Sometimes, you don’t have time to do a deep dive into SEO research before creating content. However, most people want some insight into what keywords to include in their titles, descriptions, and content. Below are the top ways I use Keyword Planner to get quick content ideas.

How to Pull Keywords from Competitor Websites:

You can pull keyword inspiration from your competitor’s websites. All you need to do is load their URL into Google’s Keyword Planner Tool and look for areas of opportunity.

1. If you don’t have one already, create a Google Adwords account. You’ll need to connect a credit card but, you don’t have to run ads. (Just double-check that any campaigns are marked “paused”).

2. Go to Tools and Settings -> Keyword Planner in the top gray bar toward the right-hand side.

3. Click “Discover New Keywords” and choose “Start With a Website”

  • Enter the domain name of a website that targets a similar audience to you.
  • Select “Use the entire Site” if you are using someone’s website. Select “Use only this page” if you’re using a Youtube Channel link.
  • Click “Get Results.”

4. On the results page:

  • You can change the location to a specific state or region
  • You can choose a period of time that works for you. 12 months can be a good starting place.
  • You can sort by Avg monthly searches
  • Skip to non-branded keywords (Ones without the website’s name). You’ll see ideas for keywords you should use in your video titles and descriptions.
  • If the competition is “low” it’s definitely a valuable metric.

5. You can choose Download Keyword Ideas on the right-hand side above the list. This will create a spreadsheet that you can filter and sort.

6. You can repeat this with other websites and youtube channels that are successfully targeting your intended audience. Then, you can create a combined list of keywords and topics that audiences are seeking but, where you may be the only person providing the content.

Freelance Writer Virginia

As a Freelance Writer in Virginia, I advise my clients on focus keywords for their blog posts and media titles. Sometimes, I create a comprehensive SEO strategy that optimizes their content for an audience. In other campaigns, I simply help my clients rework their existing content calendar to get the maximum search ranking. Either way, this little trick can help you write better titles and descriptions for your content.