This is where a keyword map comes in. A keyword map is a visual representation of all the keywords you want to target with your content and how they fit into your overall content marketing strategy. A keyword map can help you to identify gaps in your content strategy, identify new opportunities for content, and ensure that your content is targeted to the right audience.
Understanding your Target Audience
The first step in creating a keyword map is to understand your target audience. Who are they? What are their interests, needs, and pain points? What problems do they need solutions for? Understanding your target audience is critical because it helps you create content that is relevant and valuable to them. You can use tools such as Google Analytics, social media analytics, and customer surveys to gather data about your audience.
Brainstorming and Researching Keywords
Once you understand your target audience, the next step is to brainstorm and research keywords. Start by brainstorming a list of words and phrases that you think your target audience might use to search for information related to your business. Then, use keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to find related keywords, search volumes, and competition levels. These tools will also provide you with suggestions for long-tail keywords that you might not have thought of.
Organizing Keywords into Themes
After brainstorming and researching keywords, it’s time to organize them into themes. Themes are groups of related keywords that can be used to create content around a specific topic. For example, if you have a website that sells shoes, some of your themes might include running shoes, dress shoes, and casual shoes. By organizing your keywords into themes, you can ensure that your content is focused and relevant to your target audience.
Creating a Keyword Map
A keyword map is a visual representation of all the keywords you want to target with your content and how they fit into your overall content marketing strategy. A keyword map can help you to identify gaps in your content strategy, identify new opportunities for content, and ensure that your content is targeted to the right audience.
Here’s how to create a keyword map:
Start with a spreadsheet or table
You can use Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, or any other spreadsheet software to create a keyword map. Create a table with the following columns: Theme, Keyword, Search Volume, Competition, and Content Type.
Fill in the Themes and Keywords
In the Theme column, list all the themes you identified earlier. Then, in the Keyword column, list all the related keywords you found during your research. You should aim to include as many relevant keywords as possible, but also keep in mind that some keywords may be too broad or too competitive to target effectively.
Add Search Volume and Competition
In the Search Volume column, add the search volume for each keyword. You can find this information using Google Keyword Planner or any other keyword research tool. Search volume refers to the number of people who search for a particular keyword each month. In the Competition column, add the competition level for each keyword. Competition refers to how difficult it is to rank for a particular keyword, based on the number of other websites that are also targeting that keyword.
