7 Simple Ways to Build Your Broad Keywords List

In my previous post, 6 Clever Keywords Optimization Tricks Worth Knowing, I asked you to build your broad keywords list first before finding the low hanging fruits (deep keywords). Broad keywords, as I’ve mentioned in my previous post, are keywords that are lateral and related to your root keywords. They could be in the form of synonyms the different ways of saying the root keywords. Building a broad keywords list first is important because of 2 reasons. Firstly, you have a better chance to compete. Most of the typical root keywords usually have too many competitors fighting for the same piece of pie, like “spyware” keyword for example. So, we need to find others that are used less. Secondly, you won’t miss out on possible traffic sources from those keywords you’re not optimizing for. These are the 7 ways to build your broad keywords list.

1. Browse Forums

Finding broad keywords in forums is tiring. You have to browse the forum threads one by one to find keywords to be added to your list. And there are hundreds or even thousands of threads in one forum. It’s definitely not the easiest way to find broad keywords, but it’s by far the best way to find a higher quality ones. Each of us have different ways of saying the same thing, call it our own personal preferences. We use different words, punctuations and sentence structures, and in forums you can find all those variations. Who knows, you might just stumble upon a huge pile of golden keywords in one of those threads.

2. Use Thesaurus

There was a time when I hated my English language teacher, and I think she despised me too. But, I can’t argue that without her I won’t be writing this post today. One of the advices she gave to my class a long time ago is using the old and crumpled Thesaurus from the school library to vary the words we used in our writings. Since, Thesaurus is available online now, I guess we won’t be needing that smelly Thesaurus from my school’s library ever again. My search for the word “dog” in Thesaurus, gave me a lot of other possible keywords I can use like, puppy, canine, hound, mutt, pup, pooch, etc. So, now instead of having the only root keyword “dog problem” and its variations, I could have “puppy problem” and its variations, “canine problem” and its variations, and others.

3. Use Google Keyword Tool

First, I put a very broad keywords like “dog training” into Google Search to find the authority sites in my niche. Then, to find broad keywords, I use Google Keyword Tool. I switch the search method from Descriptive words or phrases to Website content. After that, I put the URL address of those sites to Google Keyword Tool. Google will then list the keywords they think the site is ranking for. And best of all, it groups those keywords into separate root keywords’ groups. You use those root keywords later to find the long tail of searches.

4. Use Google Wonder Wheel

You can find some hidden broad keywords gems with Google Wonder Wheel. I searched for the term “make money blogging” and it come out with start blog make money, blog topics make money, and a couple of others. I love how it doesn’t use my root keyword in its exact form. Instead, Wonder Wheel tinker and change it. These new keywords could then be added to my broad keywords list. And, can be used later for deep keyword research.

5. Use Keyword Elite 2.0

You might thought this is some sort of affiliate promotion. Yeah, ok, I admit, the link for Keyword Elite 2.0 here is an affiliate link. But I don’t just put this in to earn some extra cash from you guys. One feature I like the most about Keyword Elite 2.0 is doing the Keyword Surge using Keyword Elite Engine. If you do this, Keyword Elite will present you with keywords that are similar to Google Keyword Tool’s with the synonym function turns on, but with more results and varieties. So, if you search for dog training, it’s highly possible that the results might contain puppy training or hound training. It also groups those keywords based on the root keywords. So it’s easy to do some deep keyword research later on.

6. Visit Other Blogs

It depends how much you love the niche you’re now in, you might find browsing and reading the blogs in your niche is boring and time-wasting. But you can find some nice broad keywords in the post or comments section of good blogs.

7. Come Up with Them Yourself

You might already have ideas of what possible broad keywords you can use, especially if you know the niche very well. If you don’t, you can brainstorm by talking to your friend(s) via MSN about that particular topic, like what I usually do. But, first, you and your friend need to know the niche well. I mean, if you already have possible keywords in your mind why not use them by putting them into your list? You can always sort them out later if it’s too common and competitive.

These are some effective ways to build your broad keywords list. Use these strategies well and you’ll never run out of keywords to use and optimized for. Feel free to leave comments below or tweet it if you like it.

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4. 8 Ways to Building Lists of Subscribers Fast
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