Introduction
Improving your SEO doesn’t always require a big budget. By leveraging competitors’ proven keywords, you can enhance your website’s performance without spending a penny. This guide walks you through using Google Keyword Planner to identify high-performing keywords your competitors are ranking for and incorporating them into your own campaigns.
Why Analysing Competitor Keywords Works
Understanding what drives traffic to your competitors’ sites provides a head start in refining your own strategy. These keywords are already proven to attract audiences, meaning you can build on their success instead of starting from scratch. Here’s why this approach is so effective:
- Saves Time: Avoid brainstorming from square one.
- Proven Results: Competitor keywords are already generating traffic.
- Better Insights: Understand your competitors’ audience and intent.
- Improved ROI: Targeting high-performing keywords yields better results.
By using free tools like Google Keyword Planner, you can identify these valuable keywords and integrate them into your campaigns.
Free Step-by-Step Guide to Analysing Competitor Keywords
Follow these steps to uncover and utilise your competitors’ keywords effectively:
1. Open the Keyword Planner
Navigate to the Google Keyword Planner, a free tool from Google Ads.
2. Visit Keyword Planner
Click on “Visit Keyword Planner” to access the tool. If you’re not already logged in, you’ll need to sign in with your Google account.
3. Select Your Ad Account
Log in with your Google account. Choose the appropriate ad account to proceed. If you don’t have an ad account, set one up— it’s free and quick.
4. Discover New Keywords
Inside the tool, choose the “Discover new keywords” option to explore ideas based on specific topics or websites. This feature allows you to search for keyword ideas based on a website or specific topics.
5. Start with a Website
Instead of entering a topic or phrase, choose the option to start with a website. This is where you’ll input your competitor’s URL to uncover their keyword strategy.
6. Enter Competitor’s URL
Input the URL of your competitor’s website. For example, if you’re in the fitness industry, you might use a competitor like example.com. This will allow Google Keyword Planner to analyse their site and generate relevant keywords.
7. Enable Entire Site
Make sure to enable the option to analyse the entire site rather than just a single page. This ensures you get a comprehensive list of keywords from all pages of the competitor’s website.
8. Get Results
Click on “Get results” to generate a list of keywords associated with the competitor’s site. This list will include search volume, competition level, and other useful metrics.
9. Select Keywords
After generating results, review the list for metrics like search volume, competition, and relevance. Focus on keywords that:
- Have high search volume.
- Show low to medium competition.
- Align with your target audience.
10. Select All Keywords
For efficiency, you can click to select all keywords from every page. This ensures you don’t miss any potential opportunities.
11. Download Keywords
Click the download icon to save the selected keywords to your device. This will allow you to analyse them further or use them directly in your campaigns.
12. Save as CSV
Save the file in .csv format. This format is easy to work with and compatible with most data analysis tools.
13. Open ChatGPT (Optional)
Open a new chat in ChatGPT to refine and analyse the keyword data. ChatGPT can help you identify the most relevant and actionable keywords from the list.
14. Paste Prompt
Use the following prompt in ChatGPT to analyse your CSV file:
"As a professional SEO and copywriter, Analyse this csv from Google Keyword Planner.
Your job is to come up with blog article titles (optimised for CTR and keywords) based on the keywords available within this file.
Your list should start with exploiting low-hanging fruit. Essentially keywords with high volume and lower competition. You should include articles for all keywords but the best ones to target first should be at the top of the list. The total number of article titles produced should be at least 50."
15. Upload CSV
Upload the Keyword Planner CSV file into ChatGPT. The tool will process the data and provide insights into the best keywords to target.
16. Paste Output
Copy the output from ChatGPT and paste it into your preferred document or project management tool. Make sure to proofread and edit the output as needed to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Advanced Tips for Optimising Competitor Keywords
Once you have your keywords, maximise their potential with these strategies:
- Focus on Long-Tail Keywords: These are more specific and often less competitive. For instance:
- Replace “fitness tips” with “best fitness tips for beginners.”
- Swap “digital marketing” for “digital marketing strategies for startups.”
- Optimise Content: Integrate keywords naturally into your blog titles, headings, and meta descriptions. Avoid overstuffing, as it can harm SEO.
- Leverage Internal Links: Link related pages on your site to improve navigation and SEO performance.
- Monitor Performance: Use tools like Google Analytics to track the impact of your keywords and refine your strategy.
Benefits of Using Competitor Keywords
Stealing competitor keywords isn’t just about copying their strategy—it’s about learning from their success and improving upon it. Here are some key benefits:
- Higher Search Rankings: Targeting proven keywords can boost your rankings faster.
- Increased Traffic: Drive more organic traffic to your website.
- Better Audience Targeting: Understand your audience’s needs and intent.
- Cost-Effective: Save money on paid keyword research tools.
FAQs About Using Competitor Keywords
1. Is it legal to use competitor keywords?
Absolutely. This process involves analysing publicly available data, not copying proprietary content.
2. What tools can I use besides Google Keyword Planner?
Consider alternatives like SEMrush or Ahrefs for more advanced analysis.
3. How do I find my competitors?
You can identify competitors by:
- Searching for your target keywords on Google.
- Using tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to analyse your niche.
4. What’s the best way to use long-tail keywords?
Incorporate long-tail keywords into:
- Blog titles and headings.
- Meta descriptions.
- Product descriptions.
5. How often should I update my keyword strategy?
Revisit and refine your keywords every 3–6 months to stay competitive.
Conclusion
By leveraging your competitors’ keywords, you can significantly enhance your SEO strategy. This method saves time, ensures proven results, and optimises your efforts for better ROI. Start applying these steps today to drive more traffic and improve your search rankings.
