Most people’s SEO strategy is built on a lie. They Google their niche, plug in a few keywords into Ahrefs or Ubersuggest, sort by search volume… and think they’re being strategic.
But here’s the catch:
The keywords with the highest volume are often the worst-performing ones for you.
Why? Because everyone’s chasing them. And none of them reflect how your actual customers think.
The Myth of “Best Keyword = Highest Volume”
Let me guess. You’ve targeted keywords like
- “Best project management software”
- “How to Lose Weight Fast”
- “Top productivity hacks”
Here’s the harsh truth:
These are content graveyards filled with massive brands, AI content farms, and ad spend you’ll never compete with.
But there’s a bigger problem: They aren’t searcher-native. Nobody talks like that. Real users type things like:
- “tools for when you have 20 tabs open”
- “I can’t stick to a diet for more than 3 days.”
- “My team keeps missing deadlines even with Asana.”
These aren’t just phrases. They’re emotional search queries. And they’re hiding what I call creative seed keywords.
What Are Creative Seed Keywords?
A creative seed keyword is a non-obvious, user-first phrase based on mental models, frustrations, or inside jokes that your audience understands.
These keywords don’t show up on volume-based tools until it’s too late — until someone else writes the breakout article.
They don’t just tell you what people are looking for. They tell you why they’re looking — and how they’re feeling. And that’s where the real 10x traffic lives.
How to Find Them
1. Lurk Where They Vent
Hang out in:
- Reddit threads
- Discord communities
- TikTok comments
- Low-vote Quora posts
- G2 reviews
- Support tickets
You’re not looking for keywords. You’re looking for frustrated, specific, emotional language.
If someone says, “I just want a CRM that doesn’t feel like a second job,”
That’s a better seed than “best CRM 2025”.
2. Use “Problem > Outcome > Roadblock” Thinking
Write 10 of these from your audience’s POV:
- “I want to [outcome], but [roadblock].”
- “I’m tired of [pain] and just want [result].”
Each one gives you long-tail phrases packed with intent and conversion energy.
Example:
“I want to make money with crypto, but every project feels like a scam.”
→ Content seed: “How to vet altcoins without getting rug pulled”
That doesn’t show up in your keyword tool — yet.
3. Steal From DMs and Testimonials
Look at the exact words customers use to describe
- What made them buy
- What they tried before
- What finally worked
If someone says
“Your product feels like the first productivity app that respects my attention.” That phrase is gold. Build a keyword cluster around “apps that don’t distract you” or “minimalist task managers” — not” “best productivity tools.”
Real Examples of Creative Seed Keywords in Action
Let’s say you’re in the skincare niche.
Generic:
- “Best night cream for oily skin”
- “Face Serum Benefits”
Creative Seed Keyword Alternatives:
- “moisturizers that don’t make me shiny by noon”
- “serum combos that don’t break you out”
- “I used this at night, and my skin didn’t hate me in the morning.”
Which ones would you click on? Now, imagine building a blog post or YouTube video around that. That’s how you stand out — not by ranking #37 on “face serum.”
Tools to Support
Once you’ve found a few creative seeds, use tools to expand:
- Google Autocomplete: Type your seed phrase and see what Google thinks people mean.
- AnswerThePublic: See long-tail questions surrounding your seed.
- LowFruits.io or Keyword Chef: Spot SERPs with weak competition.
- Glasp or Tactic: Find highlight-worthy, real-world phrasing from blog readers and note-takers.
If you wait for a keyword tool to say, “This has 1,000+ searches/month,” you’ve already missed the trend.
By the time your competitors see the keyword, you should already be ranking for it.
Creative seed keywords are how breakout bloggers, YouTubers, and micro brands sneak past the giants. And they’re right under your nose — in comment sections, support chats, and that email your customer sent at 3 am.
Stop writing for robots. Write about how real people think, search, and scream into their keyboards.
No comments:
Post a Comment