Keyword Research Services
Find the words your ready-to-buy customers type into Google, so you know what to write about
Start with the words your customers use
You know your trade inside and out. That can be the problem. Business owners often describe their work with the words they use at work, and customers search with very different ones.
A plumber may call it "sewer line replacement." The homeowner types "sewage smell in basement." If your page only uses your words, the homeowner may never find it.
Keyword research closes that gap. It finds the words people really type, sorts them by what those people want, and gives each one a home on your site. You get a short plan you can act on, instead of a giant spreadsheet.
BuzFind has done SEO since 2004. If you like to dig in yourself, our guide to keyword research for small businesses explains the ideas behind it.
Four reasons people search
Two searches can share most of their words and still want very different things. We sort every keyword by the reason behind it, because that tells you what kind of page to build.
Learning
“why is my furnace blowing cold air”
They want an answer. A helpful article fits best, with a link to your service.
Comparing
“tankless vs tank water heater”
They are weighing options. A clear comparison page helps them choose, and you.
Ready to hire
“emergency plumber Fort Wayne”
They want help now. This belongs on a service page with your phone number up top.
Looking for you
“[your business name] hours”
They already know you. Your homepage, contact page, and Google Business Profile should answer fast.
From a list of words to a keyword map
A keyword map gives each page on your site one main search to aim for. It is the most useful part of keyword research, because it tells you what to change on each page.
For example, picture a dog groomer in Fort Wayne with a homepage and one "Services" page. A simple map might look like this:
| Page | Main search | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Homepage | dog grooming Fort Wayne | The broad local search for the main service. |
| Mobile grooming (new page) | mobile dog grooming Fort Wayne | A different service with its own buyers. It needs its own page. |
| Cat grooming (new page) | cat grooming near Fort Wayne | Cat owners do not search for dog groomers. |
| Article | how often should a doodle be groomed | A common question that leads readers to book. |
The map also catches the opposite problem: two pages chasing the same search. When that happens, we suggest merging them or giving one a different job.
Where the numbers come from
We want you to know exactly what you are getting. Our keyword research comes from the Keyword Strategist agent, which reads your titles and headings. It is on every AI agent plan, from $129 a month.
The agent reads your page titles, H1 and H2 headings, and meta descriptions. It looks at the services and the area your pages mention. Then it suggests keywords and page fixes. Its keyword ideas are educated estimates, not live search counts, and it cannot see where you rank today.
For real numbers about your own site, Google Search Console is the best source. It shows the searches you already appear for, how often, and how many people click. We show you how to read it alongside the plan.
The agent cannot look at competitor sites. Our Competitor Gap Audit ($597) does: it crawls your top 3 competitors and lists phrases in their titles and headings that your pages never mention. An experienced SEO professional reviews every finding.
Keyword research for a local business
If your customers are nearby, the most valuable searches usually pair a service with a place. "Roof repair" is a big, crowded search. "Roof repair Muncie" is smaller, and much closer to a phone call.
We look at the towns you really serve and how people there phrase their searches. Then we decide which town names belong on which pages. We never suggest pages for towns you do not serve, or near-copies with only the town name swapped.
For a deeper local plan, including your Google Business Profile, see our local keyword targeting service.
What you get from our keyword research
A main keyword for each of your key pages
Close variations and questions for each page
Each keyword sorted by what the searcher wants
Pages that target the same search, flagged
Town and service keywords for local businesses
Ideas for pages or articles you are missing
Suggested page titles and meta descriptions
Tips for following your keywords in Google Search Console
Every Suggestion Explained
You won't get a list and a 'good luck.' Each suggestion says what the searcher wants and which page it belongs on. You always make the final choices.
A Person When You Need One
You can ask the agent follow-up questions in your dashboard any time. A real person on our US-based team answers your questions too, and we are open 24/7.
Signs your keywords are off target
The searches in your Search Console are not the ones you meant to show up for.
Your pages describe your work in trade terms your customers rarely use.
Several pages use nearly the same title and main heading.
Your main service page never names a town you serve.
You show up for questions, but not for the searches where people hire.
Keyword research questions
How many keywords should one page target?
One main phrase, plus the close ways people say the same thing. A page about drain cleaning can also cover “clogged drain” and “slow drain.” A page that tries to rank for five different services usually ranks for none of them.
Do I need to write “near me” on my pages?
No. When someone searches “near me,” Google uses their location to find businesses close by. What helps is naming the towns you really serve, keeping your address and service area correct, and a complete Google Business Profile.
What is a long-tail keyword?
A longer, more specific search, like “water heater replacement cost for a small house” instead of “water heater.” Fewer people search each one, but the people who do often know exactly what they want. Small businesses tend to win more of these.
Can you tell me exactly how many people search for each keyword?
Our Keyword Strategist agent gives educated estimates, not live search counts. The most honest numbers for your own site come from your Google Search Console, which shows the searches you already appear for. Paid keyword tools can add outside estimates if you want them.
How often should keyword research be redone?
Look again when you add a new service, move into a new town, or notice a page losing clicks in Search Console. For most small businesses, a fresh look once or twice a year is plenty.
Ready to know what your customers search for?
Get Your Free 30-Min Keyword Strategy Call
Guessing about keywords is frustrating, especially when your website is your most important marketing tool. Tell us about your business below. On a free 30-minute call, we'll look at where you stand and talk about what would help.
Longer sessions are $150 an hour, or $110 an hour if you host with us or have a plan, with a written estimate first.
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