How to Find Keywords You KNOW Your Readers Are Searching For
"Hands-free" isn't always a good thing...
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never liked doing keyword research.
Let’s face it: it’s tedious, time-consuming, and overwhelming, and that’s not even the biggest problem.
The core aspect of keyword research that many webmasters get wrong is finding keywords that THEIR readers search for when looking for information about their niche subject.
There’s a huge difference between THINKING you know what your readers are searching for and KNOWING what they are searching for, wouldn’t you say?
The following keyword research method is the easiest way I’ve even found to identify such search terms.
Oh, and did I mention it’s entirely hands-off, apart from setting it up, and entirely free?
Google Site Search
Chances are you have a search box on your site, and it’s most likely used by your readers to look up the kind of information they would expect to find on your site. Also, chances are your search box is powered by Google Site Search.
If you DON’T have a search box, stop right here and install it immediately! There’s nothing more frustrating than being on a site and not being able to find the information you are looking for. Search boxes keep your readers happy and your bounce rate low.
So, now that you definitely have the search box on your blog, have you ever checked what your readers are searching for?
If not, you are missing out on a vital piece of information that could tell you exactly what kind of content your readers want to see on your site.
In other words, TARGETED keywords.
Now let’s get down to business and set up a way for you to tap into this valuable information by tracking it in Google Analytics.
How to Track Site Search in Google Analytics
Setting up this process is very simple.
Note: since the new Google Analytics interface will soon become the default one for everyone, that’s the version I’ll use in the instructions below.
1. From “Profiles” go into “Profile Settings”.
2. Scroll down just a bit till you see”Site Search Settings” and set up the parameters like you see them in the screenshot below:
Note: set “s” as the Query Parameter.
Just in case you are wondering why, “s” stands for “search” and is found in any search URL.
For instance, when I do a search for “web traffic” on my blog, this is what the URL for the search looks like:
4. Click “Apply” and you are all set.
I told you it would be easy, right?
Site Search Results
Depending on how busy your blog is, it might take some time to accumulate any actionable results.
My blog gets about 400 site searches per month, which is plenty enough to determine what kind of content my readers tend to search for.
Here’s where to find these stats in Google Analytics:
Marketing Takeaway
And there you have it.
Not only do you know now what content you need to write about, but also what content you might need to make more accessible to your readers, for instance in your sidebar.
Easy, perfectly targeted, hands-free keyword research – check.
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26 Comments
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Its very simple and easy way to dig to analytics for targeted keywords. Other than this server log also provide great list of targeted keywords.
Not any longer, Tessa – with the new SSL search in place, Google is not showing about 26% of incoming keywords for my blog. I am sure that number will only grow.
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Ana recently posted..CommentLuv Premium
Hi Ana, here you are again! This is Gary again (I got CommentLuv Premium from your blog). Seems like you are everywhere. Anyway, this is a great idea! One thing I’ve always liked about analytics is that it shows you what “Has Already Worked!”
I’ve never tried this with a search box, but I will be soon. Thanks for this great tip!
Gary Anderson II
Gary Anderson II recently posted..Encouragement Success and Fulfillment: Requirements For Such Success!
You are very welcome, Gary.
You can find me right here, at Gerald’s blog, every Tuesday!
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Ana recently posted..Internet Marketing Tools
Awesome info! SEO is a never ending process! I probably should have done this before purchasing market samurai even though it’s really good. Thanks!
Oscar Pedroso recently posted..Don’t Submit Your MBA Application Without Doing This One Thing First! Part 1
That’s what makes it so much fun, Oscar. LOL
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Ana recently posted..Aweber Review
Great post Ana…I will definitely implement this….
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Sandipan Mukherjee recently posted..How to Add a Twitter Feed to WordPress
Hi Ana, great idea. You’re right when you say keyword research can be tedious, time-consuming and overwhelming. I’m going to give this method a try, with it being free I’ve nothing to loose. Only thing is I don’t have analytics set up yet, so I better put that on the to-do list.
Beth recently posted..Getting Back With Your Boyfriend Guidelines
It definitely takes some time for your analytics account to start showing any actionable data, Beth – at least a month; so I’d strongly suggest you set it up as soon as you can.
Thanks for coming by!
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Ana recently posted..Banner Advertising: Viable Make Money Blogging Solution?
It’s so obvious really – and yet, although I have a search box, it never occurred to me to actually check what people were typing into it.
Thanks for the heads up – I will now be spending the evening wrestling with Analytics
Jo SHaer recently posted..Facebook Messages Spam Filter
We all have to learn from somewhere, Jo. LOL
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Ana recently posted..TweetAdder: How to Get More Followers on Twitter Fast
I have always been a big fan of Google Analytics, combined with Google Webmaster Tools. I will take a try at using some of your methods to pull out more data.
Ginny recently posted..Cute Christmas Penguins to Color
It’s free and it’s a great tool!
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Ana recently posted..Banner Advertising: Viable Make Money Blogging Solution?
Hi Ana,
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Great tip on using keywords analytics.
I have been testing a cool plugin called wpclicks that actually shows you where your readers mouse goes when their on their site.
will post a review on it soon.
I think your method, combined with this tool will give you a great insight as to where to put your best efforts on optimizing your site.
Tobi recently posted..LinkTrackr Review
I just recently found the same feature in GA, Tobi – Google also tracks where your readers are clicking!
Didn’t like what I found out though; now I am redesigning my blog. LOL
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Ana recently posted..Free SEO Report
I’m using Lijit to list the search terms used within my blog. I also use a WordPress plugin called SEO SearchTerms Tagging 2 to find out what terms people use to google my blog.
Ling recently posted..Dog Travel Sickness Advice
I’ve used Lijit in the past, Ling, and found that it slows down my site quite a bit. Have you noticed the same?
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Ana recently posted..TweetAdder: How to Get More Followers on Twitter Fast
Hi Ana, quick and easy instructions, thanks for sharing them. I have a question, when I looked at my current settings I had a “q” instead of an “s” and the terms appearing in the list were totally bizarre. What did “q” represent?
Thanks for your help Ana.
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Ileane recently posted..Track YouTube Traffic and Social Engagement With YouTube Analytics
Actually, I just did a search on your blog, Ileane, and the search parameter came up as “s”.
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Ana recently posted..CommentLuv Premium
I changed it Google Analytics right away after reading this post.
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Ileane recently posted..How Security and Aesthetics Prevent Shopping Cart Abandonment
I’ve been using Market Samurai to look for the right keywords to use and i never really thought about this. You are brilliant Ana! I have a search box in my site but i never use this information to get leverage with my competitors. It’s true that analyzing keywords is really tedious and sometimes it’s really overwhelming. There are times that you can even make mistakes if you’re not focusing enough. However with this method that you just introduced to us, it seems like it’s error free and you can really be certain that this is the keyword that your audiences are looking for. Thank you so much for sharing Ana and this is one great Christmas giveaway!
You are so very welcome, Scott, and yes, this is the easiest way to find the perfect keywords that I know of.
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Ana recently posted..Thesis Theme
I have used Google Analytic, but now i understand how to using about it. Thank,s for your great post. This post is my solution.
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really good post !
i think we should do some exact keyword research using google tool.That really helps!
this is a new thing for me,thanks
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