Find & Analyze Competitor Keywords: Tools & Tactics

Find & Analyze Competitor Keywords: Tools & Tactics

Why this matters

Think of competitor keyword analysis like peeking at a rival’s best-selling menu. It tells you which search terms are bringing them customers so you can spot what they do well—and where they're leaving money on the table. In plain terms: competitor keyword analysis reveals which search terms drive traffic to rivals so you can find content gaps and quick-win opportunities.

What you’ll get out of this how-to

Why spend time on it? Because the payoff is practical and fast:

  • Find topics your audience already searches for but your site doesn’t cover.
  • Prioritize pieces you can realistically rank for (quick wins).
  • Steal ideas for better titles, headings, and link targets that move the needle.

Which tools we’ll use (free and paid)

You don’t need to buy every tool. We’ll walk through both free and paid methods so you can pick what fits your budget:

  • Free/Google tools: Google, Google Search Console, Google Keyword Planner — great for raw search data and starter keywords.
  • Affordable/free tier tools: Ubersuggest — quick competitor checks without a big budget.
  • Advanced paid tools: SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz — deep backlink and keyword intel, keyword difficulty scores, and SERP feature tracking.

What this guide covers — step by step

This how-to covers:

  • Free and paid methods to find competitor keywords so you can choose low-cost or high-power workflows.
  • How to evaluate search intent (what the searcher actually wants) and keyword difficulty (how hard it is to rank). I’ll explain both in plain language so you can make decisions, not guesses.
  • How to turn those insights into concrete content, on-page, and link actions that drive traffic.

Quick preview of the work you’ll do

You’ll learn to:

  • Extract competitor keyword lists from tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Ubersuggest, and supplement with data from Google Search Console and Google Keyword Planner.
  • Read the SERP to judge intent: are searchers looking to buy, learn, or compare?
  • Use keyword difficulty scores as a reality check, not a gospel—pair them with page-level backlink and content quality checks.
  • Create a prioritized action list for new articles, better on-page optimization, and targeted link-building opportunities.

Why this process works

Because it moves you from guessing to evidence-based moves. Instead of throwing content at the wall, you’ll build pages that match real queries and the way Google ranks results. That means faster wins, smarter content, and a clearer path to scaling traffic.

Ready to dig in?

Next, we’ll start with the simplest free methods and then layer in paid tools so you can scale. Where do you want to start—no-cost basics or a faster paid workflow?

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Why go fast? Because spotting a competitor’s likely keywords quickly gives you a running start — you can prioritize pages to dig into and test fast wins. Below are practical, free and quick ways to surface what a competitor or a single page probably ranks for.

Quick discovery with Google site: searches

  • Use site:domain.com in Google to list indexed pages and snippets. This shows which pages exist and how Google currently displays them.
  • What it gives you: a rapid inventory of pages, titles, and meta snippets — perfect for spotting likely landing pages or topic clusters.
  • What it doesn’t give you: actual ranked keywords. A site:domain.com search does not list the keywords a page ranks for; it’s best for quick page discovery, not keyword reporting.
  • Quick tip: combine it with search operators (e.g., site:domain.com intitle:"how to", site:domain.com "buy") to find pages targeting specific intents.

Mine Google search itself for keyword clues

  • Check Autocomplete, People also ask, and the “Searches related to…” box for quick, free keyword ideas the competitor might be targeting.
  • Look at SERP snippets and featured snippets to see which phrases Google highlights — those are often the phrases driving traffic.
  • Why this matters: it’s fast and takes under a minute per query to see what phrasing Google associates with a topic.

Use Google Keyword Planner for volume and idea ranges

  • Google Keyword Planner gives keyword ideas and search volume ranges. It’s free, but you need a Google Ads account to access it (you don’t have to run ads).
  • What it’s good for: validating whether a candidate phrase actually has search demand and getting related idea clusters.
  • Limitation: Keyword Planner gives ranges, not precise search volumes for low-activity terms — but it’s enough for prioritizing.

What Google Search Console can and can’t do

  • Google Search Console shows the queries a site actually ranks for — but only for sites you own or verify.
  • Why that matters: if you control the site, Search Console is your most accurate, free source of which queries drive impressions and clicks.
  • Limitation: you cannot use Search Console to see competitor query data. It’s for your property only.

