SEO keywords are the specific words and phrases that people type into search engines to find information, products, or services online. They act as a bridge between what your target audience is actively searching for and the content you provide on your website to fulfill that need.
By strategically researching and incorporating these keywords into your web pages, you help search engines like Google understand your content’s topic, allowing your site to rank higher in search results and drive free organic traffic. Classification by Intent
Modern search engines focus heavily on user intent—the “why” behind a search query. Keywords generally fall into four intent categories:
Informational: Users want to learn something (e.g., “how to bake sourdough bread” or “what is blockchain”).
Navigational: Users want to find a specific website or brand page (e.g., “Netflix login”).
Commercial: Users are researching a product or service before buying (e.g., “best wireless headphones” or “top project management software”).
Transactional: Users are ready to buy or take an immediate action (e.g., “buy iPhone 15” or “cheap flights to Paris”). Classification by Length and Specificity
Keywords are also categorized by how broad or specific they are: