What Are Three Key Considerations When Evaluating Keywords for Search Engine Optimisation?

If you are planning to grow your blog or website, keyword research is your best friend. But let’s be real — it’s not just about finding words people search. It is about finding the right keywords that actually bring results for your website. So today, let’s talk about three key things you must check before using any keyword for SEO.

We will keep it super beginner-friendly to expert level. No hard terms. Just you and me figuring out how to pick smart keywords that actually help you rank.

1. Search Volume – How Many People Are Searching?

The first and most obvious thing you need to check is the search volume per month for a specific keyword.

Let’s say you are writing about “free logo maker.” If 30,000 people search for it every month, that is a hot keyword. But if only 10 people search for “best logo tool with cat icon 2025” — that is a waste of time.

But wait high search volume is not always best. Because sometimes, high-volume keywords are also super hard to rank for.

So what is the smart move? Go for medium-volume or under 500 keywords that match your content well. Aim for keywords that get 1,000 to 10,000 monthly searches when starting out.

Also, use tools like:

• Ubersuggest (free)
• Google Keyword Planner
• Ahrefs (paid)
• SEMrush (paid)
• Moz Keyword Explorer

These tools help you check volume, related keywords, and trends.

Pro tip: Look for long-tail keywords. For example, instead of “shoes,” try “best running shoes for flat feet.” These keywords are easier to rank and still bring targeted traffic on other relevant keywords as well.

2. Keyword Difficulty – Can You Actually Rank?

Next comes keyword difficulty (KD). This tells you how hard it is to rank for that keyword on Google or any other search engine.

Some keywords are already taken by big websites like Wikipedia, Amazon, or government sites. If you are just starting your site, you do not want to fight with giants.

So, how do you check difficulty?

Again, use tools like:

• Ahrefs: It shows KD score out of 100
• Ubersuggest: Gives easy, medium, or hard rating
• SEMrush: Also shows difficulty levels

Aim for low to medium difficulty keywords. That means KD below 30 is good for beginners. If it’s below 20, even better.

Also, check manually who is already ranking in SERPs. If the top 10 results are blogs like yours, that is a green light. But if they are all government, news, or major brand sites, better skip it and choose some other keywords.

3. Search Intent – What Are People Really Looking For?

This is the most important part that most people skip. Even if your keyword has good volume and low difficulty, it means nothing if the search intent doesn’t match your content.

Let’s say the keyword is “buy running shoes online.” If you write a blog post about how to choose running shoes, that’s helpful, but it’s not what users want. They want to buy something, not read tips.

So always ask:

What does the person really want when they search this keyword?

There are 3 main types of search intent:

• Informational: They want to learn something (e.g., “how to cook pasta”)
• Navigational: They want to visit a specific site (e.g., “Facebook login”)
• Transactional: They want to buy or download (e.g., “buy iPhone 15 case”)

Match your content with the right intent:

• Writing a guide? Use informational keywords.
• Selling something? Use transactional ones.
• Making a tool page? Combine both.

Google shows what type of content it prefers by looking at the top results. If all top pages are tutorials, you should write one too. Don’t try to sell something there — it won’t rank.

you may alos like: Link Exchange SEO

Bonus: A Simple SEO Keyword Evaluation Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist you can use every time before picking a keyword:

Search volume is at least 500+

Keyword difficulty is below 30

Keyword fits your content’s goal

It has commercial or helpful intent

Competitors are not too big

It’s not too broad (use long-tail form)

It brings real traffic and possible conversions

Real-World Example for Keyword Research

Let’s say you’re running a small blog about DIY crafts. You want to write an article.

Bad keyword: “craft”

• Too broad
• Hard to rank
• No clear intent

Good keyword: “easy DIY paper crafts for kids”

• Long-tail
• Specific
• Informational intent
• Easier to rank

With just a small change, you move from impossible to achievable.

Why These 3 Things Matter

Let’s face it — SEO takes time. You don’t want to spend hours writing an article that no one sees. That’s why picking the right keyword is step one.

When you look at volume, difficulty, and intent, you increase your chances of:

• Ranking on Google
• Getting more real traffic
• Building trust with your readers
• Getting more sign-ups, clicks, or sales

You don’t need to be an SEO pro. You just need to think smart and use the right tools.

Final Thoughts

So now you know the three key things to check before choosing any keyword: Search Volume, Keyword Difficulty, and Search Intent.

These are the basics that even expert SEO teams follow. And you can do it too — with free tools, a little time, and smart thinking.

Don’t guess. Don’t follow trends blindly. Use these three steps every time you plan a new article, tool page, or even YouTube title.

And if you ever get stuck, Tech Trick Solutions is always here with guides just for beginners like you.