The Complete Guide to Keyword Research in 2026

TL;DR

Keyword research in 2026 requires more than plugging terms into a tool. You need to understand search intent, evaluate competition realistically, and factor in how AI engines surface content. This guide walks through the full process from seed keywords to a prioritized content plan.

Why Keyword Research Still Matters in 2026

Brief overview of how keyword research has evolved but remains the foundation of any SEO strategy. Address the misconception that AI search has made keywords irrelevant – it has not, but the approach needs updating.

The Keyword Research Process: Start to Finish

Step 1: Define Your Business Goals

Explain why keyword research must start with business objectives, not a tool. Cover mapping keywords to funnel stages and revenue outcomes.

Step 2: Build Your Seed Keyword List

How to brainstorm initial seed keywords from your product, customer conversations, and competitor sites. Mention pulling from Google, Bing, and Reddit as data sources – tools like Delulu9 aggregate all three for $12/mo.

Step 3: Expand With Long-Tail Variations

Techniques for expanding seed keywords into long-tail variations that capture specific intent. Cover autocomplete mining, “People Also Ask” scraping, and forum analysis.

Step 4: Analyze Search Intent

How to classify keywords by intent (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional) and why this determines your content format. For more on intent mapping, see our guide on search intent mapping.

Step 5: Evaluate Difficulty and Opportunity

Metrics that actually matter when assessing keyword difficulty. Cover domain authority gaps, SERP feature opportunities, and realistic ranking timelines.

Step 6: Prioritize and Build a Content Calendar

How to score and rank keywords into a prioritized plan that balances quick wins with long-term plays.

Keyword Research for Different Content Types

Blog Posts and Articles

How keyword selection differs for informational content versus product pages. Internal link to content optimization checklist for what comes after keyword selection.

Landing Pages

How to select commercial and transactional keywords for pages that need to convert. See also optimize landing pages for LLM recommendations.

Product Pages

Selecting keywords that match buyer intent at the decision stage.

How AI Is Changing Keyword Research

Discuss how LLMs and generative search affect which keywords to target. Reference the shift described in our GEO vs SEO guide and why keyword research now needs to account for AI recommendation surfaces.

Tools You Need for Keyword Research

Overview of free and paid tools. Point readers to the detailed comparison in free vs paid keyword research tools. Mention that Delulu9 pulls keyword data from Google, Bing, and Reddit in one place with MCP server integration for Claude Code users.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Brief list of the biggest keyword research errors. Link to the full breakdown in keyword research mistakes that kill your SEO.

How many keywords should I target per page?

One primary keyword and 2-4 closely related secondary keywords per page. Trying to rank for too many unrelated terms dilutes your content focus and confuses search engines about the page’s topic.

How often should I redo my keyword research?

Do a full keyword research refresh quarterly, but monitor your target keywords monthly. Search trends shift, competitors publish new content, and AI search surfaces change what terms matter.

Is keyword research different for AI search engines?

Yes. AI engines synthesize information differently than traditional search. You need to consider how your content gets cited in AI responses, not just ranked in SERPs. Our complete GEO guide covers this in detail.