Last Updated on January 7, 2020

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Do you need help finding the best keywords for your artist blog and online art gallery? In this post, I will share with you some keyword research strategies I use for my blog posts.

Keyword Research Strategies For Artists Selling Art Online

You might have heard the term “Keyword” or “Keyword Phrase” if you have been selling art online.

If you are new to selling art online or blogging the term “Keyword” is a search term users key into a search engine when they want to find something specific such as painting, watercolor or graphite.

A keyword phrase is a combination of two or more words such as “House Painting” or “Sailboat Watercolor Paintings”.

Having an understanding of what keywords people are searching for will help you to get to the top of Google’s Rankings.

Researching Keywords

Spending time researching keywords is what will separate you from the rest. There are two choices you have. You can spend your time writing content that people will find and read or content that will be floating around in cyberspace never to be seen.

The amount of time you are going to be able to devote to writing will be limited. You are an artist, you need time to craft. If you would like to be noticed online, start focusing on your keyword research strategy. I am going to show you exactly what I do. Take this information and refine it to your unique business and keyword terms.

Keyword Research Tools

Before we get started, you will need to get a Keyword Research Tool.

There are many available. You will find tools for free as well as paid services.

Today I am going to talk about a Keyword Tool that has a free membership as well as a paid membership.

Click on the image above to get started with SEMRush.

If you are just starting, the free version will provide you with more than enough information. As your business grows you might be interested in upgrading.

In the past, I have used dozens of different tools. About a year ago I was searching for something that offers more features and provides more information. I came across SEMRush. I am so happy I found this service. I am now saving a lot of time by not having to jump from one service to another. SEMRush provides all of the information I need in one place.

How To Use Your SEMRush Keyword Research Tool

Before you get started you will want to come up with a list of keywords you would like to rank for.

The keywords you chose should attract your target audience. These are the people who will be purchasing from you. Do not waste your time on people who not interested in what you have to offer.

After you have your list go to Thesaurus.com. Type in your words one at a time and make a list of all the synonyms for your target keywords.

Here is an example of how this might look.

Keywords:

Horse Painting

Oil Painting

Canvas

I typed in the keyword phrase “Oil Painting” into Thesaurus.com and these were the results.

Oil Painting Synonyms:

art
canvas
composition
depiction
landscape
mural
picture
portrait
sketch
cityscape
likeness
portrait
representation
seascape
abstract
design
artwork
watercolor

Now I will take the list and go over to SEMRush.

On the left-hand sidebar click on Keyword Analytics > Overview.

For this example, I used “Horse Art”. These are the results.

Note: I included “Horse” because that will attract my target audience. Use keywords that will attract your target audience.

Horse art – Volume 2,900

Horse clip art – Volume 1,600

Horse shoe art – Volume 1,600

Horse wall art – Volume 1,000

Horse line art – Volume 880

There will be a lot of information that will be displayed but this is what you will want to be focusing on.

Keep in mind the free version will provide you with a limited amount of results you will be able to see but it will still give you an extensive list.

Write down the list of phrases and the volume that compliment your brand and your niche.

Your main goal is to focus on the lowest volume.

The volume tells you how many people are searching for the phrase per month.

Here is where most people go wrong, they think that if they focus on the highest volume phrases they will start to generate all of the traffic that is being shown in the results. That is not how it works.

The higher the volume means there will be more competition for that specific phrase. It will be more difficult for you to rank higher in Google’s rankings. If you do not rank high you will not see the traffic.

Instead, if you focus on the lower volume first, it will be easier for you to rank higher for that phrase. You will be guaranteed to see some traffic from those phrases as long as you write quality content supporting your keyword phrase. It might not be as much as you hope for but after a few target phrases, the numbers will start to add up.

As you continue to write content and you start to work up to the higher volume phrases you will find it easier for you to compete because Google will start to see you as an authority from your previous posts.

To be honest, it is all a number game. As long as you know what phrases people are searching and what phrases you can rank higher the quickest you will start to see real results fast.

Keyword Research Action Steps

Come up with a list of keywords that will attract your target audience.

Find all of the synonyms for those words.

Plug them into your SEMRush Keyword Analyzer.

Make a list of all the phrases and order them by significance.

Start writing content for each of the phrases you have generated.

Conclusion:

Not everyone uses the same words or phrases when they type a query into the search bar.

Do not waste your time by guessing what might work.

SEMRush will tell you exactly what you need to be focusing on.

You might also be interested in:

28 Day Blogging Challenge for Visual Artists

Are you ready to start building an online presence?

Available on Amazon or Download your copy today.

The Productive Artist How to Live Your Dreams

The right mindset and time management skills are essential for any business. These topics are often not talked about but are key elements for your success. You will learn how to have a winning mindset and time management skills necessary for operating a successful art business.

Available at Amazon or Download your copy today.