You know that little spark of excitement when you find a topic you can’t wait to write about? When you just know that if you build it, your perfect readers will come? I live for that feeling. For a long time, though, I was letting a single, shiny number in my keyword tool snuff out that spark. I’d get so focused on finding a keyword with “big volume” that I’d forget who I was actually writing for.
Then I changed my focus. I stopped asking, “What gets a lot of searches?” and started asking two much better questions: “Can I actually reach the people searching this?” and “What are they really hoping to find?”
That shift changed everything. It turned keyword research from a stressful numbers game into a delightful process of connection. It helped me find my audience and, more importantly, help them find me. I want to share that joyful, practical process with you.
Ditch the “Traffic Jam” Keywords & Find Your Open Road
Picture this: You’re trying to get across town. You could join the gridlock on the eight-lane mega-highway where everyone else is crawling along. Or, you could take the scenic backroads. You’ll still get there—you might even get there faster, and you’ll certainly enjoy the drive more.
Chasing only the biggest, broadest keywords is like choosing that traffic jam every single time. It’s frustrating and it drains your creative energy. The websites ranking for those terms have been building their authority for a decade. Trying to out-muscle them with a new blog post is a disheartening strategy.
The wonderful secret is this: You don’t have to play that game. The internet is vast and full of little side streets and beautiful courtyards where people are searching for exactly what you offer. Your goal isn’t to win a shouting match in a stadium; it’s to have a warm, helpful conversation in a cozy corner that’s just right for you and your readers. Finding those corners is where the real fun begins.
Your New Best Friend: The Keyword Difficulty Score
This is the tool that will save you from all that highway traffic. In your keyword research tool, you’ll see a metric called Keyword Difficulty (KD) or sometimes Competition. It’s usually a score out of 100. For years, I barely glanced at it. Big mistake.
Now, I see it as my most helpful guide. It doesn’t tell me what I can’t do; it cheerfully points me toward what I can do successfully, right now.
Let me break down how I read these scores with a smile:
KD of 0-29: “Hello, wonderful opportunity!” This is the green light. These are specific, often question-based queries where the existing results might be a little thin or outdated. When I write a genuinely helpful piece for a keyword here, I can practically feel the positive momentum. It’s where I find my quick wins and build my confidence. This zone is an absolute joy.
KD of 30-49: “A perfect project for growing strength.” This is where I flex my creative muscles a bit more. Ranking here means my website is gaining trust. It often means creating a truly standout, comprehensive resource or connecting with others in my community. Winning here feels incredibly rewarding.
KD of 50+: “A lovely star to steer by for the future.” I don’t see these as “hard” anymore; I see them as inspiring future goals. I note them down on a separate “Dream Board.” For now, I focus on winning in the lower zones, knowing that each success makes that future star feel a little closer.
My joyful first step: The very first thing I do with any new keyword list is filter it. I set the filter to “Keyword Difficulty: Low” or “KD less than 35.” Like magic, the overwhelming, anxiety-inducing list transforms into a manageable, exciting to-do list full of genuine possibilities. Try it—it feels fantastic.
The Heart of It All: Understanding What Your Reader Wants (User Intent)
This is where keyword research stops feeling like data analysis and starts feeling like making a new friend. User Intent is simply the “why” behind the search. What is that person hoping to accomplish?
Getting this right is the difference between a reader who bounces away confused and one who stays, reads, and thinks, “Wow, this is exactly what I needed.”
I learned this by making a happy little mistake. I found a low-competition keyword and wrote what I thought was a brilliant, in-depth guide. It got almost no traffic. Puzzled, I finally did what I now do first: I looked at the Google results page.
Every single result on the first page was a simple, straightforward definition—a short answer to a simple question. I had written a novel when all anyone wanted was a friendly hello. Google knew that, so it kept my novel in the library stacks.
Now, my “Intent Check” is my favorite part of the process. It takes 60 seconds and it’s like reading the room before you start speaking.
I type my target keyword into Google (in an Incognito window to keep it neutral).
I look at the top 4 or 5 results and ask: “What kind of party is this?”
Are they all “How-to” tutorials? → It’s a learning party! Bring your best instructions and clear photos.
Are they all “Best of” lists or comparison tables? → It’s a shopping research party! Bring your helpful comparisons and honest pros/cons.
Are they all product pages or “Buy now” buttons? → It’s a transaction party! A blog post might not be the right fit here.
Are there several videos? → It’s a watch-and-learn party! Consider if a video would be a wonderful way to connect.
Your mission is joyfully simple: Create the best possible version of what’s already working. See a page of basic definition posts? Write the clearest, most welcoming, most visually appealing definition out there. See a list of product comparisons? Create the most helpful, beautifully organized comparison guide you can. You’re not copying; you’re improving with your own unique voice and care.
Your Happy, Simple Action Plan
Let’s bring this all together into a stress-free routine you’ll look forward to.
The Joyful Brain Dump: Grab a notepad or a fresh digital doc. Write down every single topic related to your passion or business. “Gardening,” “container gardening,” “growing tomatoes in pots,” “why are my tomato leaves yellow?” No judging, just ideas.
The Discovery Phase: Feed those seed topics into your keyword tool. Then, with a smile, apply that wonderful “Low Difficulty” filter. Watch as your genuine opportunities appear.
The Friendly Reality Check: Take the top 10 keywords from your new, hopeful list. For each one, do your 60-second Google Intent Check. Does the type of content ranking match what you’d love to create? If yes, great! If not (e.g., it’s all videos and you write blogs), set it aside with no guilt. You’re just finding your best matches.
The Celebration List: You now have a short, powerful list of keywords you can rank for and are excited to write about. This is your map to meaningful growth. Pick one and start creating!
Answers to Your Happy Questions
Q: My whole field seems like a “high difficulty” zone. Where’s my open road?
A: Get wonderfully, beautifully specific. Drill down. The magic is in the details. “Sustainable fashion” might be tough, but “where to find secondhand linen dresses online” or “how to mend a sweater elbow” is a wide-open, welcoming path. Your perfect audience is searching for these specific, caring solutions.
Q: What if the search results are a mix of blogs, videos, and lists? How do I choose?
A: Look for the dominant pattern. What do most of the top results have in common? If 7 out of 10 are listicles, the searcher’s intent is clearly leaning toward comparison. Go with the majority—it’s the safest way to make them happy.
Q: Is it okay to still think about those big, competitive keywords?
A: Of course! Think of them as distant mountains you can see from your lovely, growing garden. You’re not starting your hike at the treacherous peak; you’re preparing in the fertile valley. Every piece of content you create for a lower-difficulty keyword is like planting a tree, building the strength and ecosystem that will one day support that bigger climb.
Q: This feels slower. Is it worth it?
A: This is the most important shift: It’s not slower to success; it’s a surer path to a success that lasts. Writing ten pieces that never get seen is the true waste of time. Writing one piece that finds its audience, brings you readers, and builds your confidence? That’s the foundation of everything good that follows.
Go Forth and Connect!
The most beautiful part of this approach is that it aligns perfectly with why most of us start creating in the first place: to share what we know, to help, and to connect with people who care about the same things we do.
By focusing on Keyword Difficulty, you give yourself the gift of achievable goals. By focusing on User Intent, you give your audience the gift of exactly what they need.
So open up your keyword tool, click that “Low Difficulty” filter, and take a look. See those keywords waiting for you? Those are little doors, and behind each one is a group of people hoping to find what you have to offer. Your job is simply to open the door, turn on the light, and give them a warm, happy welcome.
You have everything you need to start. Now, go have fun finding your people.