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How To Choose Your Target SEO Keyphrase

How To Choose Your Target SEO Keyphrase

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Research and Select an SEO Key Phrase

Thanks so much for your interest in writing for Conscious Connection Magazine—we’re thrilled to have your voice contributing to our mission of inspiring purpose-driven living.

One of the most important steps in writing a great article for our audience is the research phase, particularly when it comes to choosing the right SEO key phrase. This isn’t about gaming Google—it’s about helping the right readers discover your message at the exact moment they’re searching for it.

This short, beginner-friendly guide will walk you through the exact steps to research and select a key phrase that’s:

  • Aligned with your topic
  • Has a real chance of ranking
  • And opens the door to writing a piece of content that’s better than anything else currently out there

Our goal is to find a key phrase that’s obtainable, has decent search volume, and gives you the opportunity to write the best content on the internet for that topic.

Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Start with Your Topic Idea

Think about what your article is truly about. Write down a simple sentence that describes it in plain terms.

Example: “I want to write about how to create a meaningful morning routine that helps people feel more focused and present.”

Step 2: Brainstorm Seed Keywords

Pull out key terms from your topic that people might type into Google.

Example seed keywords:

  • morning routine
  • daily habits
  • intentional mornings
  • mindfulness routine
  • personal growth rituals

Step 3: Use a Free Keyword Tool to Find Phrase Ideas

Go to one of these free SEO tools to find keyword ideas and data like search volume and competition:

In Ubersuggest, search for “morning routine” and scan the suggestions.

Look for phrases that:

  • Have 100–1,000 monthly searches
  • Show Low or Medium SEO difficulty

Make a list of 5–10 possible key phrases that fit the theme of your article. You might discover a key phrase like: “mindful morning routine” (320 searches/month, low difficulty)

Step 4: Check the Top 5 Articles on Google

Now, open Google and search for your top key phrase ideas. Look closely at the top 5 organic results for each.

Ask yourself:

  • What are these articles missing?
  • Are they short or surface-level?
  • Are they written with intention and depth?
  • Do they include original insights, expert quotes, or actionable advice?

Your job is to write a better article—richer, more thoughtful, and aligned with Conscious Connection’s voice.

Step 5: Choose Your Winning Phrase

Pick the phrase that meets these 3 criteria:

✅ Has some search volume (100–1,000/month)
✅ Isn’t too competitive
✅ You can create a better article than what’s already ranking

This phrase will be your primary SEO key phrase. You’ll use it in:

  • The headline
  • The first paragraph
  • A subheading or two
  • The URL (if applicable)
  • The meta description (you can ask your editor for help here)

Example in Action

Let’s say you brainstorm “eco travel tips.”

Ubersuggest shows “eco travel tips for beginners” has 260 searches/month and low competition.
You search it on Google—top 5 results are pretty basic listicles.
You know you can write a deeper guide, including expert interviews and product tips.

✅ Boom—you’ve found your SEO key phrase: “eco travel tips for beginners”

Final Tips:

  • Think niche but not obscure—specific enough to target, broad enough to attract searchers.
  • Always ask: Would I click this if I saw it in Google?
  • Write for humans, not robots—SEO just helps people find the great content you create.