Create a Custom Niche Keyword Generator

What is a niche keyword generator?

A niche keyword generator instantly generates categorized keyword lists by employing common query patterns unique to your specific field.

Why Develop a Keyword Generator for Your Industry?

The keyword generator serves as either a quick starting point for last-minute requests or a safety net for filling in gaps after extensive research. It may not uncover all the hidden gems in your research projects, as it treats every project the same way. However, its goal is to automate the obvious so that you can dedicate more time to valuable research.

Here are 11 steps to create your niche keyword list generator —

What You Need to Get Started

• Microsoft Power BI Desktop: Free
• Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets: Free
• SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, Spyfu, etc.

Select Your Branded and Unbranded Root Terms

In every niche, there are issues and solutions. Unbranded terms usually encompass both categories, while branded terms typically fall under solutions. Compile a list of root terms for both branded and unbranded categories, considering these factors:

High Volume

Popular root terms yield more long-tail variations, crucial for this keyword generator.

Diversity

Ensure your root terms represent your entire industry, avoiding biases toward your specialties.

Clarity

Root terms with multiple meanings can create noise in your data.

For instance, I will explore the food industry for this exercise. Please note that these terms are for illustration purposes, and your actual terms may vary.

Branded Root Terms

McDonald's

Subway

KFC

Pizza Hut

Starbucks

Taco Bell

Unbranded Root Terms

Burgers

Pizzas

Sandwiches

Fried chicken

Coffee

Tacos

Refine Terms for Phrase Matching

During the third step, you will download all keywords containing your terms, so adjust them as needed to obtain a comprehensive and relevant dataset. Account for variations in how people might enter these terms.

For example, consider the term "McDonald's." Not everyone searching for it will include the brand name. To ensure your dataset covers all relevant variations, modify the term. Additionally, consider using square brackets to denote phrase matching.

Original Term: McDonald's

Modified Term: [McDonald's]

Quick Tip: Download rankings from your branded sites to identify additional unbranded terms and ensure your modifications do not exclude important queries.

Download All Phrase Match Keywords

Use your keyword tool to download variations of your branded and unbranded phrase match terms. Conduct a search for each term and export the keyword list. This process can be time-consuming but is essential for gathering valuable data.

Generalize the Terms Using 'Find and Replace'

Open each spreadsheet and use the "Find and Replace" feature to generalize brand references to [Brand] for branded terms and root product terms to [Product] for unbranded terms. Start with broader terms and gradually get more specific.

For instance:

Original Term: McDonald's

Generalized Term: [Brand]

Upload Spreadsheets into Power BI

Import your spreadsheets into Power BI to combine and manipulate your data effectively. Follow these steps:

Open Power BI.

Close any pop-up windows.

In the "Home" tab, click "Get data" > "More..."

Select "All" > "Folder" > "Connect."

Browse and choose the folder containing your exports, then click "OK."

Click the yellow "Combine" dropdown and choose "Combine & Load."

Select the common sheet name under the folder and click "OK."

Add Overlapping Keyword Counts

In Power BI, go to the "Data" icon on the left and select your branded queries. Create a new column called "Overlapping Keyword Count" and apply the appropriate formula to count overlapping keywords.

Identify Common Query Patterns

Go to the "Report" icon just above the "Data" icon on the left side. Click "Refresh" in the "Home" tab. Select the "Table" icon in the "Visualizations" menu. Choose the metrics you want to display under "Values," including "Keyword," "Overlapping Keyword Count," and "Volume." Adjust the "Overlapping Keyword Count" to display a manageable list. Create a new tab for unbranded queries and repeat the process.

Select Your Keywords

Export the filtered keyword lists into CSV by hovering over each table and clicking the ellipsis icon in the upper-right corner. Review and remove irrelevant keywords from the list.

Categorize Your Keywords

Categorize your keywords by considering your industry's unique categories and search intent. Develop a standard categorization for your specific field or industry. Group keywords based on common query patterns to understand their importance to your audience.

Build Your Spreadsheet

A pre-built spreadsheet template is available for customization. Skip to the next section to learn how to tailor it to your industry's needs.

Customize Your Spreadsheet

Customize the spreadsheet template by adding new category dynamics and updating formulas in column B as needed.

Remember that creating a keyword list is just one step in the keyword research process. Further tasks include combining lists, finalizing categorization, selecting target keywords, and optimizing them. Staying current with evolving search trends in your industry is essential to maintaining the effectiveness of your keyword generator.