.
It gives a preview of what the title tag and meta description would look like in search results. It helps you customize your title tag.
For meta descriptions, aim to include the primary keyword once, ideally within the first 120 characters, and write it in a way that sounds like a mini elevator pitch.
2. Headings and Subheadings
H2s and H3s are prime real estate for supporting and LSI keywords. I don’t keyword stuff, but I do try to:
- Use long-tail variations of the primary keyword.
- Add natural phrasing that matches how people search (e.g., “how to use blog keywords effectively”).
SEOBoost flags relevant phrases and words you can use, and also suggests on-page SEO practices for where to include them.
3. Body Text
This is where most people go wrong. You should never force keywords in your body text because Google’s smart enough to know when something feels off.
Instead:
- Aim to mention the primary keyword naturally in the first 100 words.
- Sprinkle variations and secondary keywords throughout.
- Add value-first, keyword-second. That’s how you avoid sounding robotic.
The real-time feedback from SEOBoost’s Content Optimization editor is a lifesaver. It tells me if I’m underusing or overusing a term, without hurting flow or tone.
4. URL Structure
I keep URLs short, descriptive, and keyword-rich. Keep them as clear and brief as possible.
No fluff. No stop words. Just SEO clarity.
Remember, keywords are just one piece of the puzzle. Content that ranks and converts needs to:
- Solve real problems.
- Reflect your brand voice.
- Be skimmable and readable.
That’s why I always balance optimization with creativity. SEOBoost makes this easy by allowing me to toggle between performance metrics and content readability in a single dashboard.
FAQs
What are keywords in a blog?
Blog keywords are specific words or phrases that reflect what your audience is searching for. They’re used in your content to help search engines understand your topic and match it with user queries.
How to search low-competition keywords for blogs?
Use tools like LowFruits, SEOBoost Topic Reports, or Google Keyword Planner to research relevant terms. Look for a balance of search volume, keyword difficulty, and user intent.
How do I SEO my blog?
Start with strong keyword research, optimize your on-page elements (titles, meta descriptions, headings), ensure readability, use internal/external links, and track performance using SEO tools.
Final Word
Mastering blog keywords isn’t just about stuffing a few popular terms into your content and calling it a day.
It’s about understanding what your audience is searching for, why they’re searching for it, and how your content can meet their needs better than anyone else’s.
For me, using tools like SEOBoost has completely changed the way I plan and structure my blog posts. It removes the guesswork and ensures I’m aligned with real search behavior.
If you want your blog to rank, drive traffic, and convert, learn to choose your keywords wisely, use them intentionally, and track their performance continuously. That’s the key to long-term visibility and authority in any niche.
