CMAX.ai discusses how AI tools help you know what type of keywords to target and drive success in your programmatic SEO efforts. Click here for expert insights.
What type of keywords to target depends on your programmatic SEO strategy’s goals. Target low-competition, long tail and niche keywords for higher intent and better conversion rates. Use AI tools for keyword discovery, categorize by user intent and focus on aligning content with searcher needs. Leverage long-tail keywords to capture specific, actionable queries.
Programmatic SEO takes a fresh approach to content creation compared to traditional methods. Instead of pouring hours into manually optimizing a handful of keywords, it uses AI-driven tools to craft content at scale, aimed at addressing highly specific search queries.
Because you’re zeroing in on a broader range of keywords, programmatic SEO helps businesses capture search traffic they might have otherwise missed. It’s a game-changer for larger websites, giving them the ability to roll out hundreds – or even thousands – of optimized pages quickly and efficiently.
Keyword selection is the cornerstone of winning programmatic SEO strategies, and it’s all about connecting with the intent behind your audience’s search behavior.
Which keywords are best to target in SEO? It depends. In this section, we’ll walk you through the different types of keywords that you may want to consider in your programmatic SEO strategy.
Success in SEO often comes down to choosing the right keywords to target. Head keywords and long tail keywords serve different purposes in SEO strategies, so let’s cover what these differences are – and why they matter.
Think of head keywords like the bright billboards on a busy highway. Although you can get a lot of attention with these terms, they also come with sky-high competition.
Head keywords cast a wide net, but they also attract a broad audience with varying levels of interest. Ranking for them also requires significant resources, and even then, the conversion rates might leave you underwhelmed.
Let’s take “shoes” as an example. Imagine a visitor lands on your site after searching this term. Are they looking for running shoes, dress shoes or toddler-sized sneakers? Who knows?
That’s the challenge with head keywords – too much ambiguity and too little intent. Unless you’ve got the budget of a retail giant, targeting these keywords can feel like trying to climb a mountain without proper gear – an exhausting effort that’s unlikely to get you to the summit.
For most businesses, especially those with limited resources, long tail keywords are the smarter play.
These terms are the sniper rifles of SEO – targeted, focused, and incredibly effective when used right. Instead of chasing the ambiguous, you’re capturing the ready-to-buy audience. These people are the ones searching for terms like “best running shoes for flat feet” or “top leather dress shoes under $200,” rather than just “shoes.”
The specificity is why long tail keywords are key for programmatic SEO. Their search volume might be lower, but the intent is higher. When someone searches for “best hiking boots for winter,” they’re likely further along in their decision-making process, which means they’re more likely to spend money on whatever you’re offering.
And the best part is, fewer businesses are competing for those exact phrases, making it easier (and cheaper) to rank for them. Instead of burning your budget chasing head terms, you can build momentum targeting thousands upon thousands of long tail keywords. Over time, this creates a compounding effect, boosting your site’s authority and paving the way for bigger wins.
To drive the point home, here are two scenarios to consider:
Whether you’re a neighborhood café or an international e-commerce giant, knowing when and how to use local and global keywords ensures you’re targeting the right audience with precision.
Local keywords are great for driving foot traffic and connecting with nearby customers. These keywords include geographical markers, like city names or “near me” phrases.
For example:
Naturally, these terms appeal to users actively seeking solutions in a specific area. For businesses with a physical presence, like restaurants, salons or gyms, leveraging local keywords is a no-brainer. They ensure visibility where it matters most – in your own backyard.
Global keywords, on the other hand, are built to reach audiences far and wide. They work wonders for businesses that aren’t tied to one location – think e-commerce platforms or SaaS providers that cater to an international market.
Examples include:
These keywords drive traffic from across the globe, making them a key element for companies that want to scale. However, do keep in mind that global keywords often come with high competition. So, if you want to succeed with them, you need a blend of strategic targeting and compelling content.
It all comes down to your business and audience.
For local businesses, prioritizing local keywords is a smart move, especially since they often have less competition. Even if you’re thinking big, adding some specific local terms into your strategy can help you snag better rankings without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, businesses with a broader reach can blend local and global terms strategically, staying competitive while keeping visibility high.
