Process Sharing: SEO Keyword Research: Simple Process Using Ahrefs

Purpose

Effective SEO starts with identifying the right keywords to target. This simple process uses Ahrefs to uncover high-value keywords from competitors and establish a strong foundation for your organic marketing strategy. It’s a quick and actionable approach for beginners and seasoned marketers alike.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Search Your Service in Google

Begin by searching for your core service or product in Google. For example, if you offer handyman services, search for “handyman.”

Tool Used: Google Search

Step 2: Find the 1st Ranking Organic Website

From the search results, identify the first organic (non-advertisement) website. This site is likely well-optimized and targeting relevant keywords.

Objective: Use this competitor as a baseline for your research.

Step 3: Copy and Paste the URL into Ahrefs Site Explorer

Navigate to Ahrefs and use the Site Explorer tool. Enter the URL of the top-ranking organic website to analyze its performance.

Tool Used: Ahrefs Site Explorer

Step 4: Look into Their Organic Keywords List

Access the "Organic Keywords" section within Ahrefs. This list shows the keywords that drive traffic to the competitor’s website.

Objective: Gain insights into keywords that are already proven to perform well in your niche.

Step 5: Filter by Keyword Difficulty (Maximum 20)

Use Ahrefs’ Keyword Difficulty (KD) filter to narrow down results to low-competition keywords (maximum KD of 20). These are easier to rank for and great starting points.

Tool Feature: Keyword Difficulty Filter

Step 6: Sort by Volume (High to Low)

Sort the filtered keywords by search volume to prioritize terms with significant traffic potential.

Objective: Focus on keywords that have high demand.

Step 7: Sort by Traffic (High to Low)

Further sort keywords by the amount of traffic they drive to the competitor's site. This helps you target keywords with real-world impact.

Tool Feature: Traffic Metric

Step 8: Add Keywords to Your List

Compile the selected keywords into your working list for further analysis or direct use in your content strategy.

Tool Used: Spreadsheet or Ahrefs Keyword List Feature

Insights

I’ve been diving deep into organic marketing over the past few months, and this is one of the most effective keyword research methods I use to start a campaign. It’s quick, straightforward, and consistently delivers actionable results. While there are other approaches I explore, this process remains my go-to when launching new projects.

What are your thoughts on this process? Do you have a preferred method for keyword research? Share your approach—I’d love to learn from your insights!

Tools Used

• Google Search: Competitor discovery

• Ahrefs: Keyword analysis and metrics

• Spreadsheets: Organizing and prioritizing keywords

Call-to-Action

Ready to boost your organic marketing with effective keyword research? Let me help you implement this process for your business. Contact me today to get started!