In this episode, Mark pulls together keyword research concepts he has covered in pieces across previous episodes into a cohesive framework. Recorded from the Intercontinental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this is Part 1 of a two-part series covering keyword research methodology for affiliate marketers.<\/p>\n
Mark opens with a travelogue from Kuala Lumpur and a recommendation for Din Tai Fung dumplings. He thanks listeners for positive feedback on Episode 056 and previews upcoming show music changes from Music Radio Creative.<\/p>\n
Step 1: Determine Your Goal.<\/strong> Before researching keywords, know what you want visitors to do when they arrive at your site. For affiliate marketing, you typically want them to click through and purchase a product. For other models, the conversion might be an email signup or a Facebook follow. Your goal shapes which keywords matter.<\/p>\n Mark uses his CornSheller.net site as an example. For the keyword “buy corn sheller online,” the goal is clear: send traffic to eBay where they can purchase.<\/p>\n Step 2: Brainstorm Keywords.<\/strong> Start by imagining what you would type into Google if you were the searcher. Consider commercial intent: keywords that signal buying intent (“buy,” “review,” “best,” “price”) are more valuable for affiliate marketing than informational queries.<\/p>\n Feed your brainstorm list into the Google Keyword Tool to discover related terms you had not considered. Pay special attention to long-tail keywords. These longer, more specific phrases individually have lower search volume but collectively account for roughly 70% of all searches. They are also typically easier to rank for and convert at higher rates.<\/p>\n Step 3: Check Keyword Popularity.<\/strong> Not all keywords are worth pursuing. Use keyword research tools to verify that people are actually searching for your target terms. Assess keywords based on their potential value, not just their traffic volume. A keyword with 100 monthly searches and high commercial intent can be more profitable than one with 10,000 searches and no buying intent.<\/p>\n Mark mentions several tools available at the time:<\/p>\n Part 2 of this series (LNIM058) covers how to evaluate keyword competition to determine whether you can actually rank for your chosen terms.<\/p>\n Mark recorded this in May 2013 from Kuala Lumpur. The keyword research landscape has changed substantially.<\/p>\n The Google Keyword Tool became Google Keyword Planner<\/strong> and now requires a Google Ads account for full data. Many marketers rely on third-party tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest for keyword data.<\/p>\n Several tools Mark mentioned are no longer available.<\/strong> Market Samurai, Keyword Canine, and Micro Niche Finder have all been discontinued. Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest dominate the keyword research space in 2026.<\/p>\n Search intent has become a primary consideration.<\/strong> Google now categorizes queries by intent (informational, navigational, transactional, commercial investigation) and matches results accordingly. Modern keyword research starts with understanding intent before looking at volume.<\/p>\n AI and voice search have expanded the long tail.<\/strong> Conversational queries from voice assistants and AI chatbots have made long-tail keyword targeting even more important. People search with natural language more often than exact keyword phrases.<\/p>\n Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts<\/a> or subscribe at latenightim.com\/internet-marketing-podcast\/<\/a>. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.<\/p>\nKeyword Research Tools<\/h3>\n
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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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What's Changed Since This Episode<\/h2>\n
Resources Mentioned<\/h2>\n
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Listen and Subscribe<\/h2>\n