6 Keyword types and the powerful role they play in SEO

keyword types, SEO, Long-tail Keyword, Short-tail Keyword, Branded Keyword, Competitor Keyword, Semantic Keyword, Geo-targeted Keyword

Keywords are the bread and butter of SEO and ASO. The various keyword types help search engines and app stores understand what your website or app is all about.

However, not all keywords are created equal. Some are more important than others, and some are more difficult to rank for.

This is a continuation of the concepts of User Search Intent that I wrote about last time around.

Think of keywords like ingredients in a recipe. Just like how different ingredients can completely change the flavour of a dish, different types of keywords can completely change the ranking of your website or app.

Understanding keyword types – the recipe for success

So, what are the different types of keywords, and how can you use them to your advantage? Let’s break it down.

1. Long-tail Keyword Type

“best vegan pizza in South Bangalore” is a long-tail keyword that is more targeted than “pizza”.

Long-tail keywords are specific phrases that are often longer than three words. They may not have as much search volume as short-tail keywords, but they are often more targeted and easier to rank for. 🦒

Keywords like these must be the first in the list you are coming up with.

2. Short-tail Keyword Type

You guessed it. “Pizza” in the above example is a short-tail keyword.

They are broader and more general than long-tail keywords. They may have more search volume, but they are also more competitive. 🐖

3. Branded Keyword Type

“SEO Done Right by Kailas S Bhat” is an example of a branded keyword. 😛 Ok that was self-promotion. Allow me to give you another example, please.

Say, “Nike”, or replace Nike with your brand/company name. They are important because they help people find your website or app specifically. 🗸

4. Competitor Keyword Type

“Reebok”, “Adidas”, and “Sketchers” are all competitors of “Nike”.

Competitor keywords are the keywords that your competitors are ranking for. By targeting these keywords, you can get some of their traffic and improve your own ranking. There are many tools available to help you find your competitors’ keywords, such as SEMrush and Ahrefs. 👀

5. Semantic Keyword Type

In our pizza example, if you’re writing about pizza, semantic keywords might include “cheese,” “pepperoni,” and “delivery.”

Semantic keywords are related words and phrases that help search engines understand the context of your content. 🙂🙃

There is a variation called LSI keywords. It is highly debated if popular search engines use this or not. So, I will not elaborate on LSI here.

6. Geo-targeted Keyword Type

“Best vegan pizza in South Bangalore” is a geo-targeted keyword because it includes a specific location.

Geo-targeted keywords are location-specific keywords that help people find your website or app based on their location. 📍

Let’s Put Them All Together

You now know the different types of keywords and how to determine the appropriate keyword types for your search intent.

But, how do you use them to your advantage? Let us explore some tips now.

Use long-tail keyword types for informational intent to target specific audiences and improve your chances of ranking.
Use short-tail keyword types for navigational intent to increase your search volume and make it easier for users to find your website or app.
Use branded keyword types for transactional intent to help people find your website or app specifically.
Use competitor keyword types for commercial intent to steal traffic from your competitors and improve your own ranking.
Use semantic keyword types to help search engines understand the context of your content and improve your overall ranking.

Keyword Tools to Use

There are many tools available to help you find and use keywords effectively. Some of my favourites include:

Get cracking the code of SEO and ASO and take your website or app to the next level.

Good luck, and happy optimizing!

And if you need expert assistance, don’t hesitate to contact me from here. I can,

📈 Improve your Search Engine Rankings

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