You know what? If you've ever written a blog post or looked for keywords, you've already used seed keywords without realizing it. They're basically the starting point for any content you create for your website.
Think of seed keywords as the foundation of your content - you need them before you can build anything else. And trust me, having a good list of these basic keywords makes everything else so much easier.
In this guide, I'll show you what seed keywords actually are and how to find the basic ones that'll help your website get found on Google. No fancy jargon, just practical stuff you can use right away.
Ready to learn about seed keywords? Let's get started!
What is a Seed Keyword in SEO?
Let me break down seed keywords in the simplest way:
Think of seed keywords as the basic words that tell people what you do. They're short and simple - usually just a word or two.
Let me give you some real examples from cybersecurity:
"antivirus software"
"data protection"
"firewall"
These basic terms get lots of searches on Google, but that also means they're really hard to rank for because big companies are already using them.
But here's the interesting part - you can use these basic terms to find more specific ones. It's like starting with "firewall" and then building it out to:
"firewall for small business"
"cloud firewall solutions"
"enterprise firewall security"
That's why we call them "seed" keywords - they're just the starting point, and you grow your content from there.
Difference Between Seed Keywords and Longtail Keywords
Why Seed Keywords Matter: The Foundation of SEO Research
Seed keywords are the starting point of any effective SEO strategy. Think of them as the building blocks that help you uncover topics, trends, and search terms your audience cares about. These short, broad terms set the foundation for finding more specific, long-tail keywords that target niche queries and user intent.
Take the cybersecurity industry as an example—starting with a seed keyword like "cybersecurity tools" can lead you to more focused phrases, such as "best cybersecurity tools for small businesses" or "AI-powered cybersecurity software for enterprises."
So, why are seed keywords so important?
Understand Your Audience – They give insight into what potential customers are searching for.
Discover New Ideas – They help expand your keyword list with related terms and questions.
Guide Content Creation – They keep your content relevant and aligned with search trends.
Boost SEO Rankings – They improve visibility and help attract the right traffic.
How to Find Seed Keywords: A 9-Step Guide with Examples
Here's the thing - most guides about finding keywords skip the basics. They rush into complicated stuff instead of explaining where to start.
These guides usually say stuff like:
"Think about words that match your business"
"Look for longer keyword phrases"
"Copy what other businesses are doing"
Sure, this advice works. I'll even talk about some of it later. But it's too basic.
What you actually need is a clear, step-by-step plan to find keywords. Something that shows you exactly what to do, from start to finish.
So instead of those vague tips, I'm going to show you some real ways to find your first keywords. No complicated stuff - just simple steps that actually work.
1. Start with Your Main Topics
The easiest way to generate seed keywords is to think about the main topics your business covers.
Step 1: Brainstorm Core Keywords
Make a list of words that describe your services or products. These words should highlight what you do and who you help.
Example:
At GrackerAI, our main service is helping cybersecurity companies improve their SEO. So, some seed keywords for us might be:
Cybersecurity marketing
SEO for SaaS companies
Content marketing for cybersecurity
Step 2: Look at Your Website’s Main Sections
Check your website menu or categories. These sections often represent your core services and can be used as seed keywords.
Example:
If your website has categories like Blog SEO, Programmatic SEO, and Link-Building Strategies, each of these can serve as a seed keyword.
From there, you can expand to more specific keywords like programmatic SEO for cybersecurity or link-building for SaaS websites.
2. Check Out Competitors’ Keywords
Look at what keywords your competitors are using. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel—borrow ideas and improve on them.
How to Do It:
Visit competitors’ blogs and service pages.
Notice the headings, subheadings, and words they repeat often.
Use SEO tools to analyze their keywords.
Recommended Tools:
Ahrefs – Enter a competitor’s URL and see their top-ranking keywords.
SEMrush – Use the Keyword Gap tool to find keywords they’re targeting that you aren’t.
Moz – Check keyword difficulty and opportunities.
3. Use Google Search Console
Google Search Console shows you which keywords people are already using to find your site.
Steps to Follow:
Log in to Google Search Console.
Go to the Performance tab and check the Queries section.
Sort by Impressions to see which keywords are getting attention.
Example:
If GrackerAI sees keywords like SEO for cybersecurity blogs or SEO tools for SaaS showing up, we’d know those topics are worth focusing on.
4. Explore Forums and Online Communities
People often use forums to ask questions and discuss topics they’re interested in. These discussions can be a goldmine for keyword ideas.
Where to Look:
Reddit: Search for topics like cybersecurity marketing tips or SEO for SaaS companies.
Quora: Browse questions related to SEO strategies for cybersecurity.
Niche Forums: Use Google to find them with searches like:
site:reddit.com “cybersecurity SEO”
site:quora.com “SaaS marketing strategies”
Example:
You might find people asking, How can SaaS companies rank higher in Google? This could inspire keywords like SEO tips for SaaS startups or cybersecurity content optimization.
5. Analyze Google Search Results
Google itself can suggest seed keywords based on user searches.
Where to Look:
Autocomplete Suggestions: Start typing your keyword in Google, and note the suggestions that pop up.
People Also Ask Boxes: These show related questions people are searching for.
Related Searches at the Bottom: These highlight alternative ways people are searching for similar topics.
Example:
If you search cybersecurity marketing, Google might suggest:
Cybersecurity marketing strategies
Best practices for cybersecurity SEO
AI tools for cybersecurity content marketing
6. Use Keyword Research Tools
Keyword tools simplify the process of finding seed keywords and give useful data like search volume and competition.
