Step 1: list what you sell and where
Write down every service or product and every city or area you serve. Combine them: "AC repair Karachi", "laser hair removal DHA Lahore". These are your seed keywords.
Step 2: expand the list
Free sources:
- Google autocomplete and the "People also ask" box
- Google Search Console, for searches you already appear for
- Google Keyword Planner
- Competitor pages: read their titles and headings
- Your own customers: the words they use on calls and WhatsApp
Paid tools such as Ahrefs and Semrush add search volumes and difficulty scores.
Step 3: include how Pakistanis actually search
Many buyers mix English and Roman Urdu: "sasta web hosting", "lahore mein best skin specialist". These searches often have less competition. Check autocomplete for them and note the ones that fit your business.
Step 4: judge intent
| Intent | Example | Best page type |
|---|---|---|
| Informational | what is solar net metering | Guide or blog post |
| Commercial | best solar company in Lahore | Service or comparison page |
| Transactional | 10kw solar system price | Product or pricing page |
| Local | solar installer near me | Location page and Google Business Profile |
Search the keyword yourself. The pages Google already ranks show what it thinks the searcher wants.
Step 5: judge difficulty honestly
Look at the first page of results. If it is full of large national brands, a new site will struggle. Look for searches where the ranking pages are thin, outdated or off-topic. Longer, specific searches bring fewer visitors but convert better and are easier to win.
Step 6: map keywords to pages
Give each page one main keyword and a few close variants. Record it in a sheet:
| Page | Main keyword | Variants |
|---|---|---|
| /solar-panels-lahore/ | solar panels in Lahore | solar company Lahore, solar installation Lahore |
One keyword, one page. This prevents your own pages competing. Then apply it with on-page SEO.
Step 7: review every quarter
Search habits change, and AI tools shift which questions people type. Check Search Console for new searches you appear for and add them to the map.
Frequently asked questions
How many keywords should I target?
As many as you have good pages for. Start with the ten to twenty that are closest to a sale.
Is search volume the most important number?
No. A search with 50 visits a month from ready buyers can be worth more than one with 5,000 from the curious.
Do I need paid tools?
Not to start. Search Console, autocomplete and Keyword Planner cover the basics.
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