The Complete Keyword Research Checklist for 2025 [Step-by-Step]

Forget chasing short-tail keywords — or worse — not chasing anything at all. Keyword research trends reveal you need a more strategic approach to grow your online presence in 2025.

That’s why we made a keyword research checklist that’s easy to follow and gets results.

You’ll learn how to pinpoint the exact terms your audience uses, identify high-potential keyword targets, and determine the intent behind every search.

Consider it your key to unlocking higher rankings and increased organic traffic.

Ready?

Let’s go.

Setting the Stage: Preparation & Goals

Before diving headfirst into keyword research, it’s crucial to lay some groundwork. This involves understanding your audience, defining your goals, and equipping yourself with the right tools.

Let’s look at each in detail.

1. Define Your Target Audience

Understanding your audience is fundamental to effective keyword research. 

Who are you trying to reach with your website? 

Consider their demographics, interests, pain points, and online behavior. What questions are they asking? What problems are they trying to solve? Creating detailed buyer personas can help you visualize your ideal customer and understand their needs. 

Don’t have all the answers quite yet?

That’s okay, keyword research will reveal more about your customers and their search habits.

2. Outline Your Business Objectives & SEO Goals

What do you hope to achieve with your website and SEO efforts? Are you aiming to increase brand awareness, drive sales, generate leads, or something else? 

Defining clear, specific, and measurable goals is essential. 

These goals will shape your keyword strategy and ensure your efforts are aligned with your overall business objectives. 

Remember to set realistic and achievable SEO goals, keeping in mind your industry, competition, and resources.

3. Choose Your Keyword Research Tools

Equipping yourself with the right tools can make all the difference in your keyword research. 

There’s a wide range of tools available, from free options like Google Trends to powerful paid tools like LowFruits and Semrush. 

Consider your budget, technical expertise, and specific needs when making your choice. 

For small businesses, I recommend LowFruits. It focuses on long-tail keyword research, which translates to easier ranking opportunities and higher conversion rates.

If you’re an advanced SEO or digital marketer, Semrush is a comprehensive SEO tool for keyword research, backlink analysis, and more. 

Keep in mind it has a steeper learning curve and higher price point than LowFruits, but it’s a good option if you need more robust features. 

Ultimately, each tool offers unique features and data, so it’s important to explore different options and find the ones that best suit your business.

Your Keyword Research Checklist: Step-by-Step

Now that you’ve set the stage, it’s time to dive into the process itself. 

This keyword research checklist will guide you through each step, ensuring you uncover valuable keywords and build a strong foundation for your content strategy.

1. Brainstorm Seed Keywords

Start with the basics. 

Seed keywords are the foundation of your research. These are broad terms that are relevant to your business, products, or services. 

Think about the core topics your website covers and the main problems you solve for your audience.

For example, if you own an online store selling organic coffee, your seed keywords might include:

• Organic coffee
• Coffee beans
• Fair trade coffee
• Specialty coffee

Don’t overthink it at this stage. Simply jot down the most relevant and obvious terms that come to mind. 

These ideas will be the starting point for expanding your research and discovering more specific keywords.

2. Expand Your Keyword List

Now it’s time to broaden your horizons. 

Take those seed keywords and use your chosen keyword research tools to uncover a wider range of related terms.

(For this tutorial, I’ll use LowFruits.)

 Essentially, you’ll plug one of your seed keywords into the tool, like so:

In LowFruits, it asks you how you want to view your report. (Not every SEO tool will do this.)

You can either:

1. Access all keyword ideas and analyze them manually.
2. Access all keyword ideas and analyze all high-intent keywords automatically. (High intent means users are likely to convert.)

Typically, I recommend selecting the second option. This choice returns more data and gives you keyword metrics automatically.

Once you’ve analyzed some keywords (via the automated or manual process), you’ll get a report that looks like this:

From a single seed keyword search, we’ve acquired 765 keywords. 

Now, it’s time to see which ones are worth targeting.

3. Evaluate Keyword Difficulty

Not all keywords are created equal. Some are highly competitive, while others are easier to rank for. 

Evaluating keyword difficulty helps you prioritize your efforts and target keywords that offer the best chance of success (aka, high rankings).