Think of your audience like a room full of people at a party. Broad keywords, like “fitness,” are the equivalent of shouting across the room: sure, a few heads might turn, but most will ignore you because your message doesn’t feel relevant to them.
Now, niche keywords, such as “yoga mats for beginners,” are like walking up to someone and starting a conversation about a topic they’re deeply interested in. Suddenly, you’re not just another voice in the crowd – you’re the person they actually want to talk to.
When you zero in on niche keywords, you’re tapping into a goldmine of opportunity. It’s an especially smart move for programmatic content – one that helps you rank higher while carving out your space in the market.
Seasonal trends play a pivotal role in shaping keyword strategies, especially when considering user intent within programmatic SEO. After all, search volumes are rarely static – they ebb and flow with the seasons, holidays and emerging consumer interests. If you’re not paying attention to these fluctuations and tweaking your programmatic content calendar frequency as necessary, you’re likely leaving significant traffic and conversion opportunities on the table.
Think about the holidays: year after year, keywords like “Christmas gifts” start seeing regular spikes once the festive season kicks in.
For this reason, tools like Google Trends are essential. With this data, you can align your content calendar with anticipated traffic peaks, ensuring your website is ready when the demand hits.
What’s more, broader market trends might end up revealing big shifts in consumer preferences, like the rise of eco-friendly products or the increasing demand for remote work tools. Capturing these nuances allows you to tweak your keyword strategy to address evolving user needs.
When choosing your keywords, you need to make sure they match your audience’s intent for better relevance and engagement. One approach involves categorizing keywords based on user intent type.
If you’ve ever searched “What are the 4 types of keywords in SEO?”, then these types are likely what you’ve been looking for:
AI tools are revolutionizing the way keyword research gets done, making life a whole lot easier for marketers. They take the heavy lifting out of the process by delivering deep insights into user behavior and search trends while cutting down on the time spent sifting through endless data.
With AI in your corner, keyword strategy becomes faster, smarter, and laser-focused. It’s a precision tool for programmatic SEO, making it easier to adapt and dominate.
Predictive analysis and real-time data integration are redefining the way marketers approach search behavior trends. AI tools can analyze user data and historical patterns and provide insights into which keywords might gain traction in the coming weeks or months, offering marketers the chance to adjust strategies proactively.
But what really sets this apart is the agility these tools bring to the table. With real-time data integration, marketers can react instantly to shifts in user behavior or market dynamics.
Let’s say a product trend takes off unexpectedly, or breaking news sparks a surge in related searches. AI systems can detect these spikes, and more importantly, they can guide you in pivoting your content strategy immediately to capture that surge in interest.
ChatGPT can become a powerhouse for your programmatic SEO keyword research process, and all it takes is the right process and prompts. Here’s a simple process you can follow to find the best long tail keywords to target in your content:
Begin by defining your niche to ensure that ChatGPT provides meaningful results. Without clarity, the output might be too broad or unrelated.
Pro Tip: Start with broad topics but include details to make ChatGPT’s output more targeted.
Seed keywords lay the groundwork for expanding possibilities in keyword research. These terms serve as the anchor for generating variations, branching into different user intents like informational, transactional or navigational.
Question-based keywords tap into the informational intent of searchers. This approach is perfect for crafting engaging blog posts, FAQs or educational content.
Modifiers like adjectives, locations or intent-focused phrases provide specificity in keywords. Adding these elements helps your keywords better align with user intent while creating detailed, focused variations.
Analyzing competitor keywords can reveal gaps and opportunities you can turn into wins. By seeing what’s working for them, you get a clear view of where your own strategy might need a boost.
Remember, your keyword lists aren’t static. They’re dynamic assets that change based your audience’s needs and behaviors. If you want to maintain relevance, you need to regularly revisit and improve your keyword list.
Not all long tail keywords are created equal. Some are gold, while others are just clutter. The secret is knowing how to sort and validate them so your efforts actually pay off.
If you want a more in-depth discussion on how to use AI tools to take your strategy to the next level, check out our beginner guide for programmatic SEO.
