Want more sales for your Shopify store? Getting your products to show up higher in Google search results is key. This guide will show you how to identify the most effective keywords, enabling you to rank higher and attract more customers.

Why Keyword Research Matters

Keyword research helps you find out what words people use when they want to buy, learn about, or compare products. It's the most essential part of any SEO plan. Without it, you're just guessing what people want. Data should drive every SEO decision.

Think of keyword research like bidding on Google Ads. In Google Ads, higher bids can mean more money. In SEO, keywords with higher search volumes can lead to more website visitors and increased sales.

However, just like some brands can't afford high bids on Google Ads, not all stores can target the most popular keywords. If you're a new store, you need to be smart. You need to find keywords that aren't too hard to rank for but still get enough searches.

Tools for Keyword Research

Here are some tools to help you find the right keywords:

• AHFS and SEMrush: These tools do a lot more than just keyword research. They can help you check backlinks and see what your competitors are doing. They cost between $150 and $250 per month.

• Low Fruits and Google Ads Keyword Planner: These are cheaper options. Low Fruits costs about $20 a month, and Google Ads Keyword Planner is free.

If you're on a tight budget, start with Google Ads Keyword Planner or Low Fruits. They'll give you the data you need without breaking the bank. It's not about the cost of the tool, it's about how well you use it.

How to Find the Best Keywords

Here are some ways to find keywords that will bring customers to your Shopify store:

1. Reverse Engineer Your Competitors: See what keywords your competitors are targeting. Plug their websites into AHFS or SEMrush. Find out which keywords they rank for and how they do it. Then, copy their strategy and refine it.

2. Use Google Search Console Data: See which keywords people are already using to find your site. Focus on the keywords that are bringing you clicks and impressions.

3. Search for Big Idea Keywords: If you sell supplements, search for "supplements" in your keyword research tool. This will provide you with numerous ideas for keywords to target.

4. Use ChatGPT: Ask ChatGPT what questions people might ask when they're thinking about buying your product. Use those questions to find keywords in your research tools. Don't just ask ChatGPT to create a keyword strategy for you. It's not good at that.

Set Filters to Find Low-Competition Keywords

Suppose you're a new store, set filters in AHFS or SEMrush to find keywords that are easier to rank for. A keyword difficulty score of less than 30 is a good place to start.

Pro Tip: As you grow, you can remove these filters and target more competitive keywords.

Organize Your Keywords

Put your keywords in a Google Sheet or Excel spreadsheet. This will help you keep track of them.

If you didn't set filters in your keyword research tool, now is the time to do it. Look for keywords with at least 100 to 200 searches per month and a keyword difficulty score of less than 30.

However, don't just trust the keyword difficulty scores. Check the search results yourself. If you see big websites like Forbes ranking for a keyword, it's probably too hard for you to rank for it right now.

Understand Search Intent

Search intent is what people want to find when they type something into Google. Do they want to buy something? Find information? Compare products?

There are four types of search intent:

• Transactional: The person is ready to make a purchase.

• Navigational: The person knows exactly which website they want to visit.

• Commercial: The person wants to buy something, but they're unsure what to purchase yet.

• Informational: The person wants to learn more about a topic.

You need to match your content to the search intent. When someone is looking to buy a product, they should be directed to a product page. If they're looking for information, they should land on a blog post.

Map Keywords to Pages

Once you know the search intent of each keyword, map them to the right pages on your site.

• Use transactional and navigational keywords on product and collection pages.

• Use commercial keywords on blog posts that compare products.

• Use informational keywords on blog posts that show you're an expert in your field.

Don't skip this step. If you optimize a product page for an informational keyword, you'll never rank on page one.

Optimize Your Pages

Once you've mapped your keywords to pages, you need to optimize those pages. This involves incorporating keywords into your titles, descriptions, and content.

Get Started Today

Keyword research is crucial for attracting more customers to your Shopify store. By following these steps, you can find the best keywords, understand search intent, and optimize your pages to rank higher on Google. Start your keyword research today and watch your sales grow!