In today’s digital age, where visibility is essential, primary and secondary keywords are equally important, making your content more relevant and rich.
If you publish your business, blog, or any type of content online, then choosing the right primary and secondary keywords is a must.
Here we will mainly discuss two key SEO approaches – how to find secondary keywords and how to use them to increase your SEO traffic.
Overall, in this blog, you will learn:
- What are secondary keywords, and what is their importance?
- How to find the right secondary keywords?
- How to use secondary keywords naturally and effectively?
- How to track the performance of these keywords?
- Common mistakes to avoid.
1. Understanding Secondary Keywords
1.1 What Are Secondary Keywords?
Secondary keywords are words or phrases that add depth to your content. Suppose your primary keyword is “home workouts”, then the probable secondary keyword examples might be “no equipment home workouts” or “home workout routines”.
A key point to note here is that secondary keywords and long-tail keywords look similar in many cases, but not all long-tail keywords can be used as secondary because some are just more specific phrases that work well as direct support for that primary topic.
1.2 Importance of Secondary Keywords in SEO
You will notice the following after using secondary keywords in your content:
The relevance of your content increases:
They show different aspects of the topic so that search engines can better understand your content.Increases organic ranking:
In addition to the main keywords, more traffic comes to your website by ranking for various secondary keywords.Attracts users of different search engines:
Different users use words differently, so including secondary keywords makes it easier to rank for queries in different forms.
For example, if your primary keyword is “digital marketing,” then related terms like “Best Times to Post on Social Media” or “Master YouTube SEO” can be used as secondary keywords. Incorporating these allows you to address more specific angles of your topic, making your content better equipped to answer various frequently asked questions.
Further Read: YouTube SEO: How to Rank Higher in Search Engine
2. How to find Secondary Keywords?
2.1 Using Google search and related searches
Google Autocomplete:
Type the keyword in the Google search bar. Google will give you relevant suggestions that users are looking for, and from there, you can find the idea of secondary keywords.People Also Ask ও Related Searches:
See the “People Also Ask“ and “Searches related to“ sections below search results – secondary keywords are available based on many questions. (Example: Questions like “What are secondary keywords?“)
2.2 Using SEO Tools
Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Ubersuggest:
When you enter the primary keyword in these tools, these platforms often function as a powerful secondary keyword generator tool. You can select the best secondary keywords by looking at search volume, competition, and related long–tail terms.
2.3 Analyzing Competitor Content
Competitor Analysis:
See which secondary keywords are used in the top-ranked websites. This way, you can capture the content gap, which means the keywords that your competitors have probably missed.
2.4 Using Google Analytics and Search Console
Existing Traffic Data:
Go to these tools and see which secondary keywords drive your website traffic. This will give you a clue on which keywords are best to target.
2.5 Considering User Intent
Understanding the purpose of the user‘s search:
The user’s questions, needs, and objectives must be considered when choosing secondary keywords. For example, “using secondary keywords effectively“ means that content that uses secondary keywords naturally is truly valuable.
2.6 Additional Sources
- Forums and Q&A sites: Go to Quora, Reddit, etc. – Here’s how users ask questions, and the keywords they use can be used as secondary keywords.
3. How to naturally use Secondary Keywords
3.1 How to Include Naturally
Plan Ahead:
First, create an outline of your content – decide which keywords to use in which section. Examples: Include secondary keywords in subheadings, intros, and conclusions.
3.2 Keep a distance from keyword stuffing
Your writing should be backed by research:
Always strive to keep your content fresh and natural-sounding. While secondary keywords are important for signaling relevance to search engines, they must be integrated seamlessly. Focus on maintaining a natural writing style that engages the reader, rather than disrupting the flow by forcing keywords.Natural variation:
In addition to seed keywords, use their different variants (synonyms, alternate phrases) that will support secondary keywords. Example: “Digital PR” with “Digital PR for brand authority” etc.
3.3 Image Optimization
Image Alt Text, File Names, and Caption:
In images where your secondary keywords are relevant, add them naturally to alt text.
3.4 Internal Linking
Link Related Blogs:
Make it easier for readers to access other relevant content on your website by using secondary keywords as internal links. It builds the semantic network of SEO.
3.5 Voice Search and Structured Data
Use of spoken language in the context of voice search:
Voice is not the future, it is already happening, so use naturally spoken phrases that are consistent with voice search.Schema Markup:
Add information related to your content to the structured data so that Google and other search engines can properly understand the content
4. Tracking the performance of Secondary keywords
4.1 Use of Google Search Console
Query Report:
Go to the “Performance“ report in the Search Console. For secondary keywords, you can see impressions, clicks, CTR, and average positions.
4.2 SEO Rank Tracking Tools
SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz:
Track rankings with these tools and notice how a secondary keyword ranks over time.
4.3 Google Analytics
User Engagement:
Analyze the bounce rate, session duration, and conversion rate based on how much traffic is coming from any secondary keywords.Custom Dashboards:
Use Google Data Studio to create custom dashboards and get regular reports.
4.4 A/B Testing and Review
Test and Coordination:
Try using secondary keywords in different locations to see which system is giving the best results and update as needed.
5. Common mistakes and tips to avoid
5.1 Keyword Stuffing
Avoid overuse:
Keyword stuffing not only reduces readability but can also lead to penalties from Google.
5.2 Not Focusing on Content Quality
Maintain the quality of writing to meet user requirements:
Be sure to follow your SEO principles as well as provide information and value to readers.
5.3 Not Updating Content
Review Regularly:
Updating old content is very important to understand current trends and changes in secondary keywords.
6. Case Studies and Examples
6.1 Success Stories
Real-World Example: A Fitness Blog
Imagine a fitness blog whose primary keyword is “home workouts”. While they had some success ranking for this broad term, they wanted to tap into more specific user needs. By using the methods described earlier (Google Autocomplete, PAA, SEO tools), they identified several promising secondary keywords:
- “No equipment home workouts for beginners”
- “30-minute home workout routines”
- “lose weight with home workouts”
6.2 Strategy Analysis
Analysis of Strategic Approaches:
- They created a dedicated blog post titled “Your Ultimate Guide to No Equipment Home Workouts for Beginners,” naturally incorporating this secondary keyword throughout the content, including headings, subheadings, and body text.
- They developed a series of shorter, 30-minute workout routines targeting different muscle groups, each featuring “30-minute home workout routines” and related variations.
- They published articles focused on weight loss, strategically using “lose weight with home workouts” and addressing specific user queries like “best home workouts for weight loss for women”.
Conclusion: Harness the Power of Secondary Keywords for Enhanced Visibility
This blog has highlighted the vital role of secondary keywords in enriching your content. We’ve explored effective methods for finding these keywords, from leveraging Google tools to analyzing competitors and understanding user intent. We’ve also covered best practices for natural integration, performance tracking, and common pitfalls to avoid.
Ready to boost your online visibility with secondary keywords?
We offer a free consultation session to help you identify and strategically use secondary keywords to maximize your reach. Our experts will provide personalized guidance on keyword research, integration, and performance analysis. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a competitive advantage. Contact us to schedule your free consultation today! Let us help you unlock your content’s full potential.
