Ahrefs is one of the most powerful SEO tools available, and its Keyword Explorer is a great feature for conducting keyword research. With Ahrefs, you can find keyword ideas, analyze search volume, difficulty, and discover related terms to target for SEO. This guide will walk you through how to conduct effective keyword research using Ahrefs.
1. Access Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer
To start, you need to log into your Ahrefs account and navigate to the Keyword Explorer tool. You can access it from the main dashboard of Ahrefs.
- Go to Tools and click on Keyword Explorer.
- Enter a seed keyword related to your niche (for example, “leather bags” if you’re selling leather goods).
- Choose the target country or region where you want to focus your keyword research (Ahrefs lets you select different search engines and locations).
2. Analyze the Keyword Overview
Once you enter a keyword in the Keyword Explorer, Ahrefs provides a detailed overview of the keyword. This overview includes important data such as:
- Search Volume: The average number of searches per month for the keyword in your selected region.
- Keyword Difficulty (KD): A score that shows how difficult it is to rank for that keyword on a scale from 0 to 100.
- Clicks: The estimated number of clicks generated by the keyword (this is different from search volume).
Example of Keyword Overview:
Let’s say you entered “leather bags”—Ahrefs will show you the search volume, keyword difficulty, and number of clicks for that keyword. You can use this data to decide if it’s worth targeting based on how competitive the keyword is.
3. Explore Keyword Suggestions
Once you have your seed keyword, Ahrefs will provide a list of related keyword suggestions. These suggestions can be grouped into various categories, such as:
- Phrase match: Keywords that include the exact phrase you searched for (e.g., “leather bags for women”).
- Having same terms: Keywords that contain one or more of your seed keyword’s terms (e.g., “best leather backpacks”).
- Questions: Keywords that are in the form of questions (e.g., “how to clean leather bags”).
- Related terms: Keywords that are semantically related but don’t necessarily contain your seed term (e.g., “tote bags” or “fashion accessories”).
Click on each of these categories to explore more keyword ideas and refine your list.
4. Evaluate Keyword Difficulty and Volume
Ahrefs provides both Keyword Difficulty and Search Volume for each keyword suggestion. To find the best keywords to target, focus on these factors:
Keyword Difficulty (KD): Low to medium difficulty keywords are usually better targets, especially if your website is new or doesn’t have strong authority. A keyword with a KD of 10-30 might be easier to rank for compared to one with a KD of 70-80.
Search Volume: Choose keywords with decent search volume (usually in the hundreds or thousands per month), but don’t go for keywords that are too competitive if you’re just starting with SEO.
Make sure to balance low competition and high search volume to find keywords that are realistic and valuable for your SEO goals.
5. Analyze SERP Features
Ahrefs also lets you view the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) for your target keyword. By clicking on the SERP Overview, you can see which websites currently rank for the keyword and which SERP features are present, such as:
- Featured Snippets
- Local Pack
- Image Pack
- Videos
This gives you insight into what you’re competing with. If there are a lot of featured snippets or rich results, you may need to optimize your content differently to try and win those spots.
6. Look for Content Gaps
Ahrefs offers a unique feature called Content Gap, which helps you find keywords that your competitors are ranking for, but you aren’t. This can help identify missed opportunities.
To use this feature:
- Go to Site Explorer and enter a competitor’s domain.
- Click on Content Gap.
- Enter your own domain and start analyzing.
Ahrefs will show you the keywords your competitor ranks for but you don’t, allowing you to target those keywords to bridge the gap.
7. Use Keyword Lists to Organize Keywords
Ahrefs lets you create Keyword Lists to keep track of your keywords. You can add selected keywords to these lists by clicking the “Add to List” button. This feature is helpful for keeping your research organized and allows you to export your keywords later for further analysis.
8. Filter Keywords by Metrics
To narrow down your list, you can use filters in Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer to only show keywords that meet certain criteria. You can filter by:
- Search Volume: Set a minimum or maximum search volume.
- Keyword Difficulty: Choose a difficulty range to focus on keywords that fit your target difficulty.
- Clicks: Filter based on the number of clicks to get keywords that drive traffic, not just searches.
These filters help refine your keyword list and focus on the best opportunities.
9. Track Keyword Rankings
Once you’ve selected your target keywords, it’s important to track their performance. Ahrefs offers a Rank Tracker feature, where you can monitor how your website ranks for specific keywords over time. This tool allows you to track your progress, make adjustments to your strategy, and stay on top of changes in the search results.
Conclusion
Conducting keyword research in Ahrefs is a straightforward process that involves entering seed keywords, analyzing keyword metrics like search volume and keyword difficulty, exploring related terms, and refining your list.
Ahrefs is an incredibly powerful tool for SEO professionals looking to find valuable keywords that will drive traffic to their website. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to perform keyword research that’s data-driven and targeted, helping you improve your website’s SEO strategy. You can also contact us for expert keyword research services.