Free (and limited) third-party options

  • Ubersuggest: offers a handful of free reports per day that can show estimated keywords and top pages for a competitor. Fast and beginner-friendly.
  • Moz: has some free tools (limited Keyword Explorer queries and MozBar) that help surface on-page targets and basic keyword ideas.
  • SEMrush and Ahrefs: industry-standard for competitor keyword research, but mainly paid. They have limited free trials or restricted free reports that can still reveal a few top keywords and pages quickly.
  • How to use them fast: plug in the competitor domain, scan their top-ranking pages, export the top 10–20 keyword ideas, and cross-check volumes in Keyword Planner.

Practical, step-by-step fast workflow

  1. Do a site:domain.com scan to find candidate pages and titles (2–5 minutes).
  2. Search the page title or main heading in Google and note Autocomplete, People Also Ask, and related searches (3–5 minutes).
  3. Run the domain through one free third-party tool (Ubersuggest, Moz, or a limited SEMrush/Ahrefs report) and export top keywords (5–10 minutes).
  4. Validate demand with Google Keyword Planner (5 minutes) to see volume ranges and prioritize.
  5. If it’s your site, use Google Search Console to compare your query data to competitor positioning and find gaps (ongoing).

What’s in it for you?

  • You’ll quickly identify which competitor pages are worth deeper analysis.
  • You’ll get a prioritized list of candidate keywords to test in content and ads.
  • You’ll know when to escalate to paid tools (SEMrush, Ahrefs) for full-scale keyword harvesting.

Final reality check

  • Free methods get you fast, actionable clues — not perfect keyword lists. site:domain.com shows pages and snippets but not the ranked keywords, Keyword Planner gives ideas and volume ranges but needs an Ads account, and Search Console is only for sites you own. Use the free tools to triage and the paid tools when you need full coverage.

Why bother with specialized tools? Because they scale the snooping you can do manually and turn scattered clues into clear opportunities. Want to know which keywords actually move traffic for a rival, which pages win, and how that changed over time? That’s what these tools are built for.

How SEMrush and Ahrefs actually work

  • Both SEMrush and Ahrefs combine site crawling with large clickstream and third‑party datasets to estimate a competitor’s organic keywords, rankings, and traffic. Think of it like tuning into a set of radio stations — they sample lots of signals and reconstruct what’s popular.
  • That means their keyword lists and position estimates are inferred, not literal copies of a competitor’s analytics. They’re very useful for trends and patterns, but not exact click counts.
  • Paid plans unlock full keyword lists, historical trends, and fine-grained position histories. Free previews often show only top examples.

Practical steps to extract competitor keywords (tool-focused)

  1. Pick 2–5 realistic competitors (direct rivals or sites ranking for your target topics).
  2. Run a Domain Overview in SEMrush or Ahrefs to get top organic keywords, top pages, and traffic estimates. Export the CSV for offline filtering.
  3. Use the Organic Keywords and Top Pages reports to see which queries drive pages and which pages drive traffic. Note search positions and estimated volume/traffic.
  4. Apply filters: position ranges (1–3, 4–10), keyword intent (informational vs transactional), and traffic share. Prioritize low-difficulty, high-intent keywords you can realistically win.
  5. Check historical charts in the tool to spot rising or falling keywords — this shows momentum and seasonality. If you see a spike, dig into content or backlinks from the time of the spike.
  6. Validate promising keywords with Google Keyword Planner for broader volume context and with your Google Search Console data for real performance if you’re already ranking. Use multiple sources to cross-check outliers.

Ubersuggest, Moz, and the reality of free access

  • Ubersuggest and Moz provide helpful keyword and site reports with limited free access. You can get quick ideas, top keywords, and basic difficulty metrics without a subscription.
  • Free versions typically cap rows, limit history, and reduce the freshness or depth of clickstream signals. That affects both coverage and accuracy.
  • Use them to shortlist ideas, but expect to upgrade or combine tools for a complete competitive picture.

Free vs paid tradeoffs — what you gain and what you lose

  • Free: low cost, good for quick reconnaissance, ideal if you’re validating topic ideas or operating on a tiny budget. Limits: reduced rows, limited history, lower accuracy, and no deep export.
  • Paid: deeper keyword coverage, full historical trends, precise position tracking, and richer filters. You pay for scale and certainty.
  • Practical decision: if your niche is competitive or you need to monitor multiple rivals, invest in a paid plan. If you’re experimenting or on a tight budget, use Ubersuggest/ Moz + spot checks in SEMrush/Ahrefs trials, then validate with Google Keyword Planner and Google Search Console.

What’s in it for you?

