How to Find Out What Keywords a Website Is Using

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Short Description:
Knowing how to find out what keywords a website is using is crucial for SEO research and competitor analysis. This guide walks you through tools, techniques, and step-by-step methods to uncover the keywords driving traffic to any website.

Introduction

Uncovering the keywords a website uses can give you a competitive edge in SEO. By understanding which terms drive traffic to competitor sites, you can optimize your content, target high-potential keywords, and improve your rankings.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to find out what keywords a website is using using practical tools, techniques, and step-by-step strategies.

Why Knowing Competitor Keywords Matters

  • Identify traffic-driving keywords: See what works for your niche.
  • Spot content gaps: Discover keywords your competitors rank for but you don’t.
  • Optimize your own strategy: Refine content and SEO campaigns.
  • Benchmark performance: Compare your site’s keyword performance with competitors.

Types of Keywords to Look For

  • Branded keywords: Keywords including competitor brand names
  • Non-branded keywords: Industry-related search terms
  • Short-tail keywords: High-volume, general keywords
  • Long-tail keywords: Niche, highly targeted keywords
  • High-converting keywords: Keywords likely to generate leads or sales

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Find Out What Keywords a Website Is Using

Step 1: Use Google Search Operators

  • site:example.com – See indexed pages
  • intitle:keyword site:example.com – Find specific keyword pages
  • Analyze meta titles and descriptions for embedded keywords

Step 2: Analyze On-Page SEO

  • Check headings (H1, H2, H3) for keywords
  • Inspect meta titles and meta descriptions
  • Review alt text of images

Step 3: Use Free Online Tools

  • Google Keyword Planner (requires Google Ads account)
  • Ubersuggest – Free version allows basic keyword analysis
  • SEOquake browser extension – Provides on-page keyword insights

Step 4: Use Paid SEO Tools

  • Ahrefs: Site Explorer to analyze top organic keywords
  • SEMrush: Organic Research and Keyword Gap tools
  • Moz Pro: Keyword Explorer and Competitor Analysis
  • SpyFu: Detailed competitor keyword data

Step 5: Analyze Competitor Content

  • Review blog posts, landing pages, and product pages
  • Note repeated terms and phrases
  • Use tools to check keyword density
  • Analyze anchor text using Ahrefs or Moz
  • Identify keywords other sites use to link to competitors

Step 7: Track & Compare Keywords

  • Organize keywords in spreadsheets
  • Track rankings over time
  • Identify opportunities to optimize or create new content

Using Free Tools to Discover Keywords

  1. Google Keyword Planner – Provides search volume and competition
  2. Ubersuggest – Displays top organic keywords and estimated traffic
  3. SEOquake – Shows keyword density and on-page SEO metrics
  4. Google Search Console – For your own site, shows queries driving traffic

Using Paid SEO Tools for In-Depth Analysis

  • Ahrefs Site Explorer: Find top pages, organic keywords, and traffic estimates
  • SEMrush Organic Research: Check competitor keyword performance and gaps
  • SpyFu: Discover competitor PPC and organic keywords
  • Moz Keyword Explorer: Analyze difficulty, volume, and potential traffic

Analyzing On-Page SEO for Keyword Insights

  • Inspect meta titles, descriptions, and headings
  • Check internal linking structure for keyword usage
  • Review URL structures and slug keywords
  • Examine image alt tags and multimedia elements

Checking Competitor Keywords Through Content

  • Review blog topics and landing page copy
  • Identify high-ranking pages in SERPs
  • Use tools to extract frequently used keywords
  • Look for LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords in content

Mini Case Studies & Real-World Examples

Case Study 1: Small E-commerce Site

  • Used SEMrush to analyze competitor keywords
  • Identified 20 high-traffic long-tail keywords
  • Optimized product pages accordingly, increasing traffic by 35%

Case Study 2: Service-Based Business

  • SpyFu revealed top-performing competitor keywords
  • Created targeted blog content for missed keywords
  • Result: 25% increase in organic leads in three months

Common Mistakes When Analyzing Keywords

  • Focusing only on high-volume keywords
  • Ignoring long-tail opportunities
  • Not considering user intent
  • Overlooking competitor backlink strategy
  • Relying on one tool without cross-verifying

Best Practices for Keyword Research & Competitor Analysis

  • Combine multiple tools for accuracy
  • Focus on both volume and relevance
  • Track performance over time
  • Include branded and non-branded keywords
  • Analyze competitor backlinks and anchor texts

Tools, Resources, & Extensions

  • Google Keyword Planner
  • Ubersuggest
  • Ahrefs / SEMrush / Moz / SpyFu
  • SEOquake browser extension
  • Google Search Console
  • Keyword Surfer Chrome extension

FAQs – How to Find Out What Keywords a Website Is Using

1. Can I find competitor keywords for free?
Yes, tools like Ubersuggest, SEOquake, and Google search operators allow free keyword insights.

2. What’s the best paid tool for competitor keyword analysis?
Ahrefs and SEMrush are the most comprehensive for organic and paid keyword insights.

3. How do I check keywords on my own website?
Use Google Search Console or Keyword Planner to see which queries drive traffic.

4. Are long-tail keywords important?
Absolutely. They’re less competitive, highly targeted, and often convert better.

5. How often should I analyze competitor keywords?
Every 1–3 months to stay updated on changes and opportunities.

6. Can backlinks reveal competitor keywords?
Yes, analyzing anchor text of backlinks can show which keywords others associate with a site.

7. Should I copy competitor keywords exactly?
No, use them as inspiration. Focus on relevance and adding unique value.

Conclusion & Actionable Steps

Learning how to find out what keywords a website is using is critical for optimizing your SEO strategy. By combining free and paid tools, analyzing content, checking backlinks, and monitoring rankings, you can uncover valuable keywords to target.

Action Steps:

  1. Identify competitors in your niche
  2. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest
  3. Analyze on-page content for keyword usage
  4. Check backlinks for anchor text keywords
  5. Organize findings and optimize your content accordingly

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