How to Find What Keywords a Website Is Ranking For

Understanding what keywords a website ranks for is crucial for competitive SEO analysis. Whether you're auditing a competitor or refining your own strategy, knowing these keywords can give you a significant edge. Here’s how to uncover them effectively.

1. Use SEO Tools Like Ahrefs or SEMrush

Premium SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz offer comprehensive keyword tracking features. Simply enter a competitor’s URL, and these tools will display their top-ranking keywords, search volume, and ranking positions.

2. Try Google Search Console (For Your Own Site)

If you own the website, Google Search Console provides free insights into your ranking keywords. Navigate to the Performance report to see queries driving traffic to your site.

3. Leverage Ubersuggest or SpyFu

Free tools like Ubersuggest and SpyFu allow you to analyze competitors’ keywords without breaking the bank. These platforms reveal organic and paid keywords, helping you identify gaps in your strategy.

4. Analyze Competitor Backlinks

Websites often rank for keywords mentioned in their backlinks. Use Ahrefs’ Backlink Profile tool to see which anchor texts competitors are targeting, giving you keyword ideas.

5. Check Google’s "Searches Related To" Section

Scroll to the bottom of Google’s search results for a competitor’s page. The Searches related to section reveals additional keywords Google associates with their content.

6. Use SERP Analysis Tools

Tools like SERanking or SE Ranking analyze search engine results pages (SERPs) to show which keywords a domain ranks for, including long-tail variations.

7. Monitor Social Media and Forums

Sometimes, keywords are hidden in discussions about a brand. Check platforms like Reddit or Quora to see how people describe a competitor’s offerings.

8. Review Competitor Content

Manually inspect a competitor’s blog posts, meta titles, and headers. Keywords are often strategically placed in these elements.

Conclusion

Finding what keywords a website ranks for is easier with the right tools and techniques. Combine automated tools with manual research to get a complete picture and refine your SEO strategy for better rankings.