Buying Keywords: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Keywords That Convert

Introduction: The Painful Truth About Website Traffic

Let me guess. You've followed all the advice. You've published blog posts, maybe built a few links, and you've been watching your Google Analytics traffic graph slowly creep upwards. There's a sense of pride in that. But there's a nagging, frustrating problem: the needle on your revenue dashboard isn't moving.

You've got visitors, but you don't have customers.

This is the painful truth that trips up 90% of new website owners and even experienced marketers. They become obsessed with a “vanity metric”: total traffic. They celebrate 1,000 visitors a day, not realizing that most of those visitors have zero intention of ever buying anything. They're chasing empty clicks.

What if I told you there’s a specific type of keyword that attracts visitors with their wallets out and their buying decision already 95% made? What if you could focus your efforts on attracting 100 highly-motivated visitors who are ready to buy, instead of 1,000 who are just “window shopping”?

This isn't a myth or a “get rich quick” fantasy. This is the core principle of how I built my own seven-figure business primarily through SEO and affiliate marketing. We call them buying keywords.

In this comprehensive guide, I’m not just going to give you a dry definition of these “money keywords.” I'm handing you the exact blueprint I use to this day. You will learn:

• What buying keywords truly are, based on the psychology of the searcher.
• How to systematically find them using a mix of free and powerful premium tools.
• The exact content strategy needed to rank for them and convert visitors into customers.

By the time you're done with this guide, you'll know how to stop chasing vanity traffic and start attracting the only traffic that matters: the kind that directly impacts your bottom line.

The Foundation: Understanding the 4 Types of Search Intent

Before we start digging for “money keywords,” we have to understand the map. In the world of SEO, that map is called Search Intent. If you ignore intent, you are navigating blind, and you will never consistently find the treasure.

What is Search Intent and Why It's the Core of Modern SEO

Think of Google as the world's most sophisticated matchmaker. Its one and only goal is to find the perfect match for a user's query. It doesn't just look at the words you type; it analyzes the why behind them. This “why” is the search intent.

In the early days of SEO, you could just stuff a keyword onto a page a hundred times and rank. Those days are long gone. Today, Google's algorithm is incredibly intelligent. It understands that someone searching for “running shoe review” wants something completely different from someone searching for “history of running shoes.”

If your content doesn't perfectly match the intent of the keyword you're targeting, you will fail. It's that simple. Mastering intent is the first and most critical step to dominating the search results.

Breaking Down the 4 Intents

Every single search query on Google falls into one of four main categories of intent. Let's break them down.

Informational Intent

These are the “I want to know” queries. The user is looking for information, a definition, or an answer to a question. They are in learning mode, not buying mode.

• Examples: “how to bake sourdough bread,” “what is cryptocurrency,” “who is the CEO of Tesla.”

Navigational Intent

These are the “I want to go” queries. The user already knows the specific website or brand they want to visit and is using Google as a shortcut to get there.

• Examples: “youtube,” “facebook login,” “twitter.”

Commercial Investigation Intent

This is where things get interesting for us. These users are in the pre-purchase phase. They intend to buy a product or service soon, but they are still doing their research and comparing options. They are looking for reviews, comparisons, and “best of” lists.

• Examples: “best email marketing software,” “ahrefs vs semrush,” “iphone 16 pro review,” “most reliable hiking boots.”

Transactional Intent

This is the final step. These are the “I want to buy” queries. The user has their credit card ready and is actively looking to make a purchase right now. Their query often includes words like “buy,” “discount,” “sale,” or a specific product name and model.

• Examples: “buy macbook pro m4,” “nike pegasus 41 discount code,” “pluralsight subscription sale.”

Where “Buying Keywords” Fit In: The Power Duo of Commercial & Transactional Intent

Now, let's connect this back to our main goal.

A “buying keyword” isn't just a single type of intent. It's the powerful and profitable combination of the last two categories we discussed: Commercial Investigation and Transactional Intent.

• Commercial Keywords target users who are about to make a decision.
• Transactional Keywords target users who have already made their decision.

These two groups represent the middle and the bottom of the sales funnel—the stages where visitors transform into customers. When you target these keywords, you are no longer just talking to “readers”; you are talking directly to “buyers.” This is the fundamental shift in mindset that separates struggling websites from profitable online businesses.

The Treasure Map: How to Systematically Identify Buying Keywords

Now that you understand the why (search intent), let's get into the how. Finding buying keywords isn't about guesswork; it's a systematic process. The key is to learn how to recognize specific patterns and words that act as giant, flashing signals of buying intent.

The Anatomy of a Buying Keyword: High-Intent Modifiers

A core keyword, like “running shoes,” is vague. The user could be looking for its history, pictures, or a definition. But when they add another word—a “modifier”—the intent becomes crystal clear.

• “best running shoes” -> Commercial Intent
• “buy running shoes” -> Transactional Intent

These modifiers are the secret sauce. They are the words that turn a generic search into a high-value buying keyword. I've broken them down into four distinct tiers, from hottest intent to warmest.

Tier 1: The “Ready-to-Buy” Transactional Modifiers

These are the lowest-hanging fruit. The user has their wallet in hand. They have finished their research and are actively looking for a place to complete the transaction. When you see these words, you are looking at a searcher on the verge of becoming a customer.

Your list of Transactional Modifiers:

• Buy
• Purchase
• Order
• Coupon
• Discount
• Promo code
• Deal
• Sale
• Clearance
• For sale
• Get
• Pricing
• Cost
• Free shipping

Tier 2: The “Problem-Aware” Commercial Modifiers

This is where the majority of high-value affiliate marketing happens. Users here have a problem and know they need a solution, but they haven't decided on the exact one yet. They are comparing, reviewing, and seeking expert recommendations. Your content can be the final piece of the puzzle that pushes them to a decision.

