Proper and extensive keyword research is the first and most crucial step towards building a search engine friendly website. However, a lot of new and tuned webmasters tend to depend on their own assumptions to determine related keywords. Perhaps they forget that they are not the intended buyers.

Where is the loophole?

The problem is there in the core keyword research process. And when you are using a free keyword research tool, it does not allow you enough options to fine tune your search. The results provided by these tools mostly depend on your own assumptions.

An example may demonstrate the process in a better way.

Say, you are searching keywords for a website that sells MP3 music players. Inevitably, your research will start from ‘MP3 music players’ which will provide you some keywords like:

100% free music downloads for mp3 players, concepts music express mp3 players, download music video for mp3 players, free downloadable music for mp3 players, free music download for mp3 players, free music downloads for mp3 players, free music for mp3 players, free music uploads to mp3 players, how to put music on mp3 players, mp3 music players, music downloads for mp3 players, music for mp3 players, music mp3 players, music sources for mp3 players, nextar mp3 players downloads music etc.

In the next step, you will exclude some keywords from this list and continue the same process.

If you take a closer look, you will see that the result (related keywords) they are providing you depended on three words (MP3, music and players) that you entered together in the query box.

But are people really using ‘MP3 music players’ to buy what you are offering?

Practically you can never be so sure about it.

Why?

If you take a look at Vertical Leap’s SEO Keyword game (http://www.vertical-leap.co.uk/seo-tools/seo-keyword-survey.asp ) your idea will definitely change. They have developed this to research and understand the complex part that individual intent plays while searching for something.

Here, they show a picture and ask the visitor to enter the terms they would use to find it on the web. The result is simply mind-blowing and shows that there are at least 21 different permutations that could be used to identify that image.

For example for a ‘MP3 Player’ people used the following terms - mp3 player, usb, mp3, flash drive, usb key, usb mp3, usb mp3 player, flash memory, generic mp3 player, budget mp3 player, movil, memory stick, memorypen, USB memory mp3, pixel, mp3 plater, mp3 playetr, pen drive, usb memory stick, usb memory stick mp3 player, usb stick.

Do you have these terms in your keyword list?

What is the solution?

If you need to work on these free tools, start with more generic keywords like ‘mp3’ or ‘player’ or ‘music player’ and than move forward while excluding irrelevant or less popular keywords. Perhaps this process will take you closer to the best set of keywords.