  • You get a prioritized list of competitor keywords that actually send traffic, not guesses. You can target the low-hanging, high-intent terms and plan content that closes the gap.
  • Combine tool estimates (SEMrush/Ahrefs) with your own data (Google Search Console) and planner volumes (Google Keyword Planner) to make smarter, less risky decisions.

Quick tip: run a focused audit for one competitor first. Export their top 50–100 keywords, filter for realistic positions and intent, and build a 90‑day content/optimization plan from that list. Small, data-driven wins compound fast.

Why bother checking rankings? Because you want to know which pages are already earning attention, which keywords need a nudge, and where competitors are winning. Think of it like checking your shop window and the foot traffic — you want to see who stops, what they look at, and which displays need rearranging.

Google Search Console: your single-source truth

  • Use: Open Google Search Console > Performance. This is the most reliable source for your organic data because it comes straight from Google.
  • What it shows: queries, impressions, clicks, and average position — and you can view those metrics per page (your site only).
  • Practical checks:
    • Filter by a specific page to see the exact queries that brought people to that URL.
    • Compare impressions vs clicks to spot pages with good visibility but poor click-through (fix title/meta).
    • Sort by average position to find pages sitting in positions 4–10 — the easiest to push to page one.
  • Quick action: Export the data, group queries by intent (informational, commercial, transactional), and prioritize pages where impressions are high but CTR is low.

On-page checks: confirm what you’re actually targeting

  • What to scan: title tag, H1, and the page’s main body copy. These tell Google (and people) what the page is about.
  • How to check:
    • Title tag: Is your primary keyword naturally included near the front?
    • H1: Does it match or support the title? Is it clear and user-focused?
    • Content coverage: Does the page answer the searcher’s question or cover variations of the target keyword?
  • Why it matters: Rankings reported by tools are only signals. On-page elements are what you control to influence those signals.
  • Extra checks: Look at internal links, schema/structured data, and image alt text to ensure supporting signals match your target.

Rank trackers: watch chosen keywords over time

  • Purpose: Rank trackers let you monitor a chosen set of keywords (and locations or devices) over time, so you can see the impact of changes instead of guessing.
  • Options: Commercial and some free choices exist — SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, Ubersuggest (free/limited), plus many dedicated rank trackers.
  • What they do: Track position changes, show historical trends, and let you compare against competitors for the same keyword set.
  • How to use them:
    • Start with a focused list: core product/service keywords + pages you’re optimizing.
    • Set location and device (desktop vs mobile) because rankings can differ.
    • Schedule regular checks and alerts for sudden drops or wins.
  • Practical tip: Use trackers for trend confirmation, not raw volume — combine with Search Console and on-page checks to act.

Supplementary tools and where they fit

  • Google Keyword Planner: Good for keyword ideas and search volume context (ad-focused data), useful when planning which terms to target next.
  • SEMrush / Ahrefs / Moz / Ubersuggest: Useful for competitive signal sampling — see which keywords other sites rank for, estimate volumes, and discover gaps. Treat their numbers as estimates and cross-check with Search Console.

A short, practical workflow you can run today

  1. Open Google Search Console > Performance. Filter by page or site and export queries with impressions, clicks, and average position.
  2. Inspect pages with high impressions but low CTR — update title tags and meta descriptions first.
  3. Run a quick on-page check: confirm title, H1, and content cover the target intent and include key variations.
  4. Pick a focused keyword list for tracking (your priority terms + a few competitor terms). Add them to a rank tracker, set location/device, and schedule daily/weekly checks.
  5. Use Google Keyword Planner and a tool like SEMrush/Ahrefs/Moz/Ubersuggest to expand keyword ideas and validate opportunities. Export findings and feed them back into your content plan.

What’s in it for you?

  • You’ll stop guessing and start acting on real signals from Google and the market.
  • You’ll spot easy wins (pages close to page one) and technical/content gaps you can fix fast.
  • Over time, you’ll turn rank movements into measurable business outcomes — traffic, leads, sales.

Ready to dig in? Start with Search Console for the facts, confirm with on-page checks, and use rank trackers to measure progress. Small, consistent changes win more than big, random overhauls.

Analyze and prioritize competitor keywords: volume, difficulty, intent, traffic potential, and gap analysis

Why this matters to you
You can find a lot of keywords your competitors rank for — but not every keyword is worth chasing. The smart play is to focus on words that bring the right people (purchase intent), are actually winnable (low difficulty), and will move the needle (real traffic). Do that, and your content effort becomes a predictable investment instead of guessing.