AI-driven keyword categorization helps you organize keywords in ways that make every piece of content hit its mark. Here are some different ways to categorize your keywords:
When you combine human expertise with AI tools, the results can transform your SEO strategy.
AI is brilliant at processing massive amounts of data quickly, identifying relevant keywords and even forecasting trends. However, its insights are only as effective as the human decisions guiding their application.
SEO professionals add depth to AI’s precision by interpreting data through the lens of audience preferences, market nuances and brand identity. While AI can highlight search volumes or suggest topics, it takes human insight to craft narratives that engage and connect with readers.
A keyword is just the beginning; shaping it into content that resonates requires creativity, empathy and a deep understanding of context.
Relying solely on AI without applying human judgment risks producing content that lacks authenticity or alignment with broader goals. Before implementing a keyword or content suggestion, ask:
When it comes to choosing the right keywords for your SEO strategy, it’s all about playing to your strengths and knowing your limits. When you approach this process, you need to be mindful of two critical metrics: Domain Authority (DA) and Ranking Potential.
Domain Authority is like your website’s digital reputation – it predicts how well you can rank in search engine results.
When prioritizing keywords for your programmatic SEO strategy, consider if your website’s DA allows you to effectively rank for them in the first place. If your website has a good enough domain authority, for instance, you’ll have no trouble ranking for low and medium difficulty keywords, even without any backlinks.
The keywords you target should hit the sweet spot: decent search volume but manageable competition. High-volume keywords with sky-high competition can drain your resources without delivering results. Long tail keywords, on the other hand, are often easier to rank for and can deliver highly targeted traffic – your secret weapon in capturing intent-driven visitors.
How to spot winners:
AI can be a game-changer when it comes to organizing keywords and sharpening your SEO game. Here’s how to make it work for you:
Every query users type into search engines is fueled by an intent – whether they’re gathering information, looking for specific services, or ready to buy. AI tools can analyze massive amounts of search data and sort keywords into categories like informational, navigational, transactional or commercial. This allows you to design your content around the precise needs of your audience.
Here is a simple prompt you can use to quickly categorize your keyword list:
Prompt: Please categorize the following keywords related to [industry] based on user intent: informational, navigational, transactional, or commercial investigation.
Definitions for reference:
Informational: Keywords used to find answers or learn about a topic (e.g., ‘how to choose the best [industry product] for beginners’).
Navigational: Keywords used to locate a specific brand, website, or entity (e.g., ‘[Brand Name] login’, ‘[Brand Name] homepage’).
Transactional: Keywords indicating a desire to complete a purchase or action (e.g., ‘buy [industry product] online’, ‘best deals on [industry service]’).
Commercial Investigation: Keywords signaling research before a potential transaction, often comparing products or services (e.g., ‘best [industry product] for professionals’, ‘[Brand A] vs [Brand B]’).
Task: Group each keyword under its corresponding intent type. Provide a brief explanation for your categorization if any keyword seems ambiguous or falls into multiple categories.
Keywords to categorize:
[Insert your keyword list]
Keywords don’t live in isolation, and neither should your content.
Organize your keywords into thematic clusters, and you can map out topics that resonate with your audience and improve your site’s topical authority. Tools powered by AI make this process seamless, using natural language processing to find connections you might miss manually.
Here’s the truth: SEO isn’t static.
Trends change, algorithms evolve and user behavior shifts. So, if you egularly update your keyword categories, you can ensure that your strategy stays ahead of the curve.
The good news is, AI makes this process a lot easier. They can monitor keyword performance, track emerging trends and re-categorize keywords dynamically. With effective use of AI, you can keep your content aligned with the latest search patterns so you’re always one step ahead of the competition.
Keeping your keyword strategy sharp takes ongoing effort, but it’s well worth it. Here’s how to stay ahead of the curve:
Creating a vast array of content tailored to specific keywords can feel like a never-ending game of catch-up. Enter CMAX, a system designed to revolutionize how businesses approach programmatic content creation.
Here’s how we let you experience exponential growth on autopilot:
Stop settling for outdated SEO methods. Start turning untapped traffic into real results. Book a FREE video consultation with us today.
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