How to Find the Keyword for Your Competitors

Finding your competitor's keywords can increase your traffic.

There are two ways to discover a competitor's keywords. One is by analyzing the competitor's site map, or directory structure. The other is by using a tool that shows the commonly used keywords on the website. Once a website owner has discovered a competitor's keywords, he can analyze if the keywords are successful bringing in traffic. If they are successful keywords, then an owner can increase site traffic by using similar keywords.

Instructions

Finding Keywords in the Site Map

1. Open an Internet browser. Enter your competitor's URL into the Web browser and display the page.

2. Scroll down the page until you see the site map. The site map is generally located in the footer, or the bottom of the site. The site map shows all the categories of your competitor's pages. Write down the names of the categories. The category names are the main keywords that your competitor builds his site around.

3. Open a new browser window. Open Google Adwords Keyword Tool. A page will display that allows you to find specific keywords related to general niche keywords. In the box below "Find Keywords," type in one of your competitor's category names. In the box below is a "Captcha Code." This is a scrambled security message that has to be repeated. Repeat this message to prove that you are a human user. Click on the "Search" button.

4. Scan the list that is displayed. To the right of every keyword string displayed is a value for "Global Monthly Searches." Find keywords with searches above 1,200 and below 80,000 monthly searches. Add these keywords to your website. Repeat the same process with the rest of your competitor's keywords.

Using a Website Analyzer Tool

1. Open a new browser window. Pull up a website analyzer tool. A website will display that allows you to analyze the keywords of any website.

2. Enter your competitor's URL in the field labeled "ENTER A DOMAIN OR KEYWORD BELOW." A page will display the ten most popular keywords that your competitor uses.

3. Click on the hyperlink that displays all the keywords. This will be displayed as "See all..." and followed by the number of keywords they use.

4. Look through the listing of your competitor's keywords. Most sites will initially show the most popular keywords. The rest of the detailed keywords will be displayed after you have registered an account.

Tips & Warnings

• Simply adding your competitor's keywords alone to your website will not increase website traffic. You will need to create content on your website that includes these keywords within the body.

• Once the pages are set up, backlinks to the new content have to be created. Backlinks are links that lead a visitor from another website to your website. Search engines view backlinks as an indication of a website's popularity or prominence. The more backlinks leading to your content, the more prominent your website will appear in search engine result pages (SERP).

References

• Seo Design Solutions; SEO Tips to Find Competitors' Keywords; Rick Falls; December 2009
• SEOROI; How to Find Competitors' Keywords For Your SEO & PPC; Gabriel Goldenberg
• Mequoda Daily; How to Find Niche Keywords with the Google Keyword Tool; Amanda MacArthur; December 2008
• SmileyCat; Components of a Great Website Footer; Christian Watson; March 2010
• MetaMend; Using Your Competitors Keywords for Search Engine Optimization; Robert K. McCourty; 2005
• GoogleBacklinks: Google Backlinks: How to Get Backlinks

Resources

• Google Adwords: Keyword Tool
• SpyFu: Spy on Your Online Competitors
• SemRush: Tool for Google Organic and AdWords Competitors keywords Research
• Compete.com: Be a Better Online Marketer