How to Create a Preliminary Blog Plan: Keyword Research, Search Intent, and SEO Strategies for High-Performing Content

Introduction: What Is a Preliminary Plan and Why Does It Matter?

A preliminary plan is a strategic outline created before you start writing your blog post. It guides the direction of your content, ensuring every section is targeted to the right audience and optimized for search engines.
This plan sets out the main focus (primary keyword), supporting keywords, and the intended user journey through the post.

Why is this important?

• Helps you target keywords naturally aligned with what your audience is actually searching for (search intent)
• Structures your post for maximum discoverability and high user engagement
• Ensures your blog supports long-term SEO success and brand growth

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• How to do keyword research
• How to understand and match search intent
• How to build a detailed blog plan that integrates both for SEO-driven content

What Are Keywords and Why Are They Crucial?

Defining Keywords

Keywords are the specific words or phrases users type into search engines when looking for information or solutions. They are fundamental to blog and website discovery, connecting what people are searching for with the content you create.

• Example: Someone searching “Amazon prep center tips” is likely seeking guidance or best practices on the subject. For more on choosing the right Amazon FBA prep services to support your workflow, check out the linked resource.
• Keywords are the language of your audience and the bridge to their needs.

Types of Keywords

To build a resilient keyword strategy, you need to be familiar with different keyword types:

• Short-tail Keywords: Broad, general phrases with high search volume and high competition.
  Examples: “prep center”, “blog plan”
• Long-tail Keywords: Longer, more specific phrases. Lower volume, but highly targeted and easier to rank.
  Examples: “how to create a preliminary blog plan”, “best Amazon FBA prep center workflow” (related service overview)
• LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) Keywords: Related terms or concepts that help search engines understand the topic’s context.
  Examples: “content structure”, “post outline”, “blog SEO basics”

Why the Right Mix Matters

A blend of all three types increases your content’s reach and relevance:

• Short-tail attracts volume, but is hard to rank.
• Long-tail targets specific readers, boosting conversion.
• LSI keywords provide context, improving search engine comprehension and ranking.

Understanding Search Intent and Its Role in Content Planning

What Is Search Intent?

Search intent (also called user intent) refers to the purpose behind a user’s search query. It is the “why” behind every keyword, dictating what the searcher is really looking for.

Four Main Types of Search Intent

• Informational: User wants to learn (e.g. “what is an FBA prep center?”) — learn more about FBA prep centers and their importance here: Prep Services FBA blog
• Navigational: User wants to go to a particular site (e.g. “Prep Services FBA login”)
• Transactional: User wants to buy or take action (e.g. “prep center sign-up”)
• Commercial Investigation: User is comparing options, reviews, or researching before making a buying decision (e.g. “best prep centers for small sellers”) — compare 3PL prep providers in detail at Prep Services FBA 3PL Benefits

Why Matching Content to Intent Matters

• Content not aligned to search intent is unlikely to rank high or engage effectively.
• If someone searches for a “how to” guide but finds a product sales page, they’ll leave.
• For each keyword, always ask: What is the user expecting to find?
• Integrating search intent increases content relevance and satisfaction, improving both SEO and user engagement.

Step-by-Step Keyword Research Process for Your Blog Post

Effective keyword research is the backbone of a successful blog plan. Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Brainstorm Core Topics for Your Niche

• Identify 3–5 broad categories relevant to your audience and brand.
  Examples: “SEO for FBA blogs”, “content marketing strategies”, Amazon seller tips
• Clarify what makes your content unique. Why should readers choose you?

Step 2: Compile Seed Keywords

• List out basic, fundamental keywords related to your core topics.
  Example: For “blog planning,” start with “blog plan”, “keyword research”, “SEO blog strategy”
• Involve your team or stakeholders for ideas.
• Use descriptions of your business to feed AI tools for keyword suggestions.

Step 3: Expand Keywords Using Tools and Associations

Using keyword research tools is the fastest way to discover opportunities:

• Google Keyword Planner: Generates keyword ideas (including long-tail), shows search volumes.
• Google Trends: Reveals seasonal interest or trending keywords.
• Ahrefs, SEMrush, Mangools: Offer in-depth data such as keyword difficulty, volume, competitor analysis, and intent matching.
• Look at suggested and related searches in Google to spot LSI keyword ideas.

Tech tip: Always export lists for sorting and comparison.

Step 4: Analyze Existing Content Landscape

• Check which keywords your current posts already rank for using Google Search Console (see how we use this tool in Amazon Search Analytics here)
• Identify keywords with strong traffic potential that haven’t been well covered on your site yet.
• Find content gaps—areas where your audience has questions no one (or few) have answered.

Step 5: Prioritize Best-Fit Keywords

For each keyword, examine:

• Search volume: More searches mean more potential, but also more competition.
• Keyword difficulty: Choose lower difficulty for quicker wins, especially for newer blogs.
• Relevance: Ensure the keyword fits your audience’s needs and your content goals.

Focus on keywords that balance all three.
Create a keyword list and align each with content ideas.

Crafting a Preliminary Blog Post Plan Using Keywords and Search Intent

Now bring together your research into a practical, actionable plan.

1. Select the Primary Keyword

• Pick one main phrase that the blog post should focus on.
  Example: “preliminary blog plan” for this post
• Make sure it aligns with your audience’s search intent.

