What is a keyword?
A keyword (also called a search query or search term) is the word or phrase a user types into a search engine. In SEO, keywords are the bridge between what your audience is searching for and the content you create.
Keywords are characterized by search volume (monthly searches), keyword difficulty (how hard it is to rank), and search intent (what the user is trying to do). These three dimensions determine whether a keyword is worth targeting.
How keyword research works
Keyword research is the process of identifying which terms your target audience uses, how competitive they are, and how they map to your business goals. The output is a keyword map that assigns terms to specific pages.
Example
Example
"SEO agency India" (850/mo, high competition) and "technical SEO audit checklist" (600/mo, medium competition) are keywords with different profiles requiring different strategies.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a keyword worth targeting?
Three dimensions together: enough search volume to matter, difficulty your domain can realistically beat, and intent that maps to your business. A keyword strong on volume but wrong on intent produces traffic that never converts.
What is a keyword map?
A document assigning each target keyword to exactly one page on the site. It prevents two pages competing for the same query (cannibalization) and exposes gaps where demand exists but no page does.