Keyword difficulty is typically measured on a scale, with higher scores indicating greater competition. Factors that influence keyword difficulty include:

• Search volume: Higher keyword search volume generally means more competition.
• Domain authority: Websites with higher domain authority tend to rank better.
• Backlinks: The number and quality of backlinks pointing to a page can significantly impact its ranking.
• Content quality: High-quality, relevant content is essential for ranking well.

Most keyword research tools provide a keyword difficulty score. Use this score as a guide, but also consider the other factors mentioned above. 

Aim for a balance between search volume and difficulty. 

Don’t be afraid to target keywords with lower search volume if they have lower difficulty and are relevant to your audience.

In LowFruits, you can see the keyword difficulty as a SERP Difficulty Score (SD) in any report:

The SD score ranges from 1-3, with 3 being the most difficult to rank for.

You can also see the search volume (Vol.) for each keyword, which is how many times the keyword is searched for monthly.

Ideally, small business owners should aim for keywords with a 1 SD score. These are low-competition keywords that are easy to rank for.

4. Find Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that people search for. They often have lower search volume than short-tail keywords, which are broader terms.

But they also tend to have higher conversion rates, making them extremely valuable for small businesses.

This is because they target a more specific audience with a clear intent.

For example, instead of targeting the short-tail keyword “coffee,” you might target the long-tail keyword “best organic coffee beans for espresso.” This version targets a specific audience (people who own espresso machines and prefer organic coffee) and indicates a clear intent to purchase.

Long-tail keywords are crucial for attracting qualified traffic and driving conversions. They also tend to be less competitive, making it easier to rank for them.

In LowFruits, pretty much all your results are going to be long-tail. That’s why it’s considered one of the best long-tail keyword research tools. 

But if you want to be extra certain, you can always set a word count filter.

To do so, click the pre-analysis filters button at the top of any keyword report.

Then, set your minimum # of words to 3.

After clicking Apply, your report will only show long-tail keywords with 3 or more words.

5. Extract Competitors’ Keywords

Keeping an eye on your competition is a smart move in any business, and SEO is no exception. Analyzing your competitors’ keywords can reveal valuable insights and opportunities.

For this step, you’ll need to run your competitors’ domains through a keyword research tool.

In LowFruits, you can find competitors’ keywords using the Extract tool. 

Then, select the Ranking tab at the top of the page.

From here, you’ll enter the URLs of your competitors and click Extract.

LowFruits will download a report of their top-ranking keywords, which you can download to your computer.

Here’s an example of what the spreadsheet looks like in Excel:

At this stage, you’ll have all your competitors’ top-ranking keywords.

Now, let’s see what to do with them.

6. Perform a Content Gap Analysis

A content gap analysis helps you identify topics and keywords that your competitors are covering, but you aren’t. This reveals valuable opportunities to create content that fills those gaps and attracts a wider audience.

Here’s how to perform a content gap analysis:

1. Compare your keyword list to your competitors’. Look for keywords that your competitors are ranking for that you haven’t included in your own content.

2. Analyze their website content. Dive deeper into the content on their websites. What topics are they covering in-depth? What formats are they using (blog posts, videos, infographics, etc.)?

3. Identify gaps and opportunities. Are there any relevant topics or keywords that your competitors are addressing that you’re missing? These gaps represent opportunities to create content that your target audience is searching for.

For example, if you discover that several competitors are ranking for keywords related to “cold brew coffee” and you don’t have any content on that topic, this could be a valuable content gap to fill.

In LowFruits, it’s easy to see which keywords your competitors are ranking for and you’re not.

Like our previous checklist item, you’ll start in the Extract tool. 

But this time, instead of downloading the XLS spreadsheet, you’ll click on one of the two right buttons (Top 10 or Top 100):

This action will take you to the Import tool and automatically populate the data (your competitors’ keywords) depending on your selection.

The page will look like this:

At the bottom of the list, you’ll see the button to Import. Go ahead and click it. 

(You can also uncheck the analyze all option if you prefer. I like to leave it checked if I’m not analyzing too many keywords — like the top 10 from each competitor.)

