Doing Keyword Research

Keyword research is how you'll find out if your topic (niche) has profit potential.

What are keywords? They're words or phrases that people type into the search engines (Google, Yahoo, Ask, etc.) when seeking information. For example: People looking for information on siamese cats might type in any of the following keywords:

• siamese cats
• siamese cat information
• cat breeds
• info on siamese cats
• siamese cat care
• siamese cat pictures
• And probably many more word combinations (keywords).

Keyword research involves three things: Keywords, Demand, and Supply:

1. Keywords - You want to find as many keywords related to your topic as possible.
2. Demand - You want to find out how often those keywords are searched for at the search engines (Demand).
3. Supply - You want to find out how much competition you have for each keyword at the search engines (Supply). The number of web pages that are returned when someone does a search on a keyword.

How do you get this information? There are paid methods and free methods. I'll show you the free method now and some paid methods later. The free method will give you a good idea of the profit potential of your topic, but it takes more time and effort than the paid methods.

Here are the steps to take in the free method of keyword research:

You should have a list of possible niches (topics). If not, go to Find Your Niche. With your list in hand, it's time to sort it according to your favorites. You'll probably have 3 - 5 potential topics that excite you the most. You'll start with those in your keyword analysis research.

Open up a simple text file (like notepad) and name it according to your topic. This is where you'll put your keyword research data. Now go to Free Keyword Suggestion Tool from Wordtracker. Type in the most general term for your topic. For example: Your topic might be 'Siamese Cats.' Instead of entering 'siamese cats' into the keyword box - enter 'cat.' It will return many more keywords. And maybe give you better ideas for a possible niche.

To stay with the example: I entered 'cat' into the keyword box and received 100 related keywords along with their search numbers. Those search numbers tell me how many times that keyword is searched for every day. It's the important Demand data that we need. The higher the number the better (more visitors = more profit potential).

Here's part of the list:

Searches Keyword
59735 "pictures of cats"
33673 cats
21761 cat
7139 cat stevens
6298 funny cats
5132 fisher cat
4148 pictures of kittens cats
2853 nora piano cat
2282 black cat
2128 cats in the cradle
1894 cat names
1716 cat power
1686 cat fight
1516 cat food recall
1488 stray cats
1435 cat breeds

It's now time to copy and paste your keyword list into the text file you created earlier. Don't know how to copy and paste? Here's one way to do it -

• Place your pointer to the left of the first character you want to copy. In our case it will be to the left of the first number.
• Click and hold the Left mouse button and drag it down across the whole list until all the numbers and keywords are highlighted. Let go of your mouse.
• Now Right click over any part of the highlighted text. You'll receive a few options. Choose the Copy option. It's now copied to an invisible clipboard. You're ready to paste it into your text file.
• Open your text file and click on the Right mouse button. You'll receive a few options. Click on the Paste option. It should now show up in your document.

Now it's time to get even more keywords related to your topic. Go back to the Wordtracker web page that you just finished copying. Click anywhere in the white space to un-highlight it. You'll notice that all the keywords are underlined links. Each keyword you click on will take you to a page of more keywords (related to that keyword). Copy and paste these into your text file too if they fit your topic.

When you're finished adding all the keywords from your first search, it's time to do more searches if needed. For example: My first search was on the term - 'cat.' I could now type 'feline' in the search box and get even more keywords. Another good term to type in would be 'kitten.' Keep doing searches and adding keywords that are related to your topic.

Now it's time to prune your list. Go through and delete any keywords that have no relation at all to your topic. But keep any that are the least bit related to your topic. Be open, they may lead you towards a better niche idea.

To use the 'Cat' example again: I would keep any keyword related to a domestic pet cat. But I would delete keywords like 'cat stevens' (a famous singer in the 1970's), 'cat power' (caterpillar engines) or 'fisher cat' (an animal that resembles a weasel). Sometimes you'll have to do a search on a keyword to see what it means. I had no idea what a fisher cat was until a few minutes ago. Also delete any keywords that have a demand number less than 5, they're not worth the bother.

If you know how to use a spreadsheet or database (like microsoft excel or filemaker pro) now would be a good time to use it. Open up your text file data in the spreadsheet or database. If you don't know how to use a spreadsheet or database that's okay. It's okay to keep working in your text file.

If you're using a spreadsheet or database; organize your data into 3 columns. The first column will be called Demand (you already have your data for this column). The second column will be called Keyword (you already have your data for this column). The third column will be called Supply (we don't have that data yet). If you're using a text file you can't create columns, but you can insert headings at the top: "Demand," "Keyword," and "Supply."

Now go through and wrap each keyword in quotation marks. Example: cat breeds would become "cat breeds." You'll then be ready to get the Supply numbers.

Highlight and copy your first keyword (including the quotes). Then go to Google Search and paste your keyword in the search box and hit 'enter.' For example: I copied and pasted "pictures of cats" into the Google Search box. Here's what I got back:

Results 1 - 10 of about 260,000 for "pictures of cats"

This means there are 260,000 web pages containing the keyword - 'pictures of cats.' 260,000 is my Supply number. Copy and paste or type that into your third column (if using a spreadsheet) or next to your keyword (if using your text file). Continue this process until you've gotten Supply numbers for all of your keywords.

You've now gotten all the keywords and data for your first topic. It's time to do some keyword analysis for profit potential. Here's what you're looking for:

• A profitable niche will have plenty of related keywords - at least 100. You want to have as many keywords as possible to write about and get found for at the search engines. Remember: People find you at the search engines using keywords related to your topic.

• At least 1 keyword you could build a website, blog or ebook around. A keyword that summarizes your niche. All the other keywords will be related to this keyword but more specific. For example: My main niche keyword might be 'cat breeds.' It would be the overall theme of my website, blog, ebook, etc. the more specific keywords would be - 'persian cats,' 'siamese cats,' 'himalayan cats,' 'burmese cats,' etc. This main niche keyword should have plenty of demand (I like to see at least 500 searches per day). And the supply should be as low as possible (I like to see it under 1.5 million). You always want the highest demand and lowest supply for any keywords you choose for your pages.

• There should be a way to make money with the topic. If you're selling your own products or your own ebook - the keyword demand and supply data will be enough. But if not, then you need to go a step further. Go to Home Based Affiliate Business for information on how to find a way to profit from your niche.

After doing keyword research on your first topic it might not look so good. But don't rule out a possible niche unless it has too few keywords to write about and get found at the search engines for. The supply (competition) numbers shouldn't matter to you quite as much. If you're really excited and know a lot about a topic then you'll probably do well with your project - no matter the competition. But if you have a choice between keywords - always pick the one with higher demand and lower supply.

Now it's time to go through the keyword research process with your other topics... At least your top 3. As you've probably noticed, the free method of keyword research takes a lot of time and effort. The paid methods don't. Here are two of the best:

• Wordtracker - You've been using Wordtracker's Free Keyword Selector Tool. The paid version is $28.50 for a week's access. You get more keywords related to your topic and the supply (competition) numbers too. You don't have to go back and put quotes around your keywords and paste them into Google Search one at a time. They do all the time-consuming work for you.

• SiteBuildIt - They give you a complete website business package. It has a built-in, powerful, keyword research tool that does all the tedious work for you. In addition to the keyword tool - BrainStorm It, the package includes web hosting, website building, and web marketing. I built this site with SiteBuildIt and they've exceeded all my expectations.

Keyword research is vital when trying to choose a niche for your home based internet business. Whether you plan on writing an ebook, selling products, or affiliate marketing through your website or blog - keyword analysis research helps to lay a strong foundation.