SEO Keyword Research
Keyword Research That Finds
What Your Customers Actually Search
Targeting the wrong keywords is worse than targeting none at all — you invest in content that attracts the wrong audience or competes against sites you can't beat. We research the exact terms your ideal customers type, prioritize by intent and business value, and map every keyword to a specific page with a realistic path to ranking.
Overview
What good keyword research actually delivers.
Keyword research isn't about finding the highest-volume terms in your industry. It's about finding the specific queries your target customers use at the moment they're ready to act — and identifying which of those queries you can realistically rank for given your site's current authority.
We look at search volume, keyword difficulty, search intent (are people looking to buy, compare, or learn?), and the current SERP landscape. The output is a prioritized keyword map — every target term assigned to a specific page, organized into topical clusters that build your site's authority in your category over time.
What's Included
Everything you get.
Seed keyword discovery
We start with your business, your services, and your customers' language — then expand outward into every related term and variation Google recognizes.
Search intent classification
Every keyword classified by intent: informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional. So you know not just what people search but what they want when they do.
Difficulty & opportunity analysis
Keyword difficulty scored against your site's current authority — so we target terms you can actually rank for, not aspirational keywords that will take years to compete for.
Competitor keyword gap analysis
What keywords your top competitors rank for that you don't — identifying the fastest path to capturing traffic they're currently owning.
Topical cluster mapping
Keywords organized into topic clusters — a pillar page and supporting content pieces that collectively build your authority in a subject area.
Page-level keyword mapping
Every keyword assigned to a specific page — existing or new — so there's no cannibalization and every page has a clear search purpose.
Why Sherwood
Why businesses choose us.
Business value, not just volume
A keyword that drives ten buyers is worth more than one that drives a thousand tire-kickers. We prioritize by what actually produces revenue for your business.
Intent-driven strategy
We match keywords to the right content type — a "how to" keyword needs a guide, a "best [service]" keyword needs a comparison page, a "[service] cost" keyword needs a pricing page.
Realistic targets
We don't give you a list of impossible keywords that build no organic traffic for years. We find the realistic opportunities at your current authority level and build toward harder terms over time.
Integrated with content strategy
Keyword research is the input to a content plan — not an isolated deliverable. We connect every keyword to a content recommendation.
Local keyword expertise
For local businesses, we research geo-modified keywords, service area terms, and "near me" variants that drive local search visibility.
Delivered as a usable document
Not a raw data export — a structured, sortable keyword map you can actually use, with explanations of why each term is on the list.
FAQ
Common questions.
How many keywords should I be targeting?
It depends on your site size and content capacity. A small business site might target 20–50 keywords across its core pages. A content-heavy site targeting topical authority might eventually target hundreds. We'll recommend a scope appropriate for your situation.
Do keyword research tools give accurate data?
They're directionally accurate, not precisely accurate. Search volume numbers are estimates — what matters is relative volume (this term gets more searches than that one) and trend direction. We use multiple data sources and manual validation to improve accuracy.
How often should keyword research be refreshed?
Annually at minimum, or whenever you add a new service line, enter a new market, or notice a significant change in your organic traffic patterns. Search behavior evolves and your keyword strategy should too.
Can I target keywords my competitors rank for?
Yes — competitor keyword analysis is one of the fastest ways to find proven opportunities. If a competitor is ranking for a term, it's proof the term drives traffic. The question is whether you can compete for it at your current authority level.
What's the difference between short-tail and long-tail keywords?
Short-tail keywords are broad and high-volume ("web design"). Long-tail keywords are more specific and lower-volume ("web design for plumbing companies"). Long-tail terms are easier to rank for, have clearer intent, and often convert better — we build strategies that capture both.
Also Offered
Related services.
Get Started
Free mockup.
No commitment.
Fill out the form and we'll build a real mockup of your site within 48 hours. No invoice. No pressure. Just a real design for your real business — before you spend a cent.