Does Keyword Research Scare You?

Do you even know what it means to do keyword research, or why you would want to learn more about it?

When I was preparing to write this blog post, I was reminded of my life in Hollywood when I had two cats. They were better watch dogs than dogs, but one thing was for sure…they were very territorial and if something showed up in their surroundings that wasn’t normal, they checked it out, but not before getting a little scared.

It’s kind of like the cat in this video–

Does keyword research scare you?

Sometimes we let technical tasks scare us even before we understand what it is. That just leads most of us into paralysis mode, and we give up before we get started. Well, I’m glad you’re here, because that means you would like to conquer your fear of keyword research.

Keyword Research is the First Step in Your Business Plan

Do your keyword research before buying a domain name

You might think that getting a post office box, or choosing a name for your business is the first step in a business plan, but it’s not. We’re living in a social and digital age, which means that we have access to information and resources with the tap on the screen of our mobile phones, gps, media device, or laptop.

We search for restaurants, real estate, addresses, people, stores, gifts, and everything imaginable…and most of the time we’re using specific keywords or short phrases to find the information we need.

Keyword Research Can Make or Break a New Online Business Based on the Chosen Domain Name

Why? Let’s say that you want to quit your full-time job because you’ve always dreamt about starting your own business. You know you’re good at what you do, and your friends and family have told you that you could be wallowing in prosperity-land real soon if you’d just start that online business. That’s fine to have a dream; I believe in helping people discover and live their dreams, but let’s look at the good way and the not-so-good way to choose a domain name.

Keyword Research That Makes Customers and Search Engines Happy

Let’s admit it, when we want information, we want it right now. We’re not carrying around a heavy phone directory, or a backpack filled with AAA maps to help us navigate. Let’s say that you’re supposed to attend your son’s graduation and for no apparent reason, the heel on your shoe falls off. But your feet aren’t a normal width. They’re extra-wide, and it’s not easy for you to buy shoes.

Imagine this: from your mobile phone, you type the keywords, “wide width shoes” into your mobile browser. If you’re lucky, you’ll receive local results for stores that carry shoes in wide width sizes. So if you owned a shoe store that specialized in wide width shoes, wouldn’t it make sense to buy a domain name with the keyword research phrase, “wide width shoes?”

Believe it or not but several days ago I actually drove past a store just north of Seattle with the name, “Wide Shoes,” and their signage said, “You can find us at www.wideshoes.cc.”

Wide width shoes for women

Of course, being the techy-girly-girl that I am, and being so aware of keywords, domain names, SEO, and websites being responsible for thousands of dollars worth of sales with the right name, I thought to myself, “Smart Keyword Research” is paying off for that store (and their two locations).

Okay, I guess I should be wrapping up this post for now by telling you that your first step in a solid and profitable business plan is to call up your favorite browser, and start typing in words that will define your business. See what you discover.

In a couple days, we’ll cover keyword research in more depth. Until then, remember: Aunt Sue’s Shop as a business name and keyword phrase doesn’t say anything about her business. If Sue owned a bakery that specialized in French breads and desserts, what type of keyword research could you come up with to help her choose a name for her business?