Your report should look something like this: 

You’ll want to pay attention to the position (Pos.) column, which shows you if your domain is ranking for a competitor’s keyword. And your website’s position.

Important: For this to work, you’ll have needed to add your domain to LowFruits. This is very easy. Just navigate to Websites in the left menu, and click Add a website. Once you’ve done this, LowFruits will show your position for any ranking keywords in reports.

By using this feature, you can easily identify content gaps and keyword opportunities for your website.

7. Determine Search Intent

Understanding search intent is crucial for creating content that resonates with your audience. 

Search intent refers to the reason behind a user’s search query. It explains the ‘why’ whereas the keyword is the ‘what.’

There are four main types of search intent:

• Informational: The user is seeking information. For example, “how to brew coffee.”

• Navigational: The user is trying to find a specific website or location. For example, “LowFruits website.”

• Commercial: The user is researching products or services before making a purchase. For example, “best coffee grinder for pour over.”

• Transactional: The user is looking to make a purchase. For example, “buy organic coffee beans.”

As for how to determine the search intent for a keyword, all you have to do is look at the SERP.

A SERP analysis reveals exactly what type of content Google deems relevant for a specific query.

This means you just need to look at existing search results for your keyword target. 

Let’s look at an example.

Here are the search results for the query “best surfboard for kids to  learn on.”

From just these few first results, we can tell our keyword has commercial intent. There’s a sponsored ad, a blog post comparing surfboards, and some questions about picking the right one for a child.

The user wants to find and buy a surfboard. 

So, what does this mean for you?

Well, if you’re targeting that keyword, you’re going to want to answer all the questions that user has in mind. This might look like a blog post that dissects the different types of surfboards for children. And breaks down what to look for in a beginner board.

A SERP analysis sounds complicated, but it’s really quite easy.

And in LowFruits, you can do it straight from any keyword report.

Just click View the SERP next to a keyword.

This will open a pop-out window of the top 10 organic results for that keyword. It’s basically the same process we did in Google, but within the LowFruits space (meaning you don’t have to waste time jumping between tabs or tools). 

Some SEO tools will also tell you the search intent outright.

Take Semrush, for example.

The Keyword Magic Tool will show you the intent of each keyword. It’s a great starting point for understanding what type of content to create, but it can’t compete with a full SERP analysis. (That’s where you learn what really works in SERPs, and what you need to do to beat the competition.)

8. Build Topic Clusters

Alright, you’ve got a ton of keywords.

Now, what?

Topic clusters are a powerful way to organize your keywords and improve your website’s SEO. They involve grouping related keywords and content together around a central “pillar” topic.

Then, you create subtopic pages that branch off from your main pillar page. (And include internal links between them.)

This creates a more interconnected website and user-friendly navigation experience.

It’s also a great way to build topical authority within your niche.

Want to learn how to do it?

Here are 4 easy steps to building topic clusters:

1. Identify your pillar topics and primary keywords. These are broad topics that are central to your website and your audience’s interests. For example, if you sell organic coffee, your pillar topics might include “coffee brewing methods,” “types of coffee beans,” and “coffee origins.” Each pillar topic should have a focus keyword.

2. Cluster related keywords. Group related keywords around each pillar topic. For example, under the pillar topic “coffee brewing methods,” you might include keywords like “French press,” “pour over,” “cold brew,” and “espresso.”

3. Create comprehensive pillar content. Develop in-depth content that covers each pillar topic comprehensively. This could be a long-form blog post, a guide, or even a dedicated landing page.

4. Link supporting content. Create supporting content that delves deeper into specific keywords within each cluster. Link this supporting content to your pillar content, creating a web of interconnected pages.

Now, here’s the caveat: building topic clusters can be time-consuming. 

Luckily, LowFruits can streamline the process.

In fact, it breaks it down to mere seconds.

Just go to any keyword report and click the Clusters tab. LowFruits will organize your keywords into clusters automatically.

Then, you can open any of these clusters to view the related keywords within:

It’s super easy and makes keyword clustering significantly faster.

You can use these clusters to build out your content strategy in our next checklist step.

9. Create Your Content Strategy

You’ve done the research, identified valuable keywords, and organized them into topic clusters. 

