How to Do Keyword Research for Your New Website

Launching a new website in 2025? Don’t skip the most important step: keyword research.

Whether you’re starting a blog, business site, or online store, choosing the right keywords is what separates a site that ranks from one that sinks.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about keyword research for your new website — from beginner basics to advanced tips — using free and powerful tools.

✅ What is Keyword Research?

Keyword research is the process of identifying the words and phrases people are typing into search engines related to your products, services, or content.

For example:
If you’re launching a bakery in Kolkata, your ideal keyword might be “custom birthday cakes in Kolkata.”

Doing keyword research for your new website helps:

• Attract the right audience

• Get indexed by Google

• Improve click-through rate (CTR)

• Guide your content and page structure

🎯 Why Keyword Research Matters for New Websites

Launching a website without keyword research is like writing a book no one knows exists. When you do keyword research for your new website, you’re essentially creating a roadmap for your SEO strategy.

Benefits include:

• Higher visibility in search results

• More targeted traffic

• Better conversion rates

• Insight into what your audience wants

For new websites, this is your competitive edge — especially when you’re not ranking yet.

🛠 Step-by-Step: How to Do Keyword Research for Your New Website

1. Start With Your Core Topics

Think about what your website is about. Make a list of 5–10 broad topics related to your business or content.

Examples:

• Digital marketing

• Organic skincare

• Real estate in Mumbai

• Fitness coaching

These are not keywords yet — just seed topics.

2. Turn Topics into Keyword Ideas

Now use tools to find keywords people actually search.

Free Tools to Use:

• Google Keyword Planner

• Ubersuggest

• AnswerThePublic

• KeywordTool.io

• Google Search Autocomplete

For example, start typing “real estate in Mumbai…” into Google and see what autofills.

3. Analyze Search Volume & Competition

Once you find potential keywords, check:

• Monthly Search Volume – how often it’s searched

• Keyword Difficulty (KD) – how hard it is to rank

• Cost Per Click (CPC) – indicates commercial value

👉 Target a mix of:

• Short-tail keywords (e.g., web hosting)

• Long-tail keywords (e.g., affordable web hosting for small business)

4. Spy on Competitors

Check out the top-ranking pages for your target keywords. What keywords do your competitors use?

Use tools like:

• Ahrefs Site Explorer (freemium)

• Ubersuggest (free version)

• SEMrush (limited free)

Find keyword gaps — terms your competitors rank for that you don’t.

5. Group Keywords by Intent

Google ranks content based on search intent — the “why” behind the search.

Types of intent:

• Informational – looking for info (“what is digital marketing?”)

• Navigational – looking for a brand (“HubSpot blog”)

• Transactional – ready to buy (“buy red Nike sneakers online”)

Map keywords to pages:

• Homepage → Brand + product/service keywords

• Blog → Informational keywords

• Landing pages → Transactional keywords

6. Use Keywords Naturally in Content

Once you’ve selected your keywords, use them:

• In page titles & headings (H1, H2)

• In the first 100 words

• In image alt text

• In meta descriptions

• In the URL

Avoid keyword stuffing. Focus on natural placement and readability.

7. Create a Keyword Spreadsheet

Keep track of:

• Keyword

• Search volume

• Difficulty

• Intent

• Target page

• Status (used/not used)

Use Google Sheets or Excel for this. This will help you stay organized and plan content effectively.

📌 Example: Keyword Strategy for a Fitness Coach

🚧 Mistakes to Avoid When Doing Keyword Research

• ❌ Targeting only high-volume, high-competition terms

• ❌ Ignoring long-tail or local keywords

• ❌ Copying keywords from competitors without checking relevance

• ❌ Not aligning keywords with content intent

• ❌ Skipping keyword tracking altogether

🔁 How Often Should You Revisit Keyword Research?

For a new website, revisit your keyword research:

• Every 3–6 months

• When launching new pages or blog categories

• If your traffic drops suddenly

Search trends change. Staying agile helps maintain rankings and adapt to audience needs.

🧠 Final Thoughts: The Foundation of All Great SEO

If you’re building a house, keyword research is the blueprint. Without it, everything else—your content, design, and SEO—can fall apart.

Investing time upfront in keyword research for your new website will pay off in higher search rankings, more qualified traffic, and better conversions in 2025 and beyond.

Need help finding keywords for your business?
💬 Contact Digital WebXpert — Our SEO experts will do it for you, the right way.