Understanding how to check your competitors’ Google Ads keywords can help you discover valuable opportunities to optimize your own strategy. If you’re looking to level up your paid ads game, use this simple guide to help you analyze competitor keywords and improve your Google Ads performance.
How To Find Competitors’ Google Ads Keywords
Figuring out your competitors’ Google Ads keyword strategy starts with finding the right analysis tools and research. Once you analyze that information, you can then start formulating a competitive strategy.
1. Leverage Competitive Analysis Tools
There are several powerful, highly recommended SEO tools designed to give you a sneak peek into your competitors’ Google Ads strategies. Here’s how they can help:
- Semrush: Enter a competitor’s domain, and Semrush will show you which keywords they’re targeting, how much they’re spending, their ad copy, and much more. This insight is key for understanding their approach.
- SpyFu: SpyFu allows you to see precisely which paid keywords your competitors use, their ad history, and even how much they spend on ads.
- Ahrefs: Ahrefs offers a comprehensive view of the keywords your competitors are bidding on, along with their corresponding landing pages. It’s great for identifying high-value keywords they may be missing.
Whether you use a single tool or a combination of tools to check your competitors’ Google Ads keywords, create a list of these words that you can easily refer to as you start your manual research.
2. Conduct Manual Google Searches
Sometimes, a simple Google search can reveal a lot about your competitors. Search the key terms you want to target and take note of the ads and sponsored content that show up. Look at their headlines, ad copy, and the landing pages they direct users to. This can help you identify what’s working in your industry and find areas where you can improve.
While you’re searching through the sponsored content, take note of the top websites that appear organically under the paid ads. These sites are doing something right to organically rank that high, and you can also use them to identify your site’s SEO gaps.
3. Use Google Ads Auction Insights
Google Ads’ Auction Insights tool shows you which competitors are bidding on the same keywords as you. While it doesn’t provide a direct list of the keywords your competitors are targeting, it can give you a good idea of who your direct competitors are and how they’re performing in comparison to you.
How To Use Competitor Keywords in Google Ads to Your Advantage
So, you understand how to check your competitors’ Google Ads keywords in a few different ways. Now what? It’s time to put that information to work for your website.
1. Uncover New Keyword Opportunities
One of the best things about finding competitor keywords is discovering new opportunities for your own website. Look for Google Ads keywords your competitors are using that you might not have thought of, especially long-tail keywords. Adding these to your campaign can help you target a more specific audience and drive better results.
2. Improve Your Ad Strategy
Whatever your ad strategy was before, now that you understand the terms that other businesses in your industry are aiming for, you can fine-tune your approach.
Use the data to focus your budget on keywords that your competitors are successfully bidding on. You can also target keywords they’re overlooking, giving you a competitive edge.
Take the time to assess how your competitors craft their ads. What language are they using? What’s their call to action? Use this information to create your own more compelling ads that stand out and drive higher click-through rates.
3. Optimize Your Landing Pages
Landing pages are not just about the keywords. They play a huge role in converting visitors. Analyze your competitors’ landing pages to see what’s working for them. Is their layout clean and easy to navigate? Do they have strong calls to action?
Use this insight to enhance your landing pages and close any information gaps. Your goal is to create user-friendly and informative pages that improve your quality score and reduce your cost-per-click (CPC).
4. Set Smarter Budgets and Bids
Peeking at your competitors’ CPC and ad spend through Semrush and SpyFu allows you to make more informed decisions about your own campaign budget. After analyzing your competition’s data, allocate your ad spend more strategically to give yourself peace of mind that you are neither overbidding nor underspending compared to other similar businesses.
5. Track and Benchmark Your Performance
After becoming familiar with Auction Insights, regularly track competitors over time and compare their performance to yours to see how your campaigns stack up. It’s important to continue doing this because competitive analysis is an ongoing process. This specific comparative data from Auction Insights is invaluable for refining your approach, identifying areas of improvement, and ensuring you stay ahead in the bidding game.
Likewise, track the changes of your own site in Semrush, SpyFu, and Ahrefs over time. If your site is winning more keywords, gaining impressions, and accumulating more traffic, those are good signs that your strategy is on the right track.
Start Checking Your Competitors’ Google Ads Keywords Today
By keeping an eye on your competitors and applying the right strategies, you can significantly improve your Google Ads campaign and overall SEO plan. Use these insights to target better keywords, optimize your ads and landing pages, and ultimately drive more traffic and conversions to your site at a lower cost.
Does this approach seem a little overwhelming? BKA Content’s SEO experts are here to help! Schedule an SEO consultation with our team and learn more about how we can get your site on the right track for growth.
