What is the best way to stay up-to-date with SEM keyword research trends?

Stay current with SEM keyword research trends using these 9 keys: Industry News: Follow reputable SEM news sources. Google Updates: Monitor Google's algorithm changes and announcements. Keyword Tools: Use keyword research tools for insights. Competitor Analysis: Study competitors' keyword strategies. Webinars and Workshops: Attend online sessions on SEM trends. Blogs and Forums: Participate in SEM-related blogs and forums. Networking: Connect with fellow SEM professionals for insights. Google Ads Updates: Stay updated with Google Ads announcements. Continual Learning: Invest in ongoing SEM education to stay ahead. These practices ensure your keyword research remains current and effective.

Some of your research should be directed toward knowing where your target audience is looking. For example, I developed a lead gen campaign for a mortgage broker focused on VA (Veterans) loans. He bought keywords relating to (then) current military actions, and which had nothing to do with mortgages. Our reasoning was that people searching information on these military actions were most likely to be involved with the military in some way, or close family members, any of whom may need to relocate. This campaign increased his leads by more than 50% within 60 days.

Using keyword research tools will help us search for potential keywords that have high search volume, competitive difficulty, and relevance. However, we also have to consider about Ad Impression Share, because this affects the potential impressions that we can get from competing keyword bids with competitors.

Keyword research tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, Moz, and Keyword Insights are great but go beyond the known keyword research tools! These tools are great at telling you what your competitors are targeting, but what they're not as good at doing is finding new and trending keywords. If you want to beat your competitors, you need to provide fresh, new content that is truly helpful and solves issues and pain points that your customers experience. To do this you can use TikTok, Instagram, and Google Trends to pick up on new trending topics and content. Other social media can be great too. If you work in e-commerce, find out the issues that your customers are contacting you on via social media and write content about it!

Here are some strategies to help you keep current: -Google Ads Blog and Help Center -Industry Blogs and Websites: Follow industry-leading blogs and websites such as Moz, SEMrush, Search Engine Land, and Search Engine Journal. -Social Media -Webinars and Podcasts -Online Courses and Certifications -Search Engine Updates -Google Trends -SEMrush and Similar Tools: Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and SpyFu provide keyword research and competitive analysis features. These tools often include insights into emerging keyword trends and can help you stay competitive. -Networking and Conferences -Email Subscriptions -Case Studies and Whitepapers -Experimentation and Testing -Feedback and Data Analysis -Stay Inquisitive

Some specific things you can look for when analyzing your competitors' SEM campaigns: What keywords are they bidding on? Are they targeting the same keywords as you? Are they bidding on any keywords that you are not? How much are they spending? Are they outspending you? Are there any keywords that they are spending a lot of money on? What ad copy are they using? Are they using effective ad copy? Are they using any call to actions that you are not? What landing pages are they sending traffic to? Are their landing pages effective? Are they relevant to the keywords they are bidding on?

Use a feed reader to aggregate content from multiple sources. A feed reader can help you aggregate content from multiple industry news and blogs into a single feed. This can save you time and help you stay organized. Create a content calendar. A content calendar can help you plan and schedule your time for following industry news and blogs. This can help you stay consistent and ensure that you are always up-to-date on the latest trends and developments. Share what you learn. Once you have learned something new about SEM and keyword research, be sure to share it with your colleagues and network. This is a great way to help others and to build your reputation as an expert in your field.

Some specific questions you can ask in your surveys and interviews: What keywords do you use to search for products or services like ours? What are your needs and pain points when it comes to our products or services? What factors influence your decision-making when choosing a product or service? What feedback do you have for our ads and landing pages?

Specific things you can test and experiment with: Keywords: Test different keywords, including long-tail keywords and keywords that your competitors are targeting. Ad copy: Test different ad copy to see what resonates with your target audience. Landing pages: Test different landing pages to see which ones convert the best.

Stop using only the "well known" tools which are marketed as being the best and stop using only one tool. Always find different ways and tools and always combine more of them, you will soon see there are clear differences between them while searching for the same topics. When you found your target and shared your optimized article, page etc. also check again from different sides and tools to see if it is indeed "well received" from every angle. If different tools will show similar results, that means your on track. Keep in mind not to get distracted or disappointed when your results take longer to be seen. You have to target a steady and long term place instead of a quick but highly fluctuating one.