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.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• A three-step framework for niche keyword research
• How to determine your goal before choosing keywords
• Brainstorming techniques for generating keyword lists
• Why long-tail keywords deserve more attention than high-volume terms
• How to assess keyword popularity using free and paid tools

Episode Summary

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.

The Three-Step Keyword Research Framework

Step 1: Determine Your Goal. 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.

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.

Step 2: Brainstorm Keywords. 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.

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.

Step 3: Check Keyword Popularity. 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.

Keyword Research Tools

Mark mentions several tools available at the time:

• Google Adwords Keyword Tool (free)
• Google Insights for Search (free)
• Google Trends (free)
• Market Samurai (paid)
• Long Tail Pro (paid)
• Keyword Canine (paid)

Part 2 of this series (LNIM058) covers how to evaluate keyword competition to determine whether you can actually rank for your chosen terms.

Key Takeaways

• Always start keyword research with a clear conversion goal
• Put yourself in the searcher's shoes when brainstorming keyword ideas
• Long-tail keywords are where 70% of search traffic lives
• Evaluate keywords by potential value, not just raw search volume
• Commercial intent keywords are more valuable for affiliate marketing

What's Changed Since This Episode

Mark recorded this in May 2013 from Kuala Lumpur. The keyword research landscape has changed substantially.

The Google Keyword Tool became Google Keyword Planner 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.

Several tools Mark mentioned are no longer available. Market Samurai, Keyword Canine, and Micro Niche Finder have all been discontinued. Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest dominate the keyword research space in 2026.

Search intent has become a primary consideration. 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.

AI and voice search have expanded the long tail. 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.

Resources Mentioned

• LNIM058 — Keyword Research Part 2 (Competition)
• Din Tai Fung — Mark's favorite dumpling restaurant
• LNIM Podcast

Listen and Subscribe

Listen to Late Night Internet Marketing on Apple Podcasts or subscribe at latenightim.com/internet-marketing-podcast/. Have a question for Mark? Call the digital recorder at 214-444-8655 or drop a comment below.