Step 1 — Gather the raw signals (tools to use)

  • Use Google data first: Google Search Console shows which queries already bring impressions to your site; Google Keyword Planner provides search volume ranges and seasonality. That keeps expectations realistic.
  • Use third‑party tools for competitive signals: SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, and Ubersuggest all give keyword lists, difficulty scores, and SERP snapshots you can’t get from Google alone.
  • Export lists, but don’t treat any single number as gospel — these tools sample different datasets.

Filter by search intent first

  • Ask: is this keyword informational (people learning) or transactional (people buying/ready to act)? Prioritize transactional and high-converting informational intent for short-term ROI.
  • Why? Transactional intent delivers clearer business impact. High-intent informational queries can also feed the funnel, but treat them differently in your prioritization.

Apply realistic volume checks

  • Take search volume from Google Keyword Planner or average it across tools. Avoid chasing tiny-volume tails unless they’re highly specific buyer intent.
  • Remember: reported volume is a ballpark. Treat it as a signal, not a promise.

Score estimated ranking difficulty

  • Use difficulty scores from SEMrush/Ahrefs/Moz/Ubersuggest as relative guides. Lower scores mean less effort.
  • Target: focus first on low‑difficulty keywords with meaningful intent and volume. That gives the fastest ROI.

Combine difficulty with SERP feature analysis

  • Don’t rely on difficulty alone. Check the SERP: are there lots of ads, Shopping boxes, local packs, or featured snippets? Those features steal clicks even if the organic difficulty looks moderate.
  • Example rule: a keyword with medium difficulty but a SERP dominated by ads and shopping likely has much lower organic click potential than the raw volume suggests.
  • Use SEMrush/Ahrefs/Moz/Ubersuggest to flag SERP features and the types of pages ranking.

Estimate traffic potential — a simple math check

  • Rough formula: Estimated clicks = Search Volume × Estimated CTR for your target position (adjust for SERP features).
  • Quick CTR rule of thumb: position 1 ≈ 25–30%, 2 ≈ 12–15%, 3 ≈ 8–10% (use conservative ranges). If a SERP feature reduces clicks, discount further.
  • This helps you avoid overvaluing a high‑volume keyword that, because of SERP layout or entrenched competitors, won’t translate into meaningful traffic.

Do a gap analysis (where the opportunity lives)

  • Find keywords competitors rank for that you don’t. Use the content/keyword gap tools in SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, or Ubersuggest.
  • Filter those gaps by intent, volume, and difficulty to reveal “low-hanging fruit” — topics your competitors are getting traffic from that you could realistically take.

A simple prioritization framework you can use now

  • For each keyword, score 1–5 for:
    • Intent (5 = transactional)
    • Volume (5 = strong, realistic searches)
    • Difficulty (5 = easy)
    • Traffic potential (5 = high estimated clicks after SERP adjustments)
    • Business value (5 = directly tied to revenue)
  • Multiply or weight scores to produce a ranked list. Target the top tier (high intent × high traffic potential × low difficulty) for your first 90‑day actions.

Practical tips so you don’t waste time

  • Prioritize pages/keywords that are close to a ranking breakthrough (e.g., positions 5–20). Small improvements here often beat long fights for #1.
  • Don’t chase branded competitors’ exact brand queries unless you have a plan to add unique value.
  • Re-check SERP features weekly for high-priority keywords; SERPs change and can quickly shift a keyword’s value.
  • Use Google Search Console to validate gains after you publish or optimize: impressions + CTR changes tell you if the work is working.

Final check — avoid common traps

  • Trap: high volume + high difficulty = ego project. Combine difficulty with SERP feature and traffic estimates to decide.
  • Trap: ignoring intent. High traffic but informational for beginners may not convert.
  • Trap: using tool scores blindly. Cross‑check Google data (Search Console/Keyword Planner) and the live SERP before committing.

Ask yourself: which keywords are high‑intent, within reach, and tied to business outcomes? Start there, take measurable steps, and you’ll turn competitor insights into real traffic and revenue — not just a long list of nice-to-have ideas.

You’ve pulled competitor keyword insights — now what? Think of those insights as seeds: some will sprout into quick wins, others need nurturing. Here’s a practical playbook to turn what you discovered with tools like Google, Google Search Console, Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, and Moz into measurable SEO gains.

Why bother? Because insights are useless unless they change what’s on your site, who links to you, and how you measure success. Ready to act?

