Imagine you have a superpower.
Imagine you could walk up to any person on the street and instantly know exactly what they are thinking. You know what they want to buy, what they are afraid of, and exactly what words you need to say to make them open their wallet.
That would make sales pretty easy, right?
Well, you don't need a superpower. You just need Keyword Research.
Every time someone types a word into Google, they are confessing a secret desire. They are telling you exactly what they want. If you know how to listen, you can read their minds.
In this guide, we are going to show you how to find your ideal customer online, even if you are a total beginner.
What is a Keyword? (The Bridge)
A keyword isn't just a word. It's a bridge.
On one side: A person with a problem (e.g., "My sink is leaking").
On the other side: A business with a solution (e.g., You, the plumber).
The Keyword is the bridge that connects the two. If you don't build the bridge (by putting that keyword on your website), they can't cross over to you.
The 3 Buckets of Intent (Not All Keywords are Equal)
Before you start typing random words, you need to understand that some keywords are worthless, and some are gold.
We divide them into three buckets:
The Intent Funnel
1. Browsing (Low Value): "Shoes"
(They are just looking. Don't waste money here.)
2. Learning (Medium Value): "Best running shoes"
(They are comparing options. Good for blog posts.)
3. Buying (High Value): "Nike Pegasus Size 10 Sale"
(They have a credit card in hand. Target these!)
How to Find Your Keywords (The Tools)
You don't need expensive software to start. Here are two free ways to read minds.
1. The "Google Crystal Ball" (Autocomplete)
Go to Google. Start typing your service. Don't hit enter.
Look at the list of suggestions that drops down.
Google is literally telling you: "Hey, thousands of people are searching for THIS exact phrase."
If you type "Dog Walker" and Google suggests "Dog Walker near me prices," you know that "Prices" is a huge concern for your customers. You should probably put your prices on your website.
2. The "Competitor Menu" Technique
Why reinvent the wheel? Your competitors have already figured this out.
Go to the website of the biggest competitor in your city. Look at their menu bar. Look at their page titles.
If they have a page called "Emergency 24/7 Plumbing," that is a keyword. If they have a page called "Tankless Water Heater Repair," that is a keyword.
Copy their menu. It's not cheating; it's research.
The "Goldilocks" Rule
When choosing keywords, you need to find the balance.
- Too Broad: "Lawyer." (You will never rank. Too much competition.)
- Too Obscure: "Lawyer for people who slipped on a banana peel on a Tuesday." (Nobody searches this.)
- Just Right: "Personal Injury Lawyer in Austin." (Specific, local, and profitable.)
🧠 The "Language" Check
Use the words your customers use, not the words YOU use.
You might call it "Orthodontic Malocclusion Correction."
Your customer calls it "Braces for crooked teeth."
Rank for "Braces."
How to Use the Keywords (Don't Be Weird)
Once you have your list, what do you do?
Please, do not just paste the list at the bottom of your website. That is 2005 SEO, and it will get you banned.
Be natural.
If your keyword is "Best Pizza in Chicago," write a sentence like: "We pride ourselves on serving the best pizza in Chicago, using fresh ingredients every day."
Google is smart. Treat the keyword like a seasoning. Sprinkle it in; don't dump the whole bottle.
Conclusion: Stop Guessing
You don't have to guess what your customers want.
They are typing it into a search bar every single day. If you take the time to look, you will find a roadmap that leads straight to revenue.
Want Your Keyword List?
We can generate a "High-Intent Keyword Report" for your business. We'll give you the top 50 terms your customers are searching for right now.
Get My Keywords