How to Do Keyword Research for SEO the Right Way

The foundation of ranking, visibility, and ROI-driven SEO

Keyword research is the bedrock of every successful SEO campaign. Without it, you're guessing at what people search—and guessing rarely ranks. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or content creator, knowing how to do keyword research the right way is what separates the amateurs from the agencies that deliver results.

In this blog, we’ll break down how to find keywords that bring real traffic, conversions, and leads—and how DigiKai Marketing uses keyword research to build winning SEO strategies for clients across the U.S.

What is Keyword Research?

Keyword research is the process of identifying the words and phrases your ideal customers are typing into Google.
It answers one powerful question: What does my audience want to find?

There are three core keyword types:

• Informational (e.g., “how to fix a leaky faucet”)
• Navigational (e.g., “Home Depot near me”)
• Transactional/Commercial (e.g., “best roofing company in Los Angeles”)

Why Keyword Research Matters

• Targets the right audience
• Drives qualified traffic
• Increases leads and sales
• Shapes your entire content strategy

At DigiKai, we don’t just find keywords—we identify buying intent and competitive gaps to win search engine visibility faster.

Step-by-Step: How to Do Keyword Research

1. Start With Your Core Topics

Think about what your business actually does:

• Roofing? → “roof repair,” “roof replacement cost,” etc.
• Digital Marketing? → “SEO services,” “how to rank on Google,” etc.

Write down your services and convert them into potential search phrases.

2. Use Keyword Tools (But Read the Data Right)

Tools like:

• Google Keyword Planner
• Ahrefs
• Ubersuggest
• Keywords Everywhere

Look at:

• Search volume – monthly search traffic
• Keyword difficulty (KD) – how hard it is to rank
• CPC (Cost per click) – how valuable it is to advertisers
• Search intent – is the keyword informational, transactional, or navigational?

At DigiKai, we analyze intent, difficulty, and conversions—not just search volume.

3. Check the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages)

Type the keyword into Google and ask:

• Are blogs ranking? Product pages? Directories?
• Can I realistically beat these competitors?
• What’s Google actually rewarding?

We do this SERP analysis for every client to find winnable SEO opportunities.

4. Cluster Your Keywords by Topic

Instead of one keyword per page, we group related phrases into topic clusters:

• Primary keyword: “SEO for contractors”
• Supportive keywords: “local SEO for roofers”, “contractor SEO agency”, etc.

This helps pages rank for dozens of terms—not just one.

5. Prioritize Quick Wins

Long-tail keywords like “affordable SEO for plumbers” are easier to rank for than “SEO agency.”
Look for keywords with high intent and low competition.

This is how DigiKai gets results faster—by targeting high-converting keywords most agencies miss.

Pro Tip from DigiKai:

“Don’t chase high-volume keywords—chase the keywords your ideal client types in right before they’re ready to buy.”

Ready to Skip the Guesswork?

If you want us to do your keyword research, build a strategy, and start ranking your site—we’re ready.

DigiKai Marketing is a full-service SEO agency helping home service businesses, entertainment brands, and local companies get real results.
Book your free strategy call now