Find Competitors SEO Keywords – 7 Easy Proven Ways

Find Competitors SEO Keywords is the first step when you want to improve your website's ranking, and it's not as difficult a task as it seems. Understanding the game of SEO can sometimes seem difficult, but I think if you follow a smart strategy, you can easily beat your competitors. I tried this method myself, and honestly, when I analyzed the keywords of my competitors, I found content gaps that I did not even know existed. Think if you already know which keywords are driving the traffic of competitors, then you can optimize your content better than that.

 

Why is it important to find competitors’ keywords?

You will notice that the websites that rank on the first page of Google have a solid keyword strategy. If you are a new blogger or business owner, the first thing you need to do is understand what the big players in your niche are doing. This step:

1. Gives you a chance to identify content gaps
2. Gives you ideas to improve SEO strategy
3. Helps in increasing ranking quickly

I have seen myself that when you track competitors' keywords, you also get an idea of ​​market trends. This is a kind of shortcut, which saves you from unnecessary guesswork.

 

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Find Competitors' SEO Keywords

Now I will tell you a simple and practical guide, which you will be able to follow easily.

 

1. Identify your real competitors

Understanding the actual adversaries is crucial to starting. Many people make the mistake of considering those websites as competitors which are not even in their niche.

Search your keywords on Google and note the websites which repeatedly come on top.

Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs or Ubersuggest to see which websites are targeting the exact audience of your niche.

I think this step is the most important because if you choose the wrong competitors, the whole analysis will go wrong.

 

2. Start Competitor Analysis with Free Tools

If you are a beginner and have a tight budget, then free tools are the best option:

Ubersuggest: It shows you the top pages of your competitors and their ranking keywords.

The Google Keyword Planner is a straightforward and trustworthy tool that provides keyword suggestions and estimated traffic. It's also user-friendly.

Keyword Surfer Extension: Chrome extension that shows you keyword data while you search.

I myself have seen a lot of results with the free tools before, and this is the best start for beginners.

 

3. Check Competitors' Top Pages

Imagine what 5-10 pages of your competitor are getting the most traffic.

Use Ahrefs' "Top Pages" report.

Analyze the content structure of each page - title, headings, and how keywords are used.

This is a kind of cheat sheet that will help you create a clear strategy.

 

4. Identify Keyword Gaps

You will notice that there are many keywords that competitors are targeting, but are missing in your content.

Use Ahrefs' "Content Gap" feature or SEMrush's "Keyword Gapping ".

Identify keywords that are easy to use and have minimal competition.

I think this step is a game-changer, because this is where you will get new blog post ideas.

 

5. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords

A pro tip for beginners: Don’t get caught up in high competition keywords.

Long-tail keywords bring more targeted traffic and are easier to rank for.

For example, try “Best DSLR Camera for Beginners under $500” instead of “Best DSLR Camera”.

I have personally seen a lot of traffic on such keywords.

 

6. Competitor Backlink Analysis

Competitors’ backlinks are also a hidden treasure of keyword research.

Check out their backlinks in Ahrefs' "Backlink Checker".

See which keywords are getting backlinks.

If you want, you can request backlinks for yourself from the same websites.

 

7. Tools That Will Give You Fast Results

If you can invest a little, these premium tools will come in handy:

Ahrefs: The market's most reliable keyword and backlink research tool.

SEMrush: Perfect for complete competitor analysis.

Serpstat: Affordable and beginner-friendly option.

I personally use Ahrefs and I think it's a smart investment.

Real-Life Example – How I used my competitors’ keywords

I remember when I was new to blogging, I used to write random keywords every day. When the results didn’t come, I got frustrated. Then one day I started competitor analysis and I found out that a blogger in my niche was ranking around 3-4 main topics, but he covered them in so much detail that he came on top.

Imagine if you also understand the pattern of competitors, then you get a shortcut.

Create a Content Calendar

The most important step after competitor keyword research is to create a content calendar.

Divide keywords into monthly plan.

Work on high-priority topics first.

This planning is for you It will keep you consistent and keep your traffic stable.

 

Bonus Tips – What I Found Most Useful

• Analyze your competitors’ meta descriptions as well, you will get call-to-action ideas from them.
• Look at their social media strategy as well, which keywords are trending through hashtags.
• Repeat competitor analysis every 2-3 months, as trends keep changing.

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The smart way to do competitor keyword research

Start by identifying your main competitors, because when you know who your direct competitor is, it becomes easier to make a strategy. I have used Ahrefs myself and this tool gives details of every keyword and backlink of the competitor. You just enter your competitors, and whether you are using a free competitor keyword analysis tool or premium, both are helpful. I think another hack for beginners is to use the enter up to 3 competitors option to get a side-by-side comparison. This process will help you identify which keywords you or your adversaries are ranking for, and then you can search for any competitor and deeply analyze their strategy. Imagine how fast you could increase your SEO growth if you got all this data without any guesswork.

 If you are also interested in visual mediums of online earning along with keyword research, then don’t forget to search for our article Make Money from Stock Photos: 8 Easy Ways.

FAQs Find Competitors SEO Keywords

Q1: How to check competitor keywords for free?

Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest and the Chrome extension are all viable options for keyword searching. Furthermore... These free tools are best for beginners.

Q2: Is it necessary to buy premium tools?

No, not necessarily. The free tools are enough to get you started. But if you are serious, Ahrefs or SEMrush are a good investment.

Q3: How often should you check competitor keywords?

Do a detailed competitor analysis every 2-3 months so that you stay up to date with the latest trends.

Q4: Should you just copy your competitor’s keywords?

No. Competitors’ keywords are for ideas, but you should create content from your own unique angle.