Free Tools:
Google Keyword Planner – Generates keyword suggestions based on your input.
Ubersuggest – Offers keyword ideas along with SEO difficulty scores.
Paid Tools:
Ahrefs – Provides detailed keyword metrics and competitor analysis.
SEMrush – Helps uncover long-tail keywords with their Keyword Magic Tool.
Moz – Offers keyword suggestions with insights into ranking difficulty.
Example:
If we type cybersecurity SEO into Ahrefs, it might suggest related keywords like SEO for data protection services or content marketing for cybersecurity startups.
7. Listen to Your Customers
Sometimes, the best keywords come directly from your customers.
How to Gather Feedback:
Surveys: Ask customers how they search for your services online.
Support Emails: Pay attention to the words customers use when describing their problems.
Reviews and Testimonials: Look for recurring phrases or pain points mentioned by clients.
Example:
If GrackerAI customers say things like I need content that ranks for SaaS security tools, we can turn that into keywords like SEO for SaaS security tools or ranking strategies for cybersecurity SaaS companies.
8. Utilize Social Media Listening
Social media listening helps you find keywords people actually use when talking about your industry.
Steps to Follow:
Go to Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram's search
Type your main topic (like "cybersecurity marketing")
Look at the "Trending" or "Popular" sections
Save hashtags and phrases that keep showing up
Check what industry leaders are posting about
Example: If Gracker sees these hashtags and topics coming up often:
cybersecuritymarketing
infosecmarketing
securityvendors
CISOlife
securitystrategy
This tells us these are terms worth targeting because they're actively being used by our target audience - security professionals and marketing teams.
9. Consult Industry Resources
Industry publications and forums reveal what terms professionals in your field use regularly.
Steps to Follow:
Find top industry websites and forums in your field
Join professional associations and their online groups
Read through recent articles and forum discussions
Look for recurring terms in headlines and topics
Note down technical terms that appear frequently
Example: When Gracker checks cybersecurity industry sources:
SANS Institute forums mention "zero trust architecture"
CSO Online articles discuss "threat intelligence platforms"
ISC² forums talk about "security awareness training"
Dark Reading features "endpoint security solutions"
Cybersecurity associations use "incident response planning"
These terms show us what security professionals are actually talking about and the language they use in their work.
How Many Seed Keywords Do You Need? A Practical Guide
The Quick Answer
For most businesses, aim for 5-15 core seed keywords per main product or service category. However, this number can vary based on several factors.
Breaking It Down By Business Type
Small Business / Single Service
Core seed keywords: 5-10
Example (Cybersecurity Training Company):
cybersecurity training
security awareness training
employee security training
cybersecurity education
IT security courses
Medium Business / Multiple Services
Core seed keywords: 10-20
Example (Cybersecurity Marketing Agency):
cybersecurity marketing
security content marketing
InfoSec lead generation
security vendor marketing
cybersecurity PR
CISO marketing
security brand awareness
B2B security marketing
cybersecurity content writing
security product marketing
Large Enterprise / Multiple Categories
Core seed keywords: 15-30 (spread across categories)
Example (Full-Service Security Company): Category 1 - Consulting:
security consulting
cybersecurity assessment
security strategy
risk management
compliance consulting
Category 2 - Products:
security software
threat detection
endpoint protection
network security
access management
Category 3 - Services:
managed security
incident response
security monitoring
threat hunting
security training
Factors That Influence Your Number
1. Business Complexity
Simple business (single service) → Fewer seeds (5-10)
Complex business (multiple services) → More seeds (15-30)
2. Market Competition
Low competition → Fewer, more specific seeds
High competition → More seeds to cover variations
3. Geographic Scope
Local business → 5-10 seeds + location variations
National/Global → 10-30 seeds + language/regional variations
4. Industry Maturity
New industry → Fewer, broader seeds
Mature industry → More, specific seeds
Wrapping Up: Your Guide to Seed Keywords
Finding the right seed keywords isn't just about following a checklist – it's about understanding your business and your audience. Whether you're running a small cybersecurity training company or a large enterprise security firm, starting with the right seed keywords sets the foundation for all your SEO efforts.
Remember, you don't need hundreds of seed keywords to succeed. For most businesses, 5-15 well-chosen seed keywords per service category is plenty. The key is quality over quantity. Focus on keywords that:
Truly represent what you do
Match how your customers search
Align with your business goals
Have room for expansion into longer, more specific terms
Think of seed keywords like planting a garden. Start with strong seeds (your core terms), give them the right environment (your content strategy), and watch them grow into a thriving ecosystem of related keywords and valuable content.
Our journey through seed keyword research shows that the process doesn't have to be complicated. From checking Google Search Console and analyzing competitor keywords to listening to your customers and exploring industry forums – each method helps you build a stronger foundation for your SEO strategy.
For those just starting with seed keywords, begin with the basics:
List your main services or products
Check what terms your customers actually use
Look at what's already working in your industry
Build out from there
Remember, your seed keyword strategy isn't set in stone. As your business grows and markets change, your keyword foundation should evolve too. Keep monitoring performance, stay tuned to your industry, and adjust your strategy as needed.
The most successful SEO strategies start with strong seed keywords. By taking the time to find and validate your core terms now, you're setting yourself up for better rankings, more relevant traffic, and stronger content that truly connects with your audience.
Ready to start growing your SEO strategy? Your seed keywords are waiting – it's time to plant them and watch your online presence grow.