Last updated 23 October 2026 · By Idris Olaide
Good local keyword research starts with the services people buy and the language customers use. Search volume helps, but commercial relevance and geographic fit matter more than a large spreadsheet.
List services before keywords
Define the actual jobs, customer types and service areas first. Then map the phrases people use at each stage of the buying journey.
Review the local results
Search the priority phrases from the relevant area and study which page types, map listings and proof signals appear. The results reveal what Google believes the intent to be.
Turn research into a page map
Assign each meaningful intent to one strong page. This prevents several pages competing for the same query and exposes genuine content gaps.