How to Identify Your Competitors' Keywords

Uncovering Your Competitors' Targeted Keywords: A Step-by-Step Guide

🥸 The truth is…

You cannot definitively know the exact keywords a competitor targeted unless they explicitly state them somewhere (which happens almost never).

That said, there are ways to make strong educated guesses based on their content and by using SEO tools. Follow this step-by-step guide to identify and steal your competitors' keywords.

You cannot definitively know the exact keywords a competitor targeted unless they explicitly state them somewhere (which happens almost never).

That said, there are ways to make strong educated guesses based on their content and by using SEO tools. Follow this step-by-step guide to identify and steal your competitors' keywords.

In a nutshell:

✔️ Step 1.
Find your competitors

✔️ Step 2.
Analyze their top-ranking posts

✔️ Step 3.
Choose keywords to target

✔️ Step 4.
Create content based on those keywords.

How to identify competitors' keywords

Option 1

Analyze Content for Keyword Themes:

Read the Top Posts

Dive deep into the competitor's high-ranking content. Pay attention to the main topic, subheadings, and the overall flow of information. These elements will be rich with relevant keywords and related terms.

Identify Keyword Themes

Don't get hung up on specific keywords, but rather the broader themes and concepts the competitor is targeting. For example, a competitor's post about "Best Hiking Backpacks" is likely targeting keywords related to hiking, backpacks, features, brands, etc.

Option 2

SEO Tools Can Help Refine Your Guesses:

While they can't reveal exact targeted keywords, some SEO tools provide valuable insights:

Organic Research Tools
Tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs have features like "Organic Research" or "Top Pages". Entering a competitor's domain will show you a list of keywords they likely rank for, along with estimated traffic and positions. These are strong indicators of keywords they might be targeting.
Backlink Analysis
Tools like Ahrefs offer features that show you websites linking back to your competitor's content. Often, the anchor text (the clickable text) in those backlinks includes keywords relevant to the page. This can give you clues about the keywords the competitor might be targeting.

Option 3

Combining Strategies:

By combining content analysis with SEO tool insights, you can build a strong understanding of the keywords a competitor is likely targeting and ranking for. Here's an example:

You analyze a competitor's post on "Best Running Shoes for Beginners" and notice they discuss various shoe types, cushioning, breathability, and popular brands.
An SEO tool shows the competitor ranks for keywords like "beginner running shoes," "comfortable running shoes," and "top-rated shoes for new runners."

Through this combined approach, you can be fairly confident that the competitor is targeting keywords related to beginner running shoes, comfort, and brand recommendations.

Remember: Don't just copy competitor keywords! Use them for inspiration to create informative and valuable content targeting similar themes, but with your own unique spin.

Lastly…

By following these steps, you can leverage competitor analysis to find new keyword opportunities and create content that helps you rank higher in search results.

Remember, SEO is a long-term strategy, so be patient and keep creating high-quality content!

Bonus Tip: Keep in mind that Google updates prioritize user experience and helpful content. Focus on creating valuable, informative content that solves your audience's problems, and the keywords will follow.

Know your competitors?

Create comparison pages in just a few clicks.

Coming out soon. Get free access.

Instagram

Lastly…

By following these steps, you can leverage competitor analysis to find new keyword opportunities and create content that helps you rank higher in search results.

Remember, SEO is a long-term strategy, so be patient and keep creating high-quality content!

Know your competitors?

Create comparison pages in just a few clicks.

Coming out soon. Get free access.

Know your competitors?

Create comparison pages in just a few clicks.

Coming out soon. Get free access.