How do you use keyword research tools to create and update your keyword map and taxonomy?

1 What is a keyword map and taxonomy?

A keyword map is a document that assigns relevant keywords to each page of your website based on the topic, purpose, and audience of that page. A keyword taxonomy is a hierarchical structure that organizes your keywords into categories and subcategories based on their similarity, relevance, and intent. A keyword map and taxonomy help you create a clear and consistent content strategy, avoid keyword cannibalization, and improve your site's usability and navigation.

2 How to create a keyword map and taxonomy?

Creating a keyword map and taxonomy requires several steps. First, use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to conduct comprehensive keyword research and analyze their search volume, difficulty, and intent. Next, categorize your keywords into main topics and subtopics based on their meaning, relevance, and intent. For instance, if you have a website about digital marketing, you can group your keywords into categories like SEO and PPC. Then map your keywords to existing pages or create new ones according to the gaps and opportunities you find. For each page, pick a primary keyword that best matches the page's topic, goal, and audience. Additionally, choose a few secondary keywords that support the primary keyword and provide further context. Finally, document your keyword map and taxonomy in a spreadsheet or tool like MindMeister to visualize the keyword structure, identify overlaps or inconsistencies, and track progress and performance.

3 How to update your keyword map and taxonomy?

To update your keyword map and taxonomy, you need to monitor your keyword rankings and traffic using tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, or Moz. Analyzing your competitors' keywords with tools like SpyFu, SimilarWeb, or BuzzSumo can help you find out what content they are creating and what keywords they are ranking for. Additionally, tools such as Google Trends, AnswerThePublic, or Ubersuggest can be used to identify new keyword opportunities and trends. Based on your findings and goals, you should update your keyword map and taxonomy accordingly - adding, removing, or modifying keywords, categories, or pages. For instance, you may want to target a new keyword that has high search volume and low competition or create a new page that addresses a common pain point or query of your audience.

4 How to use your keyword map and taxonomy?

Your keyword map and taxonomy are not just documents that you create and forget. Rather, they are dynamic guides that you can use to enhance your organic search performance. For example, you can optimize your on-page SEO elements like title tags, meta descriptions, headings, images, and content by including primary and secondary keywords in a natural and relevant way. Additionally, you can use the keyword map and taxonomy to improve your internal linking structure by linking pages to each other with descriptive anchor texts. Furthermore, you can plan and create new content that fills the gaps in your existing content by utilizing the keyword categories and subcategories as content themes and topics. Lastly, you can measure and improve your content performance and user experience by using tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, or Moz to track keyword rankings, traffic, conversions, bounce rate, dwell time, etc., as well as tools like Hotjar, Crazy Egg or UserTesting to collect user feedback.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?