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As a managed services provider (MSP), you offer valuable solutions to your clients, but how do you ensure they find you online? The answer is by leveraging search engine optimization (SEO). As Google states, “SEO is the process of making your site better for search engines.”
With sound execution, SEO can significantly improve your online visibility and help you rank higher through website optimization. And keyword research is one of the fundamental factors in achieving SEO success. Owing to its significance, this article will explore the importance of keyword research for effective SEO and outline why managed service providers should prioritize it.
What is keyword research?
Keyword research is the cornerstone of building an effective SEO strategy for your website. It involves identifying the specific words and phrases that your target audience uses for search queries relevant to your business offerings. Targeting the right keywords allows companies to optimize their website for search engines and increase the visibility of their business.
Why is keyword research critical for effective managed services SEO?
A study by Search Engine Journal uncovers the importance of keyword research, highlighting it among the top three areas SEO professionals spent most of their time in 2022.
Source: Search Engine Journal
Additionally, a study by BrightEdge, “Organizations Are Turning to SEO Now,” compared the performance of the top 1,000-ranking eCommerce terms with that of paid keywords over a 12-month period. The results showed that, on average, the top eCommerce sites increased their keyword rankings by 20% per page compared to the previous year. Furthermore, these sites generated 120% more clicks comparatively.
![Seo-compunding-value](/sites/default/files/inline-images/SEO-brings-compounding-value.jpg)
Source: BrightEdge Research Whitepaper
With around 90% of enterprise companies emphasizing organic search, the state of SEO in 2023 is on the rise. When done right, fully managed SEO services are a powerful tool for MSPs, enabling you to present the answer to the targeted audience queries exactly when they’re looking for it. Additionally, when paired with other effective SEO processes, such as link building, keyword research helps you create a repeatable content process that consistently drives traffic over time.
In simple terms, a well-executed SEO strategy will help your target audience find you without trouble.
Expanding more, prioritizing keyword research can particularly help managed service providers achieve SEO success in the following ways:
Site Authority and Credibility:
Using strategic keywords can help build your site's authority and credibility in your industry. By demonstrating to search engines that you are a reliable source of information, you increase your chances of being ranked higher. As you build credibility through keyword research, you can easily rank your website for competitive keywords as you establish your authority.
Organic Traffic Growth:
Organic search is the foundational element of SEO. Unlike paid results, organic traffic helps to build your online presence and credibility over time. By conducting keyword research and strategically using the relevant keywords in your content and site, you can increase the likelihood of more people visiting your website. As your site appears on search engines, you will organically build more awareness and gain more followers.
New Customer Acquisition Opportunities:
Keyword research can also help increase your online visibility, leading to opportunities to acquire qualified leads. As you establish your authority and credibility through keyword research, you become more visible to potential customers seeking the services you offer. This increased visibility makes it more likely that you will acquire qualified leads or audience members, having a high likelihood to convert.
Ensuring Long-term SEO Success:
Keyword research is not a one-time activity. MSPs need to continuously update and refine their keyword strategy to keep up with evolving search trends and customer behavior. Effective keyword research is critical for long-term SEO success.
5 Ways Managed Service Providers Can Maximize Keyword Research to Advance Their Marketing Goals:
Instead of guessing, using targeted keywords based on robust research can help you level up your SEO strategy. Here are five ways that can help you to do it:
- Create a List of Relevant Topics: Identify the topic clusters most important to your business and list specific keywords that fall under each cluster.
- Use a Keyword Research Tool: Utilize SEO tools like Semrush or Ahrefs to gain insights into what keywords are highly searched by your audience and which ones competitors rank for.
- Target Low-Hanging Fruit: Target relevant words and phrases with fewer monthly searches to increase your chances of ranking higher on Google searches.
- Determine Search Intent: Identify how target keywords relate to users' search intent and create content accordingly. From informational and preferential to transactional and navigational, search intent falls into four primary categories requiring a unique targeting approach.
- Optimize Onsite Content: Create content that caters to your target audience's search intent and includes targeted keywords organically to attract new customers by providing value. Stay relevant by regularly creating and distributing SEO-optimized content.
Conclusion
In the age of digital, it is critical for businesses to have robust digital footprints to be able to attract potential customers. For the same reason, managed services providers (MSPs) need to prioritize keyword research for continued SEO success. Keyword research provides valuable insights into your target audience, helps improve website traffic, enables you to analyze the competitive landscape, and assists you in attracting the right visitors and growing your business. However, keyword research can be challenging, and balancing the tradeoffs between different factors requires careful analysis and strategy. At Visionet Systems, we offer fully managed SEO services that include comprehensive keyword research and ongoing optimization to help MSPs supercharge their business for a robust online presence and stay relevant in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Contact us today to learn more.