What are Secondary Keywords?
Secondary keywords are words or phrases that are related to the main keyword or topic of a piece of content but are not the primary focus.
They are used to provide context and additional information to the reader, and can also help improve the SEO of the content by making it more relevant to a wider range of search queries.
For example, if the main keyword is "dog training," some secondary keywords could be "positive reinforcement," "obedience training," "leash training," "puppy training," and "housebreaking."
These secondary keywords provide more specific information about the topic and help create more comprehensive content.
Why are secondary keywords important?
Secondary keywords are important because they help to provide additional context and relevance to the main keyword or topic of a piece of content.
While the main keyword or topic is the primary focus of the content, secondary keywords are related words or phrases that support and reinforce the main topic.
Including relevant secondary keywords in your content can improve its overall quality, making it more comprehensive and useful to readers.
It can also help to improve your content's search engine optimization by signalling to search engines that your content is highly relevant to a particular topic.
Primary vs secondary keywords?
Primary keywords are the main focus of a piece of content and are used to convey the central topic or message.
They are the most important keywords that the content is optimized for, and they are usually the most relevant to the target audience.
Secondary keywords are related to the primary keywords and provide additional context and information about the topic.
They are used to create a more comprehensive piece of content and can also help to improve the SEO of the content by making it more relevant to a wider range of search queries.
In a nutshell, primary keywords are the main topic or message of the content, while secondary keywords provide additional information and context related to the primary topic.
Both types of keywords are important for creating compelling and optimized content.
Using secondary keywords with primary keywords
Using secondary keywords can help to support the primary keyword, making the content more relevant.
It's important to use both primary and secondary keywords throughout your content, but you can also overlap them to create even stronger relevance signals for search engines.
For example, if your primary keyword is "healthy recipes," you could use secondary keywords like "low-fat," "vegetarian," or "easy to make" to add more depth and specificity to your content.
When using secondary keywords with primary keywords, it is important to ensure that they are relevant and add value to the content.
Including too many irrelevant secondary keywords or "keyword stuffing" can actually harm the quality and credibility of the content, and can also negatively impact search engine optimization.
How are secondary keywords good for SEO?
Secondary keywords can be good for SEO because including relevant secondary keywords in your content can signal to search engines that your content is highly relevant to a particular topic, which can help to improve your content's search engine rankings.
When search engines crawl and index your content, they look for signals of relevance and quality, including the presence of relevant keywords.
By including relevant secondary keywords throughout your content, you can provide additional information and context that search engines can use to understand the topic of your content better.
Furthermore, using these keywords can also help to attract a wider range of search queries and traffic to your content.
While the primary keyword may be a highly competitive term, including relevant secondary keywords can help your content rank for a variety of related, long-tail keywords that may be less competitive but still highly relevant to your target audience.
How to find secondary keywords?
There are several ways to find secondary keywords to use in your content:
Determine primary keywords
Start by defining your product or service and identifying its main topics or themes. This will help you determine your primary keywords.
Consider your customers' needs
Think about the needs of your target audience and the questions they may have related to your product or service.
This can help you identify additional secondary keywords that are relevant to your content.
Google Autocomplete
One of the easiest ways to find secondary keywords is by using Google Autocomplete.
When you start typing a search query into Google, the search engine will suggest related searches based on what other people have searched for. These suggestions can be a good source of secondary keywords.
Related searches
At the bottom of Google search results, you will find a list of related searches. These can be a good source of secondary keywords that are relevant to your primary keyword.
Competitor analysis
Another way to find secondary keywords is by analyzing the content of your competitors. Look at the keywords they are using in their content, as well as in their title tags and meta descriptions.
Brainstorming
It can be a good way to come up with secondary keywords that are relevant to your primary keyword.
Write down related words and phrases that come to mind when you think about your primary keyword to use them in your content where appropriate.
Map your keywords
Once you have identified your primary and secondary keywords, map them out to ensure that they are used effectively throughout your content.
This can help you to maintain the relevance and coherence of your content and avoid keyword stuffing.
Tools to find secondary keywords
Google Keyword Planner
Google's Keyword Planner is a free tool that can help you find secondary keywords that are relevant to your primary keyword.
Simply enter your primary keyword into the tool, and it will provide you with a list of related keywords and their search volume.
Moz Keyword Explorer
This paid tool offers in-depth keyword research with metrics such as difficulty, opportunity, and potential.
Users can also find related keywords, see how their site ranks for specific keywords, and track their keyword performance over time.
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer
It is a paid tool that provides data on search volume, keyword difficulty, and traffic potential for specific keywords.
Users can also find related keywords, see which pages rank for specific keywords, and analyze their competitors' keyword strategies.
Best practices to use secondary keywords in the content
Using secondary keywords in your content can help improve its relevance and search engine optimization.
Here are some best practices for using secondary keywords in your content:
Use them naturally
Incorporate secondary keywords into your content in a way that feels natural and relevant. Avoid stuffing your content with too many keywords, as this can make it difficult to read and may be penalized by search engines.
Use them strategically
Place your secondary keywords in strategic locations such as your title, headings, subheadings, and meta descriptions.
This will help search engines understand what your content is about and improve its visibility in search results.
Use keyword variations
Use variations of your secondary keywords throughout your content, such as synonyms or related terms. This can help you reach a wider audience and improve the relevance of your content.
Focus on quality content
Remember that using keywords is just one part of creating quality content. Focus on creating content that is informative, engaging, and valuable to your audience, and use keywords to support and enhance your message.
Add internal links
Internal links are a great way to reinforce the relationship between your primary and secondary keywords.
By linking from your primary keyword to related secondary keywords, and vice versa, you can create a more cohesive and comprehensive content experience for your readers, as well as improve the relevance of your content for search engines.
Conclusion
Secondary keywords are an important aspect of search engine optimization that can help you optimize your content and attract more targeted traffic to your website.
By incorporating secondary keywords into your content, you can improve the relevance of your content for search engines, attract a wider and more targeted audience, and ultimately achieve better results.