Service #7

SaaS Keyword Research and Strategy — Target the Keywords That Actually Convert

We build a data-driven keyword strategy specifically for your SaaS — identifying high-intent, rankable keywords across your full buyer funnel so every piece of content and every link you build targets terms that bring trial signups.

200–500
Keywords Researched
Top 5
Competitors Analysed
Full Funnel
TOFU to BOFU
5–7 Days
Delivery Time

Why Generic Keyword Research Fails for SaaS

Most keyword research tools will happily give you a list of high-volume terms related to your product. What they won't tell you is which of those terms your SaaS can realistically rank for at your current Domain Rating, which terms are searched by researchers rather than buyers, and which competitors are so entrenched that targeting those keywords would be a waste of content budget for years.

SaaS keyword strategy isn't about finding the biggest keywords — it's about finding the right keywords: ones with genuine buyer intent, realistic ranking difficulty given where you are now, and clear pathways from ranking to trial signup.

What Makes a Good SaaS Keyword

Search Intent Alignment

The keyword must match what your target buyer is actually looking for. "What is project management" is educational — it gets searches, but those searchers are usually students or researchers, not buyers. "Project management software for remote teams" is commercial — those searchers are evaluating options. We identify keywords by intent, not just volume.

Realistic Ranking Difficulty

Keyword difficulty scores from tools like Ahrefs are a starting point, but they don't tell the full story. We look at the actual DR of pages currently ranking in the top 5 — if they're all DR 80+ enterprises, a DR 30 SaaS has almost no realistic path to ranking there in the short term. We find keywords where the current ranking pages have DR scores your site can compete with.

Commercial Value

Traffic means nothing if it doesn't convert. We weight keywords based on their proximity to purchase intent — bottom-of-funnel comparison and alternative keywords typically convert at 5–10x the rate of top-of-funnel educational content, even at lower search volumes.

Our Keyword Research Process

Step 1 — Seed Keyword Identification

We start with the core terms that describe your product, its key features, and the main problems it solves. From these seed terms, we expand into hundreds of related queries using Ahrefs Keywords Explorer and Google's related searches to build a comprehensive topic map.

Step 2 — Competitor Keyword Gap Analysis

We run your top 5 competitors through Ahrefs Content Gap to identify every keyword they rank for that you don't — revealing a ready-made list of proven, rankable opportunities in your exact niche. If your competitors are getting traffic from these terms, the demand is real and the content type is validated.

Step 3 — Intent Classification and Funnel Mapping

Every keyword in the list gets classified by search intent (informational, navigational, commercial, transactional) and mapped to a funnel stage (TOFU, MOFU, BOFU). This creates a clear picture of your content priorities — what to create first, what supports conversion, and what builds long-term traffic volume.

Step 4 — Difficulty Assessment Based on Your DR

We filter the keyword list based on your current DR, removing terms where ranking is realistically more than 12 months away and flagging "quick win" keywords where you could rank within 60–90 days with a well-structured piece of content and a few supporting links.

What You Receive

Keyword Research Spreadsheet

200–500 keywords with monthly search volume, KD score, CPC (as a commercial value signal), intent classification, funnel stage, and recommended content type.

Quick Win Keyword List

A prioritised subset of 20–40 keywords your site can realistically rank for within 60–90 days — the highest-impact starting point for your content and link building efforts.

Competitor Gap Report

Keywords your top 5 competitors rank for that you don't, sorted by traffic potential and difficulty — showing exactly where competitors are winning organic traffic in your space.

Content Map PDF

A strategic document showing recommended content topics mapped to funnel stages — a 6–12 month content roadmap based on your keyword findings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from just using Ahrefs myself?

Ahrefs is a data tool — it surfaces numbers. Keyword strategy is interpretation: understanding which numbers matter for your specific product, buyer persona, and current SEO position. We've done keyword research across dozens of SaaS verticals and know the patterns that distinguish keywords that convert from keywords that just bring traffic.

Do you include keywords for our existing blog posts?

Yes — we can run a content audit alongside the keyword research to identify existing posts that are ranking on pages 2–3 and could be updated and optimised to rank on page 1. This is often the fastest way to increase organic traffic from existing content.

Can I use this keyword list to brief my own writers?

Absolutely — that's exactly what most of our clients do. The keyword research is the foundation; we also offer a content marketing service if you need help with the actual writing and optimisation.

How often should keyword research be refreshed?

For most SaaS companies, a full keyword strategy refresh every 6–12 months is appropriate. Within that period, we recommend quarterly checks on keyword ranking positions to identify which quick-win keywords have moved up and which might benefit from additional link building support.