The question of whether keyword research can’t just be skipped and concentrate rather on excellent copy that reads more naturally, has been asked many times. People often feel that when writing knowledgeable on their topic, they will automatically include target keywords. It is not a stupid question to ask, especially when people are aware of keyword stuffing.
Writing naturally without targeted keywords might result in website content that flows a bit better. It also results in many targeted keywords being missed out. There will also be missed opportunities to write related content. In the end it would lead to a loss of traffic in the target audience.
Missing out keywords
There are many different words that people use for the same things. Writing content without specific targeted keywords means the writer will use terminology known to him or her. Just as you have your preferred terms, so do searchers. People from different geographic regions have words they are used to and often regional spelling as well. On top of that people have different ways that they do searches. Some will type a full sentence in the search bar, while another will put in just one word to search.
Many prefer using keyword phrases. To appeal to the widest possible target audience, keyword research is essential. Amongst all the various forms, spelling and phrases that your target market use, you must ascertain the most popular. Without keyword research, the only people that will find your content are those who think exactly as you do. That means you are missing out on a large portion of your target audience.
Topics related to target keywords
In addition to searching differently, people are not searching for exactly the same thing. People within your target audience for a specific product or they may be looking for information in general about your topic. Their interest may lie in only a subtopic within your full topic content. A shopper may be looking for a specific product or they may want to compare product price and features. When proper keyword research is not done, related topic searchers will not be targeted with the natural keywords within your content.
Even if you are an expert in your niche, you cannot predict what terminology searchers will use. Language usage and popularity of keywords can change very fast. Without research it is not possible to keep up. Then also, new topics come along and trends change. All of this takes time to filter through. Keyword research highlights changes immediately. Keyword research also alerts you to related topics that you may not have included in your content. Neglecting to add an important topic to your content leads to missed opportunities.
You need it all for success
Before writing any content for your website, blog or for articles submission, do keyword research. Success for a website and business does not rest on only a few keywords. It rests on finding and using all the important keywords that relate to your specific topic. Doing this means you throw out a huge catch net for people who speak, search and think differently.
