Keywords

What Are the 4 Types of Keywords for SEO? (And How to Actually Use Them Without Going Crazy)

Alright, let’s cut through the crap. You probably have heard people shouting “keywords! keywords!” like it’s some magic chant to get you to rank #1 on Google. And sure, keywords are still important — but the way we use them has evolved (thankfully). So today, we’re going to talk about the four types of SEO keywords that actually matter and how to use them in 2025 without getting stuck in keyword chaos.

We’ll also answer all those little side questions that pop up when you’re researching this stuff — like “how many keywords should I use?” and “what even is a good SEO keyword these days?”

Grab a coffee. Or don’t. Just scroll. Let’s go. 🚀

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The 4 Types of SEO Keywords (Yes, They’re Real. And Useful.)

Let’s start with the basics — what are the actual four types of SEO keywords? Most SEO guides will agree on some variation of these:

1. Informational Keywords

2. Navigational Keywords

3. Transactional Keywords

4. Commercial Keywords

Let’s break each one down like we’re explaining it to a sleepy intern.

Informational Keywords 🧠

These are the “what,” “how,” and “why” queries.

Think stuff like:

• What is SEO?

• How to bake sourdough bread

• Why does my website load like it’s from 1998?

These users aren’t looking to buy anything yet. They just want answers. Your job? Be the helpful expert. Write blog posts, guides, or tutorials that genuinely solve their problem.

Use them in:

• Educational blog posts

• YouTube descriptions

• How-to content

• Top-of-the-funnel stuff

Navigational Keywords 🧭

This is when someone already knows where they want to go. They’re Googling:

• Facebook login

• Neil Patel SEO

• Ahrefs free tools

They’re not looking for new info — they’re looking for a shortcut. If you’re optimizing for navigational keywords, it usually means you are the brand, or you’re trying to piggyback off someone else’s buzz (sneaky, but valid).

Use these in:

• Review posts

• Comparisons

• Brand vs brand content

Transactional Keywords 💳

Now we’re talking money. These are the people ready to spend, sign up, or click “buy.”

Examples:

• Buy blue light glasses online

• Get cheap hosting

• Download SEO eBook

These are bottom-of-the-funnel keywords. If you mess these up, you’re leaving actual cash on the table.

Use them in:

• Product pages

• Landing pages

• Signup forms

• Affiliate content

Commercial Keywords 🛍️

This is the middle-ground — people aren’t buying yet, but they’re heavily researching. They’re hunting, comparing, and almost ready to commit.

Think:

• Best keyword research tools 2025

• ConvertKit vs Mailchimp

• Top electric cars under $40K

These people are one blog post away from a decision. Write a good one, and boom — you win the sale, the click, the lead.

Use them in:

• Listicles

• Comparisons

• Roundups

• Product demos

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How Do I Choose SEO Keywords?

Great question. Here’s the raw version: don’t just chase what has high volume.

You want:

• Keywords that match your audience’s intent

• Keywords that your site can realistically rank for

• Keywords that have low competition (unless you like pain)

Here’s a scrappy way to do it:

1. Go to Google.

2. Type your topic.

3. Look at what’s ranking.

4. Check if those sites are huge authority beasts or small blogs like yours.

5. If small blogs rank — go for it.

6. If it’s all Forbes, HubSpot, and Wikipedia — pivot or niche down.

No tools needed. Just use your eyes. 👀

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How Many Keywords Should I Add for SEO?

Look. There’s no magic number. But if you’re looking for one: focus on one primary keyword per page, and maybe 2–4 related ones sprinkled throughout.

Don’t keyword stuff like it’s 2012. Google is smarter now — smarter than all of us, honestly.

Instead:

• Use your main keyword in the title, intro, and one header

• Use variations naturally throughout

• Answer the intent behind the keyword

That’s it. You’re not trying to impress Google with how many times you can say “best dog food.” That’s just weird.

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What Is the Difference Between SEO and Keywords?

Let’s clear this up. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the entire strategy. Keywords are just one piece.

Think of SEO as a pizza 🍕:

• The crust = Technical SEO (site speed, mobile, crawlability)

• The sauce = On-page SEO (keywords, content structure)

• The cheese = Backlinks

• The toppings = Content itself

Keywords? They’re just one topping. If your pizza sucks, better toppings won’t save it.

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How Do I List Keywords for SEO?

Old-school marketers used to just dump keywords into a spreadsheet. That still works — but only if you group them by:

• Intent

• Topic

• Funnel stage (TOFU, MOFU, BOFU)

Keep it simple. Like this:

You don’t need a $97/month tool. Just organize what your readers need and create content around that.

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What Is a Good SEO Keyword?

A good SEO keyword:

• Matches your audience’s intent

• Isn’t too competitive for your site

• Has at least some monthly search volume

• Can be turned into useful, honest content

Avoid:

• One-word monsters like “fitness”

• Super-niche terms no one searches

• Over-optimized buzzwords that sound robotic

Go for conversational phrases like:

• How to fix slow website load times

• Best free alternatives to Canva

That’s what people are actually typing into search.

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What Are My SEO Keywords?

If you’re wondering this, good. That means you’re starting to think strategically.

Your SEO keywords are:

• The terms your audience is already using

• What people are typing in when they find you

• The gaps between what you offer and what you rank for

To find them (without paid tools), try this:

• Google Search Console → Performance → Queries

• See what keywords bring traffic

• Note the ones where you’re getting impressions but no clicks

• Fix your title or write better content for those terms

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What Is SEO Keywords Example?

Let’s do a mini demo. Say you run a travel blog.

Here’s how you’d break it down:

Boom. Each keyword fits a different purpose — and you need content for all of them if you want to rank across the funnel.

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What Is the Best Keyword Research Technique in SEO?

Honestly? Understanding search intent is 80% of the game. Tools are optional.

Best free technique:

• Google the keyword

• Look at the top results

• Ask: “What are these people trying to DO?”

• Then ask: “Can I do it better?”

Do this for 10 keywords, and you’ll be way ahead of 90% of bloggers.

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What Are Some Examples of Keyword Searches?

Let’s rapid-fire a few. Here’s how keyword searches actually look:

• how to start a blog in 2025 → Informational

• convertkit pricing → Navigational

• buy cheap domain with email → Transactional

• best AI content writers → Commercial

Notice the language? These are full sentences. Natural. Conversational. That’s what ranks.

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What Is the Best Free Keyword Research Tool for SEO?

Forget paying for tools if you’re just getting started.

Here are free methods:

• Google Autocomplete (start typing, see suggestions)

• People Also Ask (shows up in SERPs)

• Related Searches (bottom of Google page)

• Search Console (for your own site data)

• Reddit, Quora, YouTube comments (where real people ask real stuff)

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