Keyword Research & Strategy · Australia & New Zealand
Keyword Research That Finds Your Buyers
I go beyond pulling a list of high-volume terms. Every keyword research engagement includes competitor gap analysis, search intent classification, and a prioritised targeting plan that tells you exactly which pages to create and which to optimise first. Backed by 15+ years working with Australian businesses across every major industry.
Does this sound familiar?
These are the most common keyword strategy mistakes I see with Australian businesses.
You're targeting the wrong keywords
High search volume doesn't mean high value. Many businesses optimise for terms with no commercial intent - getting traffic that never converts.
Competitors are taking your customers
Your competitors rank for the same service keywords you're trying to target. Without a gap analysis, you don't know what they have that you don't.
Your content strategy has no direction
Publishing blog posts without a keyword map means each article is a guess. Topic clusters built on data perform; random content doesn't.
You're hitting keyword cannibalisation
Multiple pages on your site compete for the same keyword, splitting ranking signals and confusing Google about which page should rank.
Here's what proper research looks like
Six core areas covered in every keyword research engagement.
Competitor Gap Analysis
I map keywords your competitors rank for that you don't, identifying the fastest ranking opportunities. Every gap scored for difficulty and business value.
Search Intent Classification
Every keyword is classified as informational, commercial, or transactional. Matching page type to intent is one of the most reliable ways to improve both rankings and conversions.
Keyword Metrics Analysis
Each keyword evaluated across search volume, keyword difficulty, CPC, and click potential. High CPC keywords reveal commercial intent that volume alone doesn't show.
Long-Tail Opportunity Mining
Systematically mine long-tail variants with lower competition and higher specificity. These convert at a higher rate than broad head terms.
Topic Cluster Creation
Keywords grouped into pillar-and-spoke clusters. One authoritative pillar page with supporting spoke pages. This structure signals topical authority to Google.
Content Calendar Mapping
The final output includes a 12-month content calendar assigning keywords to specific pages in the order they should be created or optimised.
Keyword strategy results I've delivered
Keyword rankings tracked and verified through Keyword.com.
How keyword research works with me
A clear four-step process. Comprehensive data, strategic interpretation, actionable output.
Discover
Business and Audience Discovery
I start by understanding your business model, target customer, geographic focus, and the products or services that drive the most revenue. This context shapes every keyword decision that follows, ensuring the strategy targets buyers rather than browsers.
Expand
Keyword Universe Expansion
Using five or more tools including Ahrefs, Semrush, Google Search Console, Google Keyword Planner, and AlsoAsked, I build a broad keyword universe from seed terms, competitor URLs, autocomplete data, and related question mining. This stage typically surfaces 5,000 to 20,000 raw keyword candidates.
Analyse
Competitive Intelligence
I analyse up to 10 competitors in your niche, mapping their keyword positions, traffic-driving pages, and content gaps. This reveals which keywords are already well-contested and which represent genuine quick-win opportunities that competitors have overlooked.
Map
Strategy and Content Mapping
The refined keyword list is filtered, scored, classified by intent, and organised into topic clusters. I then map each cluster to a specific page type and produce the content calendar and strategy document you can execute immediately, without needing to interpret raw data.
Why work with a keyword strategy specialist
| Other Service Providers | My Approach | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | Junior analyst with a keyword tool subscription | I personally analyse every keyword and apply 15+ years of pattern recognition |
| Intent classification | Automated tags, no contextual review | Manual intent analysis per keyword |
| Strategy depth | A spreadsheet with no execution plan | Topic clusters, prioritised calendar, content roadmap |
| Australian data | Global search volume estimates | Australian-specific data with local spelling variants |
| Timeline | 6-12 week turnaround | 3-4 week delivery, standalone or integrated |
“The keyword strategy gave us a clear 12-month content plan. We stopped guessing and started ranking. Within six months we had pages on page one we'd never targeted before.”- Rebecca L., Marketing Manager, Brisbane
Is keyword research right for you?
Keyword research delivers the most value in these situations.
Before Starting a Content Strategy
Don't create content without knowing which keywords have real search volume, commercial intent, and realistic ranking potential for your domain.
Before a Website Redesign
A website redesign is the right time to map keywords to pages. Building the architecture around a keyword strategy prevents you from recreating existing ranking mistakes.
After a Traffic Drop
If organic traffic dropped after an algorithm update, a keyword audit identifies which terms were affected, what changed, and what the recovery path looks like.
Keyword research as a standalone or included service
Available as a one-off engagement or as part of monthly SEO.
Starter
For small businesses targeting a specific service area.
Keyword research includes:
- Up to 200 keywords
- Competitor gap analysis (3 competitors)
- Intent classification
Growth
For businesses planning a full content strategy.
Keyword research includes:
- 500-1,000 keywords
- Competitor gap analysis (5 competitors)
- Topic cluster creation
- 12-month content calendar
Pro
For businesses in competitive markets with deep research needs.
Keyword research includes:
- 1,000-2,000 keywords
- 10 competitor analysis
- Full SERP analysis report
- Keyword-to-page mapping
Authority
For enterprise-level keyword intelligence and strategy.
Keyword research includes:
- 2,000+ keywords
- Unlimited competitor analysis
- Full SERP analysis report
- Full strategy document
- Quarterly keyword refresh
Included in all monthly SEO packages. Get a custom quote
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore more ways to grow
Ready to turn organic search into your strongest growth channel?
If you're looking for an SEO specialist in Australia or New Zealand who combines government-validated credentials, entity-based methodology, and a track record spanning global brands to local businesses - I'd welcome the conversation.