Local SEO lives and dies by keyword research. If you target the wrong terms, a client's website may attract traffic from people outside their service area or rank for phrases nobody uses. Ahrefs is one of the most popular SEO platforms for keyword research, offering extensive data on search volume, difficulty, competitor rankings, and SERP features. However, local keyword research requires a slightly different approach than national campaigns. This guide explains how to do keyword research for local client SEO using Ahrefs, step by step.
How AAMAX.CO Handles Local Keyword Strategy
AAMAX.CO is a full service digital marketing company providing web development, digital marketing, and SEO services worldwide. Their team uses professional tools and local market insight to uncover keywords that drive calls, bookings, and foot traffic for businesses. They build location focused keyword maps, optimize service pages, and track local visibility so clients can see measurable results. Agencies and business owners who want expert support can rely on their search engine optimization services for local campaigns of any size.
Step 1: Understand the Client's Business and Service Area
Before opening Ahrefs, gather key information. List every service the client offers, the cities and neighborhoods they serve, their most profitable offerings, and how customers typically describe their problems. A plumber might offer drain cleaning, water heater installation, and emergency repairs across several suburbs. This list becomes the foundation of your seed keywords.
Step 2: Set the Right Location in Keywords Explorer
In Ahrefs Keywords Explorer, enter your seed keywords and select the correct country. Ahrefs provides search volume at the country level, so local volume for specific cities often appears low or zero. Do not dismiss these keywords. Local searches frequently have small but highly valuable volume. Combine service terms with location modifiers, such as "roof repair Tampa" or "Tampa roofing company," to see the available data.
Step 3: Explore Implicit Local Keywords
Many local searches do not include a city name because Google automatically personalizes results based on location. Searches like "dentist" or "emergency electrician" carry implicit local intent. In Ahrefs, review the national volume of these service keywords and check the SERP overview. If the results show a map pack and local businesses, the keyword has local intent and should be targeted through service pages and Google Business Profile optimization.
Step 4: Use Keyword Ideas Reports
Ahrefs offers several reports to expand your list:
- Matching terms reveal variations that contain your seed keyword.
- Related terms surface keywords that top pages also rank for.
- Search suggestions show autocomplete style phrases.
- Questions filter helps you find informational queries for blog content.
Filter results by keyword difficulty, volume, and words that include location modifiers to find the most relevant opportunities.
Step 5: Analyze Local Competitors in Site Explorer
Identify competitors that appear in the local pack and top organic results. Enter their domains into Ahrefs Site Explorer and review the Organic Keywords report. Filter by location terms and service keywords to see what they rank for. The Top Pages report reveals which pages drive the most traffic. This often highlights service and location pages your client is missing.
Step 6: Run a Content Gap Analysis
Ahrefs' Content Gap tool compares your client's website against several competitors to show keywords those competitors rank for but your client does not. For local SEO, this is extremely useful for discovering neglected services, neighborhoods, and question based topics. Prioritize gaps that align with high value services.
Step 7: Evaluate Keyword Difficulty and SERP Features
Keyword difficulty in Ahrefs estimates how many referring domains are needed to rank in the top ten. Local keywords usually have lower difficulty, but always review the actual SERP. Look at whether national directories, aggregators, or local businesses dominate, and whether features like the map pack, reviews, or People Also Ask appear. This informs whether to target the keyword with a service page, location page, or blog post.
Step 8: Group Keywords and Map Them to Pages
Organize keywords into clusters based on service and location. Assign each cluster to a specific page, such as a core service page, a city specific landing page, or an FAQ article. Avoid creating thin, near duplicate location pages. Each page should offer unique, helpful information about the service in that area.
Step 9: Track Local Rankings
Add your target keywords to Ahrefs Rank Tracker and set the appropriate location for tracking. Combine this with Google Business Profile insights and geo grid tracking tools to understand visibility across the service area. Monitor progress monthly and refine your keyword strategy based on results.
Conclusion
Doing keyword research for local client SEO in Ahrefs requires blending tool data with local insight. Start with the client's services and locations, explore explicit and implicit local keywords, analyze competitors, use content gap analysis, evaluate SERPs, and map keywords to well structured pages. With this process, you can build a local keyword strategy that attracts nearby customers and delivers measurable growth for every client.
Want to publish a guest post on aamconsultants.org?
Place an order for a guest post or link insertion today.