SEO Glossary · Content & Keywords

What Is Keyword Research?

Keyword research is the process of discovering and analysing the search terms people enter into search engines, so you can create content that targets real demand. It is the foundation of any SEO strategy.

The keyword research process

Start with seed topics, expand them into keyword lists using tools, then evaluate each by search volume, keyword difficulty, and search intent. Prioritise terms where demand is real but competition is winnable for your site - low-difficulty, high-intent keywords are the fastest path to traffic. Group related keywords into topic clusters to plan content.

Pro tip
Mine Google Search Console and "People Also Ask" for question keywords you already get impressions for - they are the warmest, easiest opportunities.
Key takeaways
Keyword research finds the terms your audience actually searches.
It is the foundation of any SEO strategy.
Judge keywords by volume, difficulty, and search intent.
Low-difficulty, high-intent terms are the fastest wins.

Put it into practice with Soro

Understanding keyword research is one thing - applying it across every page is another. Soro automates SEO content end to end, researching keywords and publishing optimised articles so your site ranks on Google and gets cited by AI. See how Soro works.

Frequently asked questions

What metrics matter in keyword research?

The key ones are search volume (demand), keyword difficulty (competition), and search intent (what the searcher wants). Traffic potential and cost-per-click add useful context.

How do I find low-competition keywords?

Look for terms with meaningful volume but low keyword difficulty, often long-tail phrases. These are the easiest to rank for, especially on newer or lower-authority sites.

Keep learning

Keyword DifficultyKeyword difficulty (KD) is a score, usually 0-100, that estimates how hard it would be to rank in the top organic results for a given keyword.Long-Tail KeywordsLong-tail keywords are longer, more specific search phrases - usually three or more words - that have lower search volume but clearer intent and less competition.Search IntentSearch intent (or user intent) is the underlying goal behind a search query - what the person actually wants.SEO WritingSEO writing is the practice of creating content that is optimised to rank in search engines while remaining genuinely useful and readable for people.
Browse the full SEO glossary