Now it’s time to put it all together and create a content strategy that drives results.

Here are some tips for creating an effective content strategy:

• Align your content with search intent. Ensure your content matches the intent behind the keywords you’re targeting. (Not sure what the intent is? Remember, you can do a SERP analysis to find out.)

• Create high-quality, engaging content. Focus on providing value to your audience. It’s also a good idea to check out what competitors are doing, and see how you can make a better piece of content.

• Optimize your content for SEO. Use your focus keywords naturally throughout your content, but avoid keyword stuffing. (We’ll explore this more in our next section.)

• Promote your content. Share your content on social media, through email marketing, and other channels. This will attract a wider audience and establish a strong online presence.

By creating a well-defined strategy, you can ensure your content aligns with your goals, resonates with your audience, and drives results.

Bonus: Implement Your Keyword Research

Creating a content strategy is a crucial step, but it’s only half the battle. 

Now it’s time to put your keyword research into action and optimize your content for search engines. 

This involves strategically incorporating your target keywords into your website’s content and HTML.

Here are some key areas to focus on:

• Title tags: A title tag is the blue, clickable link in SERPs. It’s one of the most important on-page SEO factors. Include your primary keyword in the meta title of each page, ideally at the beginning.

• Meta descriptions: The meta description is a brief summary of a web page that appears in SERPs. While it doesn’t directly impact rankings, it can influence organic clickthrough rates. Include relevant keywords and compelling language to entice users to click your page.

• URL structure: A URL structure for SEO should be short, descriptive, and include a keyword. This makes it easier for search engines and users to understand the content of your page.

• Header tags: Header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) structure your content and make it easier to read. Use your target keywords in header tags to highlight important topics and improve readability.

• Body content: Naturally incorporate your keywords throughout your website’s body content. Avoid keyword stuffing, which can harm your rankings. Focus on creating high-quality, informative content that provides value to your audience. You can also sprinkle in LSI keywords, although they’re not a Google ranking factor.

• Image alt text: Image alt text describes the content of an image. It’s important for accessibility and can also help with SEO. Include relevant keywords in your image alt text where appropriate.

Remember, the key is to use keywords naturally and strategically. Don’t force them into your content where they don’t belong. Focus on creating valuable, engaging content that satisfies user intent and provides a positive experience.

Content optimization tools can make this process easier.

I like SEOBoost because it has a similar feel to popular word processors like Google Docs and Microsoft Word. You’ll get real-time feedback regarding your on-page optimizations and keyword suggestions.

The color-coding system makes it easy to visualize which keyphrases need improvement.

If you’re a WordPress user, SEOBoost integrates with the All in One SEO (AIOSEO) plugin. Its Writing Assistant provides similar features like keyword recommendations and usage feedback.

Furthermore, the TruSEO On-Page Analysis tool checks specifically for your focus keyphrase. You’ll get a handy SEO checklist that lets you know when you’ve forgotten to include it in critical areas.

Ultimately, these tools streamline your on-page SEO and can even help you come up with new content ideas, plus the keywords to use in them.

Next Steps: Track Your Keyword Performance

Keyword research isn’t a one-and-done task. It’s an ongoing process that requires monitoring and refinement. 

Tracking your keyword performance helps you understand what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus your efforts.

The LowFruits Rank Tracker allows you to monitor this information over time.

Simply add your keywords to the Rank Tracker and set a country and fetching frequency. Then, the tool will automatically track their progress based on your selections.

You’ll get this data in a user-friendly dashboard that makes it simple to see how your keyword positions have changed.

You can also expand any tracked keyword to see their historical position data.

Overall, LowFruits is one of the best rank tracker tools due to its ease of use and accuracy.

It can save you valuable time from monitoring keywords manually and keeps you on track to achieve your goals. 

Final Thoughts

There you have it — your comprehensive SEO keyword research checklist for 2025. 

By following these steps and utilizing the right tools, you can uncover valuable keywords, create targeted content, and achieve sustainable growth. 

Remember, keyword research is an ongoing process. 

Stay informed about the latest trends and algorithm updates to ensure your strategy remains effective. 

Now, go forth and conquer the search landscape!