How to Choose Keywords for Blog Posts That Actually Rank in 2025

Blogger analyzing keyword data and SEO metrics to choose high-ranking keywords for blog posts in 2025

Writing a blog without keywords is like building something amazing that nobody can find. All that hard work, and it’s for what? That’s why it’s so important to learn how to choose keywords for blog posts.

Keywords are phrases you use in your blog; they’re the queries people type into search engines like Google. When your blog contains these search queries, Google can use them to connect you to your audience and give them the information they’re looking for.

Search engines have become smarter over the years, and they know when an article has the information someone needs. So, if you want your blogs to reach your audience and help them, you need keywords that guide what people search for.

At Tower 25 San Diego, we understand how important it is for you to reach the right people. Our team works to ensure your blog is not just built but also found.

Let’s take a look.

Understand Your Audience First

Before you do anything else, you need to know your audience. That’s right — it’s the audience that determines what kind of keywords they’re searching for (also known as their search intent) and the audience you’ll be writing for.

Understanding who your audience is and what they’re looking for will help you come up with your blog titles, clusters, and pillars. More importantly, when you know who you’re writing for, you can determine what you’ll be writing about, and that’s your niche.

Writing for a specific niche helps you narrow down the best keywords and create content that actually ranks on search engines.

All the best SEO experts agree there’s no such thing as “better” keywords; there are only relevant keywords that match your audience’s search intent.

Here are the three main types of search intent:

Informational Intent:

Searches made with the intention to learn something. For example, “how to choose keywords for a blog post based on user intent” or “what are long-tail keywords.”

The audience is looking for answers, not predictions.

Navigational Intent:

The audience knows what they’re looking for; they just want to use the search bar as a shortcut, for example, searching for “Tower 25” to get to the website or “Facebook” to get to the login page.

Transactional Intent:

The search is made when the audience is ready to take action, for example, signing up, buying, or contacting someone. They’ll use phrases like “best SEO agency near me” or “hire a blog writer for a small business.”

At Tower 25, we make sure a strategy backs every keyword, and that strategy is built around audience intent. We learn what they’re looking for and then give them exactly that.

Use Keyword Research Tools Wisely

Now that you know who your audience is and what they’re looking for, you can use keyword research tools to find relevant keywords. Tools like Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner are great for seeing what people search for every day.

You can see which keywords are popular in a specific niche and how much traffic particular keywords bring in each month.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using keyword research tools:

Pick Your Tool:

  • Google Keyword Planner: Best for seeing how people use search engines.
  • Ahrefs: Best for analyzing keyword difficulty and spotting content gaps.
  • Ubersuggest: Great for finding related keywords in your niche.

Look at the Metrics:

  • Search Volume: Shows how many people are searching for a term each month. Just because a keyword has high search volume doesn’t make it relevant. Sometimes, smaller, more specific keywords bring in more loyal visitors.
  • Keyword Difficulty (KD): Helps you see how hard it is to rank for a keyword. You can use Ahrefs or SEMrush to get a score, and lower numbers are easier wins.
  • Cost-Per-Click (CPC): Relevant for ads, but even if you’re not running any, it shows how valuable a keyword is based on how many people are paying for it.
  • Intent: What the searcher is looking to learn, find, or buy.

Use Your Data to Strategize:

When you use these tools, you have all the data and keywords at your fingertips; now it’s up to you how to use this information. Here’s what the process looks like:

  • Find a keyword with a good search volume.
  • See if it fits your audience’s intent.
  • Check to see if it’s not extremely competitive.
  • If it passes those checks — use it.

Find Long-Tail Keywords

You might think, “Didn’t we just find keywords? Why look for more?” That’s the thing about SEO — bigger isn’t always better.

Just because you find short, popular keywords that rank high doesn’t mean your content will shine. Using primary keywords alone can actually put you in a tough spot because everyone else is chasing them, too.

You’re basically shouting in a stadium full of people if you’re competing for broad keywords alone. If you have something to say and you want people to hear it, you need long-tail keywords.

These are the phrases people use when they search with voice or AI tools. Here are a few examples:

  • “Best strategy for selecting blog post keywords in 2025”
  • “Long-tail keyword ideas for blog posts with low competition”

If you’re wondering how effective organic keywords are, here are a few benefits:

  • Long-tail keywords are less competitive because fewer websites are targeting these phrases.
  • They have higher conversion rates because they’re clearer, and that helps people take action.
  • They’re more relevant to search intent, which makes your content more useful.

Build a Blog Strategy the Right Way

Keyword research is just one part of the process. You also have to write the blogs, promote your products, and engage with your readers. When you get leads, you need to nurture them.

The great thing about working with Tower 25 San Diego is that you get a partner for all of this. Marketing is our forte, and we can help you reach the right people with the right message. You focus on your business, we’ll handle the marketing machine.

If that sounds like a plan, get in touch with Tower 25 San Diego today for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are keywords in a blog post?

Keywords are the main words or phrases people type into Google to find your content. They help search engines understand what your post is about.

Why is keyword research important for blogs?

Keyword research helps your blog reach the right readers by matching your content with what people are already searching for.

How do I find the best keywords for my blog?

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest to find phrases with good search volume and low competition.

What are long-tail keywords?

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific search phrases (like “best blog keyword strategy for beginners”) that attract highly interested readers.

How many keywords should I use in a blog post?

Focus on one primary keyword and two to three secondary keywords that naturally fit your topic.

Where should I put keywords in my blog post?

Add them in your title, intro, subheadings, meta description, and a few times naturally throughout your content.

How do I know if my keyword is too competitive?

Check the keyword difficulty (KD) score in tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush; a lower score means it’s easier to rank for.

What’s the difference between search volume and keyword difficulty?

Search volume shows how many people search for a term each month, while difficulty measures how tough it is to rank for it.

Should I update old blog posts with new keywords?

Absolutely! Updating posts with fresh, relevant keywords can help them rank higher and bring in new traffic.

Can Tower 25 help me with keyword research?

Yes, Tower 25’s SEO experts can help you find high-converting keywords and create content strategies that actually get results.

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