A brand-new website has no traffic, no rankings, and no data — which is exactly why keyword research matters more here than anywhere else. Get it right at this stage and every page you publish afterward has a real shot at being found. Here is a step-by-step process built specifically for starting from zero.
Step 1: List Your Core Topics
Before touching any tool, write down 5–10 broad topics your business genuinely serves — not what sounds impressive, but what a real customer would actually need help with. For a web developer in Abuja, that might be “website design,” “SEO services,” and “WordPress maintenance.”
Step 2: Expand Each Topic Into Real Search Phrases
For each core topic, use free sources to see how people actually phrase their searches:
- Google Autocomplete — type the topic and note every suggestion.
- “People also ask” boxes — real, ranked questions on the same topic.
- “Related searches” at the bottom of the results page.
A brand-new site should chase clarity, not volume. Ten realistic long-tail keywords will do more for a new domain than one impossible head term.
Step 3: Check Search Intent for Each Keyword
Search each keyword yourself and look at what is already ranking. If the top results are all blog posts, the intent is informational — don’t build a sales page for it. If the top results are service or product pages, the intent is commercial, and that’s where your money pages belong.
Step 4: Prioritize Realistically for a New Site
With zero authority yet, target long-tail, lower-competition keywords first — phrases with 3–6 words that include specific, local, or niche modifiers. “SEO services” is out of reach initially; “affordable SEO services for small business Abuja” is winnable within months.
Step 5: Map Keywords to Pages
Assign each keyword cluster to one clear page — never spread the same keyword across multiple pages competing with each other. Group closely related long-tail terms under a single well-developed page rather than creating a thin page for every minor variation.
A Simple Starter Template
For a new site, aim for: one strong “money page” per core service, targeting a realistic commercial long-tail keyword, supported by 2–3 informational blog posts targeting related questions — all internally linked together into a small topic cluster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a paid tool to start keyword research?
No — Google Autocomplete, “People also ask,” and Google Search Console (once you have some data) are enough to start seriously.
How many keywords should a new website target first?
Start focused — 5–10 realistic long-tail keywords mapped to a handful of strong pages beats scattering effort across fifty.
When should I revisit my keyword research?
Every 3–6 months, once real Search Console data starts showing which keywords are already bringing impressions.
Want a custom keyword map built for your new website? Get in touch.