Keywords in SEO and why they are important for optimizing your business

 

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. In plain English, it’s the process of helping search engines understand your content, so your website shows up when people search. 

Beginner’s Guide to Improving SEO

Now here’s the part most businesses ignore: keywords.

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google when they need something. And Google’s systems look at things like the words in your query and the content on pages to decide what to show.

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So what are keywords, really?

Think of keywords like “intent translators.” They tell you what a person wants right now. Ahrefs describes keyword research as finding valuable search queries your customers type to look for products, services, and info. Keyword Research for SEO

 

Why SEO keywords matter (a lot):

  • They connect your business to real demand (people searching today)
  • They help you write pages that match what customers actually want
  • They can bring you free traffic month after month (if you rank)

Good examples vs bad examples (what to do and what NOT to do)

 

Bad examples (too broad, unclear, or impossible to win):

  • “Shoes”
  • “Best service”
  • “Repair”
  • “Marketing”

Why these are bad: they don’t tell Google (or the customer) enough. The person might be researching, shopping, comparing, or just bored. It’s vague, and you’re competing with basically the entire internet.

 

Good examples (specific, buyer-intent, and realistic):

  • “running shoes for flat feet”
  • “laptop screen repair near me”
  • “logo design for small business”
  • “best brunch in Austin under $20”

 

See the difference? These are real searches with real intent. If your page matches that intent, you have a real shot.

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Another mistake: keyword stuffing (don’t do this)

 

Some people try to jam the same keyword 50 times into one page like:

  • “laptop screen repair near me laptop screen repair near me laptop screen repair…” 

That doesn’t make you rank. It makes your page look spammy and painful to read. Your goal is clarity, not repetition.

 

Quick way to find better keywords (beginner-friendly)

  • Start with what customers ask you in real life (calls, DMs, emails). Those questions are keyword ideas.
  • Use Google Trends to compare terms and spot what’s rising.
  • Use Google Keyword Planner to generate keyword ideas and variations.
  • Use a keyword research guide/tool to expand and validate ideas. 

The point is simple: keywords decide whether you get found or you stay invisible. If you take SEO seriously but ignore keyword research, you’re basically building a store in the desert and hoping someone accidentally drives by.

About the Author

This article was written by Daniel Ponomarenko. More information can be found on LinkedIn.