How to Do Competitor Keyword Research

30 June 2026·1 min read

Quick answer: Competitor keyword research means finding the search terms your competitors rank for, so you can target the relevant ones too. Identify a few competitors, look at the topics and pages they rank for, note keywords relevant to your business, and find gaps they’re missing. It’s a shortcut to proven keyword ideas instead of guessing. 📈

Why guess at keywords when your competitors have already tested them? Here’s how to learn from them. 💖

How to do it

Identify competitors — who ranks for your topics?
Study their content — what topics they cover
Note relevant keywords — ones that fit you
Find the gaps — what they’ve missed
Do it better — more helpful, more specific

💡 Learn, then out-do. The goal isn’t to copy — it’s to see which keywords are proven, then create something more helpful and specific. Their gaps (topics they haven’t covered) are often your easiest wins.

Frequently asked questions

How do I do competitor keyword research?

Identify a few competitors, study the topics and pages they rank for, note keywords relevant to your business, and find gaps they’ve missed. Then target those keywords with more helpful, specific content.

Why research competitor keywords?

Because they’ve already tested what works — it’s a shortcut to proven keyword ideas instead of guessing. Their rankings show you which terms drive traffic in your niche.

What tools show competitor keywords?

SEO tools (many with free tiers) can show which keywords a competitor ranks for. You can also do it manually by searching your topics and seeing whose pages keep appearing, then studying their content.

Keep reading 🤍

Written by

Kate, founder of Chronically Online

I help Gold Coast and Brisbane businesses grow with branding, websites and marketing that actually works.

Work with me ✦