If you’re looking to improve your SEO, understanding the types of keywords is a great place to start. Whether you’re building a new website or trying to get more eyes on your existing content, knowing which keywords to use and how to use them can make a massive difference to your rankings.
So, how many types of keywords are there in SEO?
In short, more types of keywords than you might think! But let’s keep things simple. Here are a few core types of keywords for SEO that every small business should know:
1. Short-Tail Keywords
These are your broad terms like “shoes” or “marketing.” They usually have high search volume but are very competitive. Tough to rank for unless you’ve got a big budget or strong domain authority.
2. Longtail Keywords
Longtail keywords are more specific, like “women’s waterproof hiking boots” or “affordable SEO for small business.” These may have lower search volume, but they’re gold for targeting exactly what your customers are looking for. Plus, they’re ideal for understanding types of keyword intent, like whether someone is ready to buy or just browsing. think about using questions that people are searching for. These can be found on Google under ‘people also ask’.
3. Branded & Non-Branded Keywords
Branded keywords include your company name (like “Ryan Gibson SEO”), while non-branded ones focus on what you do (“SEO keyword research services”). Both are useful, but non-branded keywords help bring in new visitors who haven’t heard of you yet.
4. Search Intent Keywords
This one’s big. Search intent refers to the reason behind the search. Is the user looking to buy? Learn something? Compare options? Matching your content to the right intent whether informational, navigational, transactional, or commercial is key for SEO success.
5. Keyword Match Types
Especially useful for paid search, keyword match type lets you control how closely a search term needs to match your keyword. Think broad match, phrase match, and exact match.
- Broad Match: This is the most flexible option. Your ad or content can appear for related terms, synonyms, or loosely connected searches. For example, if your keyword is SEO services, you might still show up for digital marketing support. You’ll get plenty of reach, but it may not always be super relevant.
- Phrase Match: Your keyword needs to appear in the search query in the same order, but it can have words before or after. So, if your keyword is affordable SEO, you might show up for affordable SEO for small business or best affordable SEO agency. It’s a nice balance between reach and relevance.
- Exact Match: This is the most targeted. Your keyword (or a very close variation) must match the search exactly. For example, if your keyword is SEO keyword research, your content will only appear when that exact phrase is searched. Perfect for high-intent users, but you’ll see less traffic overall.
How Can I Help?
Now you’ve learnt about the types of keywords are you struggling with keyword overload? My keyword research service takes the guesswork out. I’ll show you:
- How many people are searching for each keyword
- How competitive it is
- What searchers are really looking for
- Actionable tips to improve your content
Let’s find the best keywords for SEO to help your business get seen online. Ready to level up your content? Get in touch today! You can also find more tips by checking me out on TikTok.
