If you’re serious about driving targeted traffic and increasing your visibility online, partnering with a trusted seo company Syracuse NY can make all the difference—especially when it comes to finding the right keywords for your website. Keyword research is one of the foundational pillars of any effective SEO strategy, and when done correctly, it can unlock powerful opportunities to attract the right visitors who are ready to convert into paying customers.
Whether you’re just starting out with your website or looking to optimize existing content, this guide will walk you through how to find the best keywords—and why working with professionals like Performance Local can save you time, money, and frustration.
What Are Keywords and Why Do They Matter?
Keywords are the words and phrases that people type into search engines like Google when looking for products, services, or information. They are the bridge between what users are searching for and the content you offer on your website.
For example, if someone searches for “plumber in Syracuse NY,” and your plumbing company’s site is optimized for that term, you have a much better chance of showing up in search results—and getting that person to call you.
Effective keyword selection is what allows your website to be visible to the right audience. Without strategic keyword targeting, even the most beautiful websites can go unseen by potential customers.
Step-by-Step Guide to Finding the Best Keywords
Step 1: Understand Your Audience
Before jumping into tools and data, start by putting yourself in your customer’s shoes. Ask questions like:
- What are they searching for?
- What problems are they trying to solve?
- What specific language do they use?
Creating a list of customer personas and identifying their goals, challenges, and questions can lead to powerful keyword ideas.
Step 2: Brainstorm Seed Keywords
Seed keywords are basic ideas or root phrases related to your business. For example:
- If you own a cleaning business: “house cleaning,” “deep cleaning,” “move-out cleaning”
- If you run a law firm: “personal injury lawyer,” “divorce attorney,” “estate planning”
These are not your final keywords—but they form the base for expanding your research.
Step 3: Use Keyword Research Tools
There are many tools—both free and paid—that can help you find the most effective keywords:
✅ Free Tools:
- Google Keyword Planner: Great for discovering keyword volume and competition.
- Google Search Suggestions: Start typing a keyword into Google and check the autocomplete results.
- Google “People Also Ask” & “Related Searches”: These reveal what people want to know about a given topic.
✅ Paid Tools (what professionals use):
- Ahrefs
- SEMrush
- Ubersuggest
- Moz
- KWFinder
These platforms allow deeper analysis—like checking competitors’ keywords, understanding ranking difficulty, tracking keyword trends over time, and more.
Step 4: Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific phrases (e.g., “affordable SEO company in Syracuse NY” vs. just “SEO”). They may have lower search volumes, but they typically come with:
- Higher intent
- Less competition
- Better conversion rates
If you’re a local bakery, for example, targeting “custom wedding cakes Syracuse NY” will likely bring in more qualified leads than just “cake.”
Step 5: Analyze Keyword Metrics
Here are the core metrics to consider when choosing keywords:
- Search Volume: How many people search for this keyword per month?
- Keyword Difficulty (KD): How hard is it to rank for this keyword?
- Cost Per Click (CPC): How much are advertisers paying for this term? High CPC often indicates high commercial value.
- Search Intent: Is the person searching to buy, to learn, or just browse?
A good keyword has a healthy balance of search volume, low-to-medium competition, and clear commercial intent.
Step 6: Spy on Your Competitors
One of the best ways to discover effective keywords is by analyzing what your competitors are already ranking for. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to:
- See which pages drive their traffic
- Find keyword gaps where they rank and you don’t
- Look at their top-performing blog posts or landing pages
This can help you uncover high-opportunity keywords that are working for others in your industry.
Step 7: Map Keywords to Content
Once you have your list of researched keywords, organize them by theme and assign each group to a specific page on your site.
For example:
- Homepage: “seo company Syracuse NY”
- Services Page: “local SEO services Syracuse”
- Blog Post: “how to get more Google reviews”
- FAQ Page: “how long does SEO take to work?”
This process ensures that each page is optimized for its own unique set of keywords—avoiding keyword cannibalization and improving your site’s overall SEO structure.
Why Hiring an SEO Company Saves You Time and Delivers Better Results
While it’s possible to do keyword research yourself, hiring an experienced team like Performance Local means you benefit from:
- Advanced tools and technology that would cost you hundreds per month
- Years of industry experience navigating Google’s algorithm updates
- Strategic planning to build a comprehensive keyword map and content plan
- Execution support from copywriting to on-page optimization to link building
Doing keyword research without strategy or expertise often results in wasted time, poorly ranked pages, or attracting the wrong traffic.
Just like you wouldn’t do your own electrical wiring without training—keyword strategy is better left to the pros at a trusted SEO company in Syracuse NY.
Common Keyword Research Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
❌ Mistake 1: Only Going After High-Volume Keywords
Fix: Focus on relevance and intent over volume.
❌ Mistake 2: Ignoring Local Keywords
Fix: Include location-based terms like city names and neighborhoods.
❌ Mistake 3: Using the Same Keyword on Multiple Pages
Fix: Create unique targets for each page to avoid internal competition.
❌ Mistake 4: Neglecting Competitor Research
Fix: Always audit what your competitors are ranking for—you’ll discover ideas you missed.
❌ Mistake 5: Not Updating Your Keywords
Fix: Trends and language evolve. Revisit your strategy every few months.
Let a Professional Handle It So You Can Focus on Your Business
When you’re running a small business, time is your most valuable resource. Learning SEO from scratch and trying to master keyword research on your own can be overwhelming—not to mention risky if you pick the wrong targets.
A professional SEO company Syracuse NY like Performance Local takes care of the research, analysis, and implementation, ensuring your site is optimized for the keywords that truly move the needle. We focus on delivering real ROI, not just traffic.
Finding the best keywords for your website is not just about volume—it’s about strategy, intent, and competitive insight. By understanding your audience, leveraging the right tools, and organizing your keywords effectively, you position your site for long-term visibility and success.
But remember, keyword research is just one part of a larger SEO puzzle. In our next blog, we’ll dive deeper into What is a good SEO strategy? so you can see how all the pieces fit together into a winning game plan.