By now, you know what SEO keywords are and how to find them. But what separates amateurs from pros is this: knowing which keywords are worth your time.
In this blog, I’ll break down how to find easy wins, keywords that are low competition and high return, and how to spot money terms that lead to actual sales.
We’ll also look at how these “money keywords” align with every stage of the buyer journey, and how dominating your market means showing up at the top, middle, and bottom of the funnel.
What Makes a Keyword a “Winner”?
It’s not just about traffic.
A keyword can have 10,000 monthly searches and still be the wrong target. Why? Because when the intent behind those searches is all over the place, your traffic won’t stick. You’ll just increase your bounce rate, and that hurts your SEO everytime.
As a small business owner, an enterprise brand, or anywhere in between, your goal isn’t to chase volume — it’s to build strategic keyword clusters. These are tightly related groups of keywords that match every step of your specific buyer’s journey.
When you have a strong cluster, you’re not just attracting traffic — you’re attracting the right traffic.
What Pro Keyword Research Focuses On
🔍 Search Intent
- Are they looking to buy? Learn? Compare?
- Keywords like “buy,” “best,” “near me,” or “service” signal high buying intent.
🌐 Keyword Difficulty (KD)
- This tells you how hard it is to rank. Lower KD = easier win.
- Use tools like SpyFu or my Keyword Tool to check this.
📊 Search Volume
- Look for a healthy balance. Sometimes a keyword with 90 monthly searches can convert better than one with 9,000.
💸 Commercial Value
- Will ranking for this term lead to sales, appointments, or leads?
- Example: “emergency HVAC repair” vs. “how does air conditioning work”
How to Spot Easy Wins
1. Use SpyFu to Spy on the Competition
- Enter a competitor’s URL
- Click on “Top Organic Keywords”
- Look for terms they rank for with low difficulty and decent traffic
2. Find Long-Tail Versions of Broad Terms
- Instead of “plumber,” try “licensed plumber in Queens NY”
- Long-tail terms are often ignored by big competitors and easier to rank for
3. Look for Keyword Gaps
- Use SpyFu or Ubersuggest to compare your site with your competitors
- See which keywords they rank for that you don’t — these are gold
Understanding Funnel-Based Keyword Strategy
To really master keyword research, you need to understand where each keyword fits in the customer journey.
This is where “money keywords” become even more powerful.
🧠 Top of Funnel (TOFU) — Awareness
These are broader, general terms people search when they’re learning. Examples:
- “how does dental whitening work”
- “best hairstyles for curly hair”
Great for blogs, explainer videos, social media posts.
🤔 Middle of Funnel (MOFU) — Consideration
People are comparing and evaluating. Examples:
- “top rated dentists in Atlanta”
- “Brazilian blowout vs keratin”
Good for case studies, comparison pages, testimonials.
💳 Bottom of Funnel (BOFU) — Conversion
Now they’re ready to take action. Examples:
- “book root canal appointment near me”
- “affordable HVAC tune-up Los Angeles”
Perfect for landing pages, service pages, booking forms.
Your goal? Show up at every stage. When your brand appears in TOFU, MOFU, and BOFU searches, you stay top of mind. And when they’re ready to act? You’re already there.
And remember, Google isn’t just using keywords — it’s using behavior. Chrome data, logged-in accounts, and search patterns all influence results. That’s why knowing your target demographic is so critical.
I know that many in my audience are laser-focused on visibility and getting as many leads as possible from their website — often with a limited financial runway.
That’s exactly why we created our Brand Attraction and Revenue Amplifier Package. This package guarantees you earn back your $24,000 investment with a 20–400% increase in leads generated — or we work until you do.
The topics your ideal clients care about as they shop for you? Those are the exact topics you need to cover in your keyword strategy.
The “Money Term” Checklist
To know if a keyword is worth targeting, ask:
- ✅ Does it show buyer intent?
- ✅ Does it align with a product or service I sell?
- ✅ Is it being searched consistently?
- ✅ Can I realistically rank for it?
- ✅ Does it fit within a specific funnel stage?
If all boxes check, it’s a money term.
Pro Tip: Focus on Conversion, Not Just Clicks
It’s better to get 100 visitors who book a consultation than 10,000 who bounce.
Targeting the right keyword with the right page (like a landing page, service page, or blog) is what moves the needle.
Final Thoughts
SEO isn’t about chasing big numbers. It’s about strategy.
With the right tools, you can find hidden gems that bring in leads and cash—without waiting a year or hiring an agency.
Your keywords should align with how people buy, not just what they search. If you’re in front of your ideal customer at every step of their journey, you’re not just ranking. You’re dominating.
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