2. Identify Supporting Keywords

• Choose 3–5 secondary keywords (including LSI and related phrases).
• Use these to add depth and context throughout the content.
  Examples: “keyword research”, “search intent”, “content structure”, “blog outline”

3. Define Search Intent and Format

• Is the post a:
  • How-to guide?
  • Step-by-step process?
  • Product/resource review?
  • Listicle?
• Tailor your format to user expectations.

4. Build Your Blog Outline

Create a logical structure using headings and subheadings mapped to your chosen keywords.
Each major section should answer a key question or cover a common subtopic from your keyword research.

Example Blog Outline Structure:

• Introduction: Define the main problem or opportunity.
• Section 1: Key concept or definition (“What is a preliminary plan?”)
• Section 2: The steps of the process (“How to do keyword research”)
• Section 3: Tools and examples
• Section 4: Common mistakes and FAQs
• Conclusion: Recap and next steps

5. Include FAQs and Additional Subtopics

• Use data from Google’s “People Also Ask” to inform extra questions to answer.
• This broadens your post’s relevance and chance of ranking for more terms.

Tip: Always draft your outline first—don’t start writing the body until the structure is finalized.

Recommended Tools and Best Practices for Keyword Research and Planning

Top Free and Paid Keyword Research Tools

• Google Keyword Planner: Free, good starting point for keyword ideas and volumes.
• Google Trends: Analyze rise or fall of topics over time.
• Google Search Console: Understand which queries drive traffic to your current blog posts.
• Ahrefs/SEMrush/Mangools: Paid tools for advanced data—search volumes, difficulty, historical trends, and keyword gap analysis.

Social Media and Forums

Use Twitter/X trending topics, Reddit threads, and Facebook groups to spot emerging topics and phrases your audience uses.

Ongoing Best Practices

• Regularly update keyword research: SEO trends and search algorithms change constantly.
• If you spot new search intent trends or relevant subtopics, update your blog plan and content regularly.
• Keep content fresh: Revisit old posts to add updated insights, keywords, or answers to new questions (for example, improving your eCommerce returns management: read more).

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Blog Post Based on Keywords and Intent

Even experienced bloggers can fall into these traps:

1. Ignoring Search Intent

Focusing only on keyword volume means you might create posts that won’t actually meet user needs—damaging both ranking and engagement.

2. Overusing Short-Tail Keywords

Competing for broad, highly competitive keywords without also targeting specific long-tail phrases leads to frustration and low visibility.

3. Failing to Analyze the Existing Content Landscape

Writing about topics already well covered by others can create duplicate content—offer something new by filling knowledge or content gaps (like differentiating 3PL fulfillment solutions here).

4. Neglecting to Refresh Keyword Research and Plans

Topics and trends evolve. Failing to keep your planning up-to-date makes it hard for your blog to stay competitive long term.

Pro tip: Make keyword and topic reviews a quarterly (at least) habit.

Finalizing Your Preliminary Blog Post Plan and Preparing for Writing

With your keywords and content structure clear, you can confidently begin drafting your post.

Checklist Before Writing:

• Primary keyword is clearly defined and aligns with audience search intent.
• Secondary/LSI keywords are highlighted for natural inclusion.
• User intent is identified—know exactly what your reader is trying to achieve.
• Structured outline with headings, subheadings, and logical flow.
• Planned sections for addressing frequently asked questions or hot subtopics.

Writing and SEO Integration

• Place your primary keyword in the title, first paragraph, at least one subheading, and naturally in the body.
• Integrate secondary/LSI keywords without forced repetition—keep the language smooth and reader-friendly.
• Avoid keyword stuffing; it hurts readability and rankings.

User Experience and Internal Linking

• Keep paragraphs short for easy scanning.
• Break up text with bullet points where helpful.
• Link internally to relevant related blog posts and cornerstone content, such as:
  • How to Find a Good Supplier on Alibaba
  • How to Conduct an Effective Amazon FBA Audit
  • Main Components of Amazon FBA
  • FBA vs FBM: Which fulfillment method is best?
• Ensure navigation is clear and the reading path intuitive for every visitor.

Conclusion: The Strategic Value of a Preliminary Blog Plan

A strong preliminary blog plan transforms your ideas and research into SEO-driven content that ranks and engages. At Prep Services FBA, our approach always begins with:

• Keyword research tailored to true audience search intent,
• A structure that covers the main topic and related questions,
• A natural flow that satisfies both readers and search engines.

Remember:

Plan each post as if it’s the backbone of your entire content strategy.

Keep updating your methods to reflect new trends and analytics insights.

With every blog you publish, follow a disciplined approach to keyword research, search intent analysis, and thoughtful content planning.

Smart planning today leads to SEO success and loyal readers tomorrow—every post, every time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Preliminary Blog Planning

Q: What should I do if I can’t find high-volume, low-competition keywords?

Focus on specific, long-tail keywords and look for topic clusters where you can build authority over time.

Q: How many keywords should a single post target?

Use one primary keyword and 3–5 secondary/LSI keywords, included naturally throughout your post.

Q: How frequently should keyword research be updated?

Review and refresh every three to six months—or before starting major new content projects.

Q: Are free tools enough for effective keyword research?

Absolutely. Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and Google Search Console provide valuable insights for most beginners. As your blog grows, exploring paid tools can deepen your analysis.