Types of Keywords Every Beginner Must Know for SEO

Keywords are the backbone of SEO because they help search engines understand what your content is about. Short-tail keywords are broad terms with high search volume but heavy competition, making them hard for beginners to rank. Long-tail keywords are more specific phrases with lower competition and clearer intent, which makes them ideal for new websites. Informational keywords are used when users want answers or knowledge, while transactional keywords show buying intent and are used on product or service pages. Commercial investigation keywords help users compare options before purchasing, and local keywords target searches with a specific location. For beginners, focusing on long-tail, informational, and non-branded keywords is the best way to grow traffic and rankings quickly.