If your content isn’t climbing the Google rankings, your keyword strategy is likely off track. The issue isn’t necessarily effort, but it could be related to picking the wrong kind of keywords. Knowing how to target the right keywords is a primary component of SEO success.
You’ve probably heard the advice (even from us) to go after low-competition keywords. Sounds simple, right? But low competition doesn’t mean the same thing for every website. What counts as low competition for a high-authority site may be out of reach for a newer site.
That’s where your SEO arena comes into play. Your arena is the level of keyword difficulty your site can realistically compete in right now. Targeting the right arena makes all the difference in knowing which keywords to focus on.
Why Most Websites Struggle To Target the Right Keywords
Too many websites try to compete in arenas they’re not ready for. They chase high-difficulty keywords and then wonder why nothing’s ranking.
To fix this, first you need to find what your arena is and focus your efforts there. Once you understand your arena, you’ll know exactly how to target the right keywords and where to begin your SEO journey.
Step 1: Discover Your Arena Using Tools Like Semrush or Ahrefs
Start by analyzing your site with an SEO tool like Semrush* or Ahrefs. These platforms help you figure out which keywords your site already ranks for, as well as how competitive those keywords are.
Here’s how to get the information you need from Semrush:
- Open the Domain Overview feature.
- Enter your website’s URL and hit search.
- Look for the Organic Research section and click “View Details.”
- Export the complete keyword list as an Excel or CSV file.
Once you’ve got your file, open it in Excel or Google Sheets.
*Want to try Semrush for Free? Use our partnership link to save money on giving this platform a try!
Step 2: Analyze the Keyword Data
Now it’s time to run the numbers from your sheet. You’ll want to group your rankings into buckets of the top 3, top 10, top 20, and so on.
Then calculate the average keyword difficulty, or KD, for each group. After calculating the average for each group, find the overall average KD your site is currently competing with.
This gives you a crystal-clear view of what your site can handle and where your sweet spot is to target the right keywords.
Step 3: Target Keywords Within Reach
Armed with your average KD, focus on targeting low-competition keywords that sit just above your current level. That’s your arena, or the space where your site should be primed to win.
As your content and authority grow, your arena will also expand. But for now, stay in your lane and build momentum. Once you understand how to target the right keywords within your designated arena, you can begin to optimize your strategy for long-term growth.
Targeting the Right Keywords Helped Our Clients
We used this exact approach to help one client grow from 2,439 visits per month to over 8,500 in just 12 months with only four blog posts per month.
Their keyword profile exploded from 93 total keywords to more than 4,000. Even better, keywords ranking in the top 1–3 positions jumped from 5 to 341, which is a 6,720% increase.
The secret was understanding their arena and building a smart, data-backed content plan of webpages, local SEO strategy, and blogging that utilizes the right keywords in the right places for long-term success.
Ready To Win Your Arena by Targeting the Right Keywords?
When you know your arena and how to target the right keywords, you stop guessing and start competing. Target keywords your site can rank for today, and watch your traffic grow tomorrow.
If you don’t have access to premium SEO tools, no problem. Schedule your SEO consultation with the experts at BKA Content today, and let’s take your rankings to the next level.
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