Turn insights into better content

  • Fill gaps. Identify competitor topics you don’t cover and create pages that answer those queries better. Prioritize pages that match buyer intent and can drive conversions.
  • Improve depth. Add unique examples, original data, step-by-step instructions, visuals, and practical templates. Depth reduces bounce and increases dwell time.
  • Format for featured snippets. Use clear question H2s, concise 40–60 word answers, numbered steps, and tables where appropriate to win quick SERP real estate.
  • Optimize title, H1, and meta. Put the target keyword near the start of the title, match the H1 to the page intent, and write a meta description that promises value and a clear next step.
  • Strengthen internal links. Use descriptive anchor text and point from related pages to your target page (the “cornerstone”). Internal links pass relevance and help crawlability.

On‑page optimization checklist (fast wins)

  • Title tag: include target keyword, keep it compelling and within length limits.
  • H1 and subheads: reflect query intent and support scannability.
  • URL & canonical: short, keyword-friendly, and canonicalized.
  • Meta description: sell the click — highlight benefit or unique angle.
  • Schema & structured data: implement FAQ, how-to, review, or product schema where relevant.
  • Media & accessibility: optimized images, descriptive alt text, and captions.
  • Page performance: compress images, leverage caching, and improve mobile layout.
  • Prioritize by opportunity: use Google Search Console to find pages with high impressions but low CTR—those are immediate title/meta optimization candidates.

Link strategy: replicate and outcompete

  • Map competitor backlink patterns with Ahrefs or SEMrush. Look for:
    • Top referring domains and pages
    • Anchor text themes
    • Link velocity and recent new links
  • Tactical moves based on that analysis:
    • Outreach to the same referrers with a better resource or updated study.
    • Broken link reclamation: find dead links on relevant pages and offer your resource as a fix.
    • Skyscraper/resource page approach: build a superior asset and pitch it to sites that linked to the inferior competitor piece.
    • Guest posts and partnerships on industry-specific sites your competitors use.
  • Use Moz and Ubersuggest to cross‑check domain authority and to surface additional prospects. Prioritize relevance and referral traffic, not just raw authority.

Track results and iterate

  • Monitor with Google Search Console. Watch impressions, clicks, CTR, and average position for your target pages and keywords.
  • Use a dedicated rank tracker to follow keyword positions and SERP feature appearances over time. That tells you if content or link moves are paying off.
  • Set practical KPIs: ranking improvements for target keywords, increase in organic sessions, CTR lift on rewritten titles, and backlinks acquired from priority domains.
  • Test and learn: A/B your titles and meta snippets, tweak internal links, then watch GSC and your tracker for changes. Give experiments 4–8 weeks before deciding.
  • Report cadence: weekly for urgent wins (CTR drops, indexing issues), monthly for ranking trends, 90 days for strategic impact.

Quick prioritization framework

  • Pick 3–5 target keywords/pages for the next cycle. Choose a mix of:
    • Quick win: low-hanging SERP spots you can move into fast.
    • Content upgrade: pages needing depth to outrank competitors.
    • Link focus: topics that require targeted outreach to build authority.
  • Execute content, on‑page, and link tasks in parallel so improvements compound.

Final nudge
You don’t need perfect data — you need action. Use Google Keyword Planner and the other tools named above to validate volume and opportunity, then prioritize practical changes: better content, clean on‑page signals, and a realistic link plan. Track everything with Google Search Console and a rank tracker, iterate every month, and you’ll turn competitor keywords into real traffic and business growth.

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Conclusion

You’ve learned the mechanics — now convert them into action. This short, practical wrap-up gives you a clear checklist, tool picks by budget, and simple next steps so you can start getting results this month.

Quick checklist

  • Identify competitors — direct rivals, niche publishers, and pages that outrank you for target topics.
  • Extract keywords — pull their top-ranked terms and landing pages (export lists for analysis).
  • Score by intent/difficulty — prioritize queries that match buyer intent and are realistically winnable.
  • Create or optimize content — update titles, headings, content depth, and internal linking for chosen keywords.
  • Pursue links — outreach, resource links, and fix broken-link opportunities to boost authority.
  • Set tracking/metrics — measure rankings, impressions, CTR, organic traffic, and conversions.

Tool recommendations by budget

  • Free — Google Search Console and Google Keyword Planner. Use GSC for clicks/impressions/CTR and Keyword Planner for volume ideas and planning. These two cover essential diagnostics without cost.
  • Paid — SEMrush or Ahrefs. Both are powerful for competitor gap analysis, keyword difficulty, backlink research, and exporting comprehensive keyword lists for planning. Choose the one that fits your workflow.
  • Budget-friendly — Ubersuggest or Moz. Good if you need lighter keyword research, basic difficulty estimates, and backlink hints without the enterprise price tag.

