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Finding Commercial Keywords with Ahrefs

Overview​

This guide covers two powerful methods for finding commercial and transactional keywords using Ahrefs, followed by a strategy to combine and refine your findings.

Method 1: Competitor Analysis Approach​

1. Identify Competitors​

  1. List your direct competitors
  2. Find similar businesses using Ahrefs' "Competing domains" report
  3. Look for competitors ranking for your target keywords

2. Analyze Competitor Keywords​

  1. Go to Site Explorer
  2. Enter competitor's domain
  3. Navigate to "Organic keywords" report
  4. Apply filters:
    • Traffic value: High to low
    • KD: Maximum 50

3. Filter for Commercial Intent​

For a comprehensive list of commercial intent keywords and examples, see our Understanding Keyword Intent guide.

Apply advanced filters:

  • Include keywords containing:

    # Transactional Intent
    buy, purchase, order, get, subscribe, download
    price, cost, pricing, cheap, affordable, discount
    deal, offer, sale, shipping, delivery
    shop, store, marketplace, online, instant
    hire, book, schedule, near me, in [location]

    # Commercial Investigation
    best, top, leading, recommended, trusted
    vs, versus, comparison, compare, review, rating
    alternative, similar to, professional, expert
    premium, luxury, popular, trending
    for [business/audience], for [industry]

    # Product Specifications
    size, dimensions, features, specifications
    models, types, brands, custom, personalized
    new, latest, updated, premium, standard

    # Purchase Qualifiers
    online, instant, fast, quick, express
    free shipping, same day, next day
    wholesale, bulk, licensed, certified
    genuine, authentic, official, authorized

Additional Considerations​

Note: This list of commercial and transactional indicators is not exhaustive. Different industries, niches, and markets may have unique modifiers that signal purchase intent.

Always consider:

  • Industry-specific terminology
  • Regional language variations
  • Emerging market trends
  • Seasonal modifiers
  • Brand-specific terms

SERP Analysis​

Look for keywords with:

  • Shopping SERP features
  • High CPC values
  • Commercial terms in title
  • "Buy now" or "Purchase" CTAs in meta descriptions

Pro Tip: Refer to our Understanding Keyword Intent guide for detailed examples of commercial intent keywords for each landing page type.

For a deeper understanding of keyword intent patterns in your specific niche, analyze your top-performing competitors and customer search behavior.

4. Organize Findings​

  1. Create keyword lists by:
    • Landing page type
    • Search intent
    • Search volume tiers
  2. Export data for further analysis

Method 2: Product/Service-Based Approach​

1. Seed Keyword Generation​

  1. List your:
    • Product/service names
    • Features and benefits
    • Common use cases
    • Target audience descriptors

2. Explore Keyword Ideas​

  1. Use Keywords Explorer
  2. Enter your seed keywords
  3. Explore sections:
    • Matching terms
    • Questions
    • Also rank for
    • Having same terms

3. Use Advanced Operators​

Combine your terms with:

  1. Parent topic analysis
  2. Phrase match
  3. Having same terms
  4. Questions

Use features like:

  • "Also rank for"
  • "Terms match"
  • "Parent topic"
  • "Having same terms"

Combining and Refining Results​

1. Merge Keyword Lists​

  1. Export all keywords from both methods
  2. Combine into a master spreadsheet
  3. Remove duplicates

2. Clean Up Data​

  1. Remove irrelevant keywords
  2. Group similar keywords
  3. Identify parent topics

3. Prioritize Keywords​

Create a scoring system based on:

  1. Search volume
  2. Keyword difficulty
  3. Commercial intent
  4. Competition level
  5. CPC value

4. Final Shortlisting​

  1. Group by landing page type
  2. Select primary keywords
  3. Include relevant variations
  4. Create final focus list

Best Practices​

Data Organization​

  • Use clear naming conventions
  • Create separate sheets for different intents
  • Document your process
  • Save your filtered views

Analysis Tips​

  1. Look for patterns in successful keywords
  2. Check SERP features
  3. Analyze top-ranking pages
  4. Consider seasonal trends

Keyword Selection Criteria​

  • Clear commercial intent
  • Reasonable competition level
  • Sufficient search volume
  • Relevant to your offering
  • Matches landing page type

Common Pitfalls to Avoid​

  1. Ignoring search intent
  2. Focusing only on volume
  3. Missing keyword variations
  4. Overlooking long-tail opportunities
  5. Not considering user journey

Next Steps​

After finalizing your keyword list:

  1. Group by landing page type
  2. Set priority levels
  3. Create content calendar
  4. Plan tracking metrics

Need help with SEMrush? Check our SEMrush Guide