Keyword Research and Search Intent

Start with the searcher, not the keyword

Good keyword research begins with search intent – what the person actually wants. Four broad types:

• Informational: "what is docker" – they want to learn.
• Navigational: "github login" – they want a specific site.
• Commercial: "best mechanical keyboard" – they are researching a purchase.
• Transactional: "buy raspberry pi 5" – they are ready to act.

Match your page to the intent: a tutorial for informational queries, a comparison for commercial ones.

Long-tail keywords win early

Broad terms ("java") are brutally competitive. Long-tail phrases ("spring boot file upload example") have less competition, clearer intent, and convert better. New sites should target long-tail first and earn the broader terms over time.

Tools to find keywords

Google's own autocomplete, the "People also ask" and "Related searches" boxes, and Search Console (queries you already appear for) are free goldmines. Paid tools like Ahrefs or Semrush add search volume and difficulty.

Map keywords to pages

Give each target keyword one dedicated page, so you are not competing against yourself. Build a simple sheet: keyword → intent → the URL that should rank for it.

Key points

• Identify the intent behind a query before targeting it.
• Target long-tail phrases first – less competition, clearer intent.
• Use autocomplete, "People also ask" and Search Console for ideas.
• One primary keyword per page; map keywords to URLs.