Quick, practical tips for each tool

  • Google Search Console: find high-impression, low-CTR pages to optimize titles and meta.
  • Google Keyword Planner: validate search volume and spot related queries to add depth.
  • SEMrush/Ahrefs: identify competitor keyword clusters and backlink sources to target.
  • Ubersuggest/Moz: run smaller audits, validate keyword ideas, and monitor basic rank changes.

Next steps to start getting results (30/60/90-day plan)

  • Day 1–7: Pick 1–3 competitors and export their top keywords. Build a prioritized list of 10–20 target keywords.
  • Week 2–4: Optimize 3–5 pages or publish 2–3 new pieces aimed at the highest-priority keywords. Add internal links to a central hub page.
  • Month 2: Begin targeted link outreach for your updated pages and reclaim any broken or unlinked mentions.
  • Month 3: Review performance. Keep what’s working, revise what’s not, and scale into the next set of keywords.

What to track (start simple)

  • Keyword positions for your target set.
  • Impressions and CTR (Google Search Console).
  • Organic sessions and goal conversions (Google Analytics / GA4).
  • New referring domains and backlink quality.
  • Page-level engagement (time on page, bounce/engagement signals).

Final nudge — what now?
Pick one tangible first task: extract competitor keywords for one topic, or update a high-potential page in GSC. Small, focused wins build momentum. Ready to start turning those competitor insights into measurable growth? You’ve got a clear checklist and the right tools — now apply it, measure, and repeat.

Author - Tags - Categories - Page Infos

  • fuxx
  • December 5, 2025
  • check competitor keywords, competitors keyword research, find competitors keywords, get competitors keywords, keyword competitor analysis, research competitor keywords, see competitors keywords
  • SEO Strategies

Questions & Answers

Use Google Search Console — open Performance > Search results and view the "Queries" report. Filter by date and by page or country, sort by clicks or impressions, and export the list. For more granular position data and historical trends, pair GSC with a third‑party SEO tool (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Ubersuggest) or a rank tracker.
In Google Search Console, filter the Performance report by the specific page URL to see the queries driving impressions and clicks. If you don’t have GSC access, use a site audit or domain report in tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush or Ubersuggest and view "Top pages" or "Organic keywords" for that URL. You can also check manually by searching relevant phrases in an incognito browser to see where the page appears in the SERP.
You can’t access their Search Console, but third‑party tools estimate competitor keywords. Enter the competitor domain into Ahrefs, SEMrush, SpyFu or Ubersuggest to see organic keywords, top pages, and traffic estimates. Combine that with manual SERP checks (search likely queries and see which of their pages appear) to verify high‑value opportunities.
Google itself doesn’t list competitors’ keywords. Free approaches: use the site: operator (site:competitor.com "keyword phrase") to find indexed pages, browse the competitor’s top pages and meta titles, check "People also ask" and related searches for their pages, and use Google’s Keyword Planner to expand seed keyword ideas. For quick in‑browser estimates, try the Keyword Surfer extension or free tiers of tools like Ubersuggest.
Combine free resources: use Keyword Surfer or MozBar to get on‑page keyword and volume hints, run a Google site: search to list pages, check SimilarWeb’s free report for top pages/traffic sources, and use free/limited versions of Ubersuggest or SpyFu. These won’t be as complete as paid tools, but they reveal many of a site’s visible keywords.
1) List 3–5 real competitors (direct and indirect). 2) Run each domain in a tool like SEMrush/Ahrefs/SpyFu/Ubersuggest. 3) Export their organic keyword lists and top pages. 4) Filter by estimated traffic, volume and keyword difficulty. 5) Do a keyword gap (compare their keywords vs yours) to find missed opportunities. 6) Prioritize by intent and easy wins, then map keywords to new or updated content.
In a competitor domain report, sort keywords by estimated traffic or by search volume and focus on those with moderate keyword difficulty. Look at their "Top pages" to see which pages drive most traffic. Target long‑tail variations of high‑traffic queries and keywords where the competitor ranks inside the top 10 but not top 3 — those are often the fastest wins.
There’s no one perfect free tool. Good starting options are Ubersuggest (limited free report), SpyFu’s free domain snapshot, the Keyword Surfer Chrome extension, and SimilarWeb’s free overview. Use several tools together and validate findings with manual SERP checks for better accuracy.