Discovering keywords used by competitors without an SEO tool can be done manually through some clever observation techniques. Here are a few methods:
1. Analyze Page Titles and Meta Descriptions
- Right-click on a competitor's webpage and select “View Page Source” to look at the HTML code.
- Search for `<title>` and `<meta name="description">` tags to see the title and meta description, which often contain primary keywords.
2. Examine Headings (H1, H2, H3)
- Competitors usually include important keywords in their headings (H1, H2, etc.). You can inspect the headings directly on the website or through the page source.
3.Check the URL Structure
- URLs often contain keywords, especially in well-optimized sites. Look at the URLs of key pages and note the words they use, as they’re likely targeting those keywords.
4. Read the Content
- Simply reading through the competitor’s website can reveal commonly repeated terms or phrases. Pay attention to product/service descriptions, blog posts, and landing pages.
5. Look at Alt Text for Images
- Right-click on images and select “Inspect” to find the alt text. Alt text is often keyword-rich because it's used for both accessibility and SEO purposes.
6. Analyze Blog Posts
- Blogs are usually optimized around specific keywords. Look at the titles, subheadings, and content structure to identify recurring themes or phrases.
7. Competitor's Social Media and Blog Tags
- Check out the tags used on blog posts or social media posts. Tags often reflect the keywords they’re targeting.
8. Use Google’s “Site:” Operator
- Use Google’s search operator `site:competitorwebsite.com` and combine it with keyword ideas to see what content is prioritized by Google. This helps you see what the search engine associates with the site.
These methods can give you a good understanding of your competitor's keyword strategies without relying on advanced SEO tools.
