Choosing SEO keywords is one of the most crucial steps in creating an effective SEO strategy. By using search queries that users type into search engines like Google, your site can get discovered by potential customers more easily. Here are some tips on how to choose SEO keywords effectively and generate more enquiries for your business in Singapore.
Understand What Your Potential Customers Are Searching For
Start by putting yourself in the shoes of your customers. What words and phrases might they use to find solutions to their problems? Then, you can input the keywords into research tools such as Ahrefs or SEMrush to find more relevant keyword ideas.
Focus on Keywords with Enquiry Intent
While some SEO keywords may generate traffic, they may not always result in enquiries. This is why you should identify keywords that have a specific search intent. Several types of search intent include:
- Informational intent: The user wants to learn an answer or find general knowledge, such as “condo renovation rules in Singapore”.
- Commercial intent: The user is still researching options to compare, such as “CRM software comparison for small business Singapore” or “top chemical peels Singapore”.
- Navigational intent: The user already has an online destination in mind rather than browsing or learning. They may use keywords such as a specific brand or e-commerce name and action words, such as “[your brand] official shop” or “[e-commerce website] online store”.
- Transactional intent: The user is ready to take action, such as buying a product or signing up for a service. They may type in keywords such as “order 4K projector online” or “buy running shoes”.
To maximise your chances of enquiries, prioritise commercial and transactional keywords in your SEO strategy, as they signal the highest level of purchase readiness. However, informational queries are still helpful to build awareness, establish authority, and capture users early in their research journey.
Evaluate Search Volume, Competition, and Relevance
Next, assess the search volume, competitiveness, and relevance of your keywords:
- Search volume: The average number of times a keyword is searched every month. While targeting very popular keywords may sound appealing, it is often extremely competitive, especially for new websites. It may be more effective to target long-tail keywords that have moderate search volume.
- Competitiveness: Also called keyword difficulty (KD), it measures how hard it is to rank on the first page of search engines for a specific search term. If you are new to SEO, you may start by aiming for keywords with low to medium competitiveness.
- Relevance: Relevant keywords should target the problems your target audience has. Check if the keyword requires an informational guide or a product page, and ensure that your content matches that goal.
Use Long-Tail Keywords to Reach More Qualified Prospects
Long-tail keywords are often overlooked, especially by businesses or marketers doing SEO for the first time. These are longer, highly specific search phrases that users type into search engines. For example, instead of “hair shampoo”, someone might type “SLS-free shampoo for sensitive scalp”.
Although these keywords may have low volume, they may be just as useful and have high commercial value. When users search specific phrases, it often signals that they are closer to making a purchase. Moreover, targeting long-tail keywords increases your chances of ranking because fewer of your competitors may be targeting them.
Review the Current Search Results
Reviewing current search results helps show you what kinds of keywords are ranking highly on search engines and what users want for specific queries. You can find user intent and spot gaps in your content to optimise. Sometimes, you may need to reassess certain SEO keywords that are not generating significant results. You may also experiment with new keywords or adjust your content to improve rankings.
Common Keyword Selection Mistakes to Avoid
When selecting SEO keywords, avoiding these mistakes can help you avoid wasted efforts and increase enquiries.
Focusing Only on High-Volume Keywords
Only targeting high-volume keywords may mean higher competition, which makes it harder for your business to rank for them. Instead, combine them with long-tail keywords and focus on those that are truly relevant to your audience.
Not Doing Competitor Research
Researching your competitor’s SEO keyword strategies can provide valuable insights. Use SEO tools to identify the keywords your competitors are ranking for. Then, you can target relevant keywords or find ways to optimise your content to outrank theirs.
Neglecting Local Keywords
Users often search for products and services near them, so remember to add location-based terms such as “pet grooming Singapore” or “SaaS provider Singapore”.
Overlooking Question-Based Keywords
Users are typing their searches like questions. Keywords such as “what are the best employee management tools” may be highly effective for content marketing. Then, you can use these question-based keywords to create blogs or FAQs that address these questions directly.
Not Updating Keywords Regularly
As search trends evolve and audience behaviour shifts, you need to continuously conduct SEO optimisation through quarterly keyword research quarterly or whenever you see significant market trends. This helps keep your content relevant and competitive.
Target the Right SEO Keywords and Generate More Enquiries with Cleverly
The right SEO keywords can improve your business’ organic visibility and turn search traffic into enquiries. Cleverly is an SEO agency that is experienced in helping businesses get discovered by the right customers online. Talk to our SEO specialist today to get started!
RELATED ARTICLES FROM OUR BLOG
- Search Engine Optimization
How to Choose SEO Keywords That Can Generate More Enquiries for Your Business
SEO vs SEM: What Is the Difference and Should You Use Both?
How to Rank on AI Platforms? A Simple Guide
