Creating a beautiful, functional website is only part of the equation. To attract the right audience, your site needs to appear in front of people actively searching for your services. That’s where a web design keyword research plan comes in. With a solid strategy, you can identify the words and phrases your potential clients use, and design your website content around them for better visibility and engagement.

Why building a web design keyword research plan matters

Keyword research is more than just finding popular search terms. It’s about understanding your target audience’s needs, intent, and language. A strong keyword strategy helps:

• Improve SEO rankings by aligning content with real search queries.
• Guide website structure and navigation for user-friendly experiences.
• Inform content creation, ensuring every page serves a clear search purpose.
• Increase conversions, since you’ll attract visitors actively seeking your services.

When done right, keyword research shapes not only your SEO strategy but also how your website is designed, written, and structured.

1. Define your goals and audience

Start by asking:

• What services do you offer (e.g., web design, UI/UX, branding)?
• Who is your ideal client — small businesses, startups, or large enterprises?
• What problems are they trying to solve?

Your answers will determine which keywords are most relevant. For example, “affordable web design for small business” might appeal to startups, while “custom WordPress design agency” targets companies seeking premium design solutions.

2. Brainstorm core topics

List the main topics related to your business because these become the foundation of your web design keyword research plan. Common examples include:

• Website design services
• UX/UI design
• WordPress or Shopify design
• Website redesign
• Web development

Each topic can branch into specific keywords that target different user intents (informational, navigational, and transactional).

3. Use keyword research tools

Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush help you find keywords that match your goals. Look for:

• Search volume: How many people search the term each month.
• Competition level: How hard it is to rank for that keyword.
• Intent: Whether users want to learn, compare, or buy.

For example:

• “What makes a good web design?” (informational)
• “Web design agency near me” (navigational)
• “Hire website designer” (transactional)

4. Analyze competitor keywords

Study top-ranking web design agencies to see what keywords they’re targeting. This can reveal opportunities for your own strategy. For instance, perhaps they rank for “ecommerce web design,” but not for “responsive website design for small businesses.” Fill those gaps in your content plan.

5. Create keyword clusters

Group similar keywords under broader topics. This helps organize your site architecture and ensures each page focuses on a clear keyword theme. Example clusters:

• Homepage: Web design agency, professional web design services
• Blog: Website design tips, web design trends, user experience best practices
• Services pages: Ecommerce website design, custom WordPress development

6. Align keywords with design and content

Once you’ve chosen your keywords, integrate them into:

• Page titles and meta descriptions
• Headings (H1, H2, H3)
• Image alt text
• URLs
• On-page copy

But don’t force them in, instead, prioritize natural, reader-friendly language. Remember, keyword optimization should enhance usability and design flow, not disrupt it.

7. Monitor and refine your keyword strategy

A successful web design keyword research plan is not static. Use analytics tools to track performance, traffic, and ranking changes. Adjust your strategy based on what’s working and what’s not.

Final thoughts

Keyword research is the foundation of a successful web design and content strategy. By creating a detailed web design keyword research plan, you ensure that your website isn’t just visually appealing but also discoverable, relevant, and strategically optimized to reach your ideal clients.

You may also enjoy reading: How Envisager Studio Creates a Website Content Strategy

Gregory Meyer

Gregory Meyer
DIGITAL MARKETING DIRECTOR

Gregory is the Analyst & Digital Marketing Director at Envisager Studio. His data collection is an important part of each client’s unique website design and social media strategy. In his spare time, he writes about web design analytics, social media, visual marketing, and social influence.