4 Unconventional Keyword Research Hacks for Small Business Owners to Get More Website Visitors

Keyword research is the foundation of any successful SEO strategy, but finding the right keywords can be a challenge for small business owners. Traditional keyword research techniques can be time-consuming and often lead to generic, overused keywords. Fortunately, there are unconventional keyword research hacks that can help small business owners uncover new and relevant keywords to target.

In this article, we'll explore four unique keyword research hacks that can help small business owners increase their website visitors and ultimately drive more conversions. These hacks are designed to be easy to implement and require little to no budget, making them ideal for small business owners who want to optimize their keyword strategy without breaking the bank. So, let's dive into each tactic and see how they can be leveraged to increase your website's traffic and improve your business's bottom line.

1. Use 'Google's People Also Ask' section for more search terms people actually use.

Google's People Also Ask (PAA) section is a feature that appears in the search results when you enter a search query. The PAA section displays a list of questions related to your search query, along with brief answers and a link to the source. This section is a great way to discover more search terms that people actually use when searching for information related to your business or industry.

To use this feature for keyword research, simply enter a search term related to your business or industry in the Google search bar and scroll down to the PAA section. The questions listed in this section are generated based on Google's algorithm, which means they are relevant and popular search terms related to your initial search query.

You can also click on each question in the PAA section to expand it and see additional related questions. This can help you uncover more long-tail keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for.

Once you have identified the relevant questions and phrases in the PAA section, you can use them to optimize your website content and SEO strategy. Include these keywords and phrases in your website's meta tags, headings, and body copy to improve your website's visibility in the search results and attract more potential customers.

Overall, utilizing Google's People Also Ask section is an effective and simple way to discover more search terms that people actually use and optimize your website's content for better search engine visibility.

2. Use Google Search Console and/or Bing Webmaster Tools to see what people actually search.

Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools are two powerful SEO tools that can help you improve your website's search engine visibility and track your website's performance. One of the key features of these tools is the ability to see what people actually search for when they find your website in the search results.

To use these tools for keyword research, start by logging into your Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools account and navigating to the search analytics section. In this section, you can see the search queries that people have used to find your website, along with data on impressions, clicks, and click-through rate (CTR).

By analysing this data, you can identify new keywords and phrases that people are searching for and optimise your website's content to target these keywords. You may find some with keywords you haven't considered that have high impressions and with some work to get to the top could see you getting more visitors. Additionally, you can identify the search queries that are driving the most traffic to your website and focus on optimising your content around these keywords to drive even more traffic.

Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools also allow you to filter your search query data by various parameters such as location, device type, and date range, which can help you identify trends and opportunities for optimisation.

Overall, using Google Search Console and/or Bing Webmaster Tools for keyword research can help you uncover new opportunities to improve your website's search engine visibility and attract more potential customers.

3. See what competitors are using. Look for the power words used.

Analysing your competitors' keyword strategy can help you identify new opportunities to improve your website's search engine visibility and attract more potential customers. By analysing their website content, meta tags, and other SEO elements, you can identify the keywords and phrases that they are targeting and incorporate them into your own SEO strategy.

To start, make a list of your top competitors and visit their websites. Analyse their homepage, product pages, and other key pages to identify the keywords and phrases they are targeting. Look for common themes and patterns, and pay attention to the words that they use to describe their products or services.

In addition to analysing your competitors' website content, you can also use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to see which keywords and phrases they are ranking for and identify opportunities to optimise your own website for these keywords.

When analysing your competitors' keyword strategy, it's important to look beyond just the search terms they are targeting and focus on the power words they are using to attract clicks. These power words are attention-grabbing words that can increase the likelihood of someone clicking on a search result. Some examples of power words include "free," "best," "proven," and "guaranteed."

Once you have identified the keywords and power words your competitors are using, you can incorporate them into your own website content and SEO strategy. By doing so, you can improve your website's search engine visibility and attract more potential customers.

Overall, competitor analysis is a valuable and often overlooked keyword research tactic that can help you identify new opportunities to optimise your website's content and attract more potential customers.

However, they may be using the same tactics so make sure you're not chasing eachother tails ;)

4. Utilise AnswerThePublic for content ideas.

AnswerThePublic is a free keyword research tool that helps you discover the questions people are asking around a particular keyword or topic. It works by aggregating data from Google's autocomplete feature and displaying the results in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format.

To use AnswerThePublic, simply enter a keyword related to your business or industry in the search bar and click "Get Questions." The tool will then generate a list of questions and phrases that people are searching for related to your keyword. The results are organised into categories, including questions starting with "who," "what," "where," "when," "why," and "how," making it easy to navigate and find relevant content ideas.

One of the benefits of using AnswerThePublic is that it can help you uncover long-tail keywords and phrases that you may not have considered otherwise. By creating content that addresses these questions and phrases, you can attract more potential customers who are searching for specific information related to your business or industry.

In addition to content ideas, AnswerThePublic can also help you identify new keyword opportunities. By analysing the questions and phrases generated by the tool, you can identify relevant and specific long-tail keywords that you can target in your website content and SEO strategy.

Overall, AnswerThePublic is a valuable keyword research tool that can help small business owners uncover new content ideas and keyword opportunities. By using this tool to create content and optimise your website's SEO, you can improve your website's search engine visibility and attract more potential customers.

Summary

Effective keyword research is essential for small business owners who want to improve their website's search engine visibility and attract more potential customers. However, traditional keyword research methods can be time-consuming and often lead to generic, overused keywords. This article offers four unconventional keyword research hacks that can help small business owners uncover new and relevant keywords to target:

1. Use Google's People Also Ask section to uncover more search terms that people actually use.
2. Use Google Search Console and/or Bing Webmaster Tools to see what people are searching for when they find your website.
3. Analyse your competitors' keyword strategy to identify new opportunities to improve your website's search engine visibility.
4. Utilise AnswerThePublic to uncover new content ideas and keyword opportunities.

By implementing these tactics, small business owners can improve their website's search engine visibility, attract more potential customers, and ultimately drive more conversions and improve their bottom line. These keyword research hacks are designed to be easy to implement and require little to no budget, making them ideal for small business owners who want to optimise their keyword strategy without breaking the bank.