Your list of Commercial Modifiers:

• Best
• Top / Top 5 / Top 10
• Review / Reviews
• Comparison / Compare
• Vs / Versus
• Alternative / Alternatives to
• Affordable / Cheapest
• Reliable / Fastest / Easiest
• Pros and cons
• Guide

Tier 3: The “Solution-Seeking” Keywords

This is a more nuanced but incredibly powerful category. The user isn't searching for a specific product name yet, but they are searching for a type of solution to a problem they have. Ranking for these keywords positions you as an expert problem-solver.

The pattern is usually [solution type] for [problem or goal]:

• “Software for…” (e.g., “software for project management”)
• “Tool for…” (e.g., “tool for removing image backgrounds”)
• “Service for…” (e.g., “service for cleaning rugs”)
• “How to fix/prevent/solve…” (e.g., “how to fix a leaky faucet” – this leads to product recommendations)
• “Best way to…” (e.g., “best way to learn Spanish” – leads to app/course recommendations)

Tier 4: Branded Keywords

When a user includes a brand or product name in their search, their intent is extremely high. They've moved past generic solutions and are evaluating a specific option. These are goldmines for affiliates.

Common patterns include:

• [Brand Name] review (e.g., “Semrush review”)
• [Product Name] vs [Competitor Name] (e.g., “Clickfunnels vs Leadpages”)
• [Brand Name] alternative
• [Brand Name] pricing
• Is [Brand Name] worth it?

By mastering these four tiers of modifiers, you can begin to see the web through the eyes of a strategic marketer. You no longer see just keywords; you see clear signals of intent, opportunity, and potential revenue.

The Toolkit: 7 Actionable Methods to Find Your Money Keywords

Theory is great, but execution is what pays the bills. Now I'm going to share my personal arsenal of tactics—from simple, free methods to the powerhouse strategies I use every day. This is how you go from knowing what a buying keyword is to having a list of them ready for your next content plan.

Method 1: Smart Google Search Tactics (The Free Way)

Your first and best tool is Google itself. It's free, powerful, and constantly revealing what users want. Here's how to use it strategically:

• Google Autosuggest: Start typing a core keyword followed by a buying modifier into the search bar, but don't hit enter. For example, type best camera for. Google will immediately suggest keywords like best camera for travel, best camera for beginners, best camera for youtube. These are all proven, high-demand keywords.
• “People Also Ask” (PAA) Box: Search for one of your target keywords. Look for the PAA box. This is a goldmine of related questions that show commercial intent, like “Is Brand X better than Brand Y?” or “What is the most affordable alternative to Product Z?”
• Related Searches: Scroll to the bottom of the search results page. Google gives you a list of 8-10 related searches. This is a fantastic way to discover long-tail buying keywords you hadn't thought of.

Method 2: Spying on Your Competitors' Most Profitable Pages

This is a strategy that has personally generated millions in revenue for me. Why do the hard work when your competitors have already spent years and thousands of dollars figuring out what works? You can ethically spy on them and see exactly which pages are bringing them the most valuable traffic.

The process is simple: use a professional SEO tool to analyze a competitor's domain. The tool will show you their “Top Pages” by traffic value. These are almost always pages targeting high-value buying keywords. Your job is to analyze those keywords and create something ten times better.

A tool like Ahrefs is the industry standard for this.

Method 3: Unleashing the Power of Premium SEO Tools

While free methods are good for starting, premium tools are what separate the amateurs from the professionals. They allow you to do in minutes what would take days to do manually.

Using Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool

Semrush is a complete digital marketing suite, but its Keyword Magic Tool is exceptional for our purpose.

1. Enter a broad “seed” keyword (e.g., “email marketing”).
2. On the left sidebar, click the “Intent” filter and select “Commercial” and “Transactional.”
3. Instantly, Semrush filters thousands of keywords down to a laser-targeted list of money keywords. It's that fast.

Using Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer

Ahrefs offers another world-class approach.

1. Enter your seed keyword into the Keywords Explorer.
2. Click on the “Include” filter.
3. In the “Include” box, paste your list of buying modifiers from the “Treasure Map” section (e.g., best, review, vs, comparison, alternative).
4. Ahrefs will serve you a beautiful list of keywords that contain both your seed term and a high-intent modifier.

Method 4: Mining for Gold in Community Forums (Reddit & Quora)

Want to find the exact language real people use before they buy? Go to where they have unfiltered conversations: Reddit and Quora. People don't use “SEO speak” here. They use natural language that reveals their true needs.

Search these sites using Google with search operators like:

• site:reddit.com "best software for" project management
• site:quora.com "any recommendations for" a good laptop

The threads you find are pure gold for content ideas and keywords.

Method 5: Analyzing Amazon Product Pages

Never forget that Amazon is the largest product search engine on the planet. Go to a popular product in your niche. You can find dozens of keyword ideas by looking at:

• The product title itself.
• The “Frequently bought together” section.
• The customer “Questions & Answers” section.

Method 6: Listening to the Voice of Your Customer

This is the most overlooked but potent source of buying keywords. Your existing customers and audience are literally telling you what they want to buy. Look for keyword ideas in:

• Customer support tickets.
• Sales call transcripts.
• Onboarding survey responses.
• Comments on your blog or social media.

They are using the exact phrases they used when they were in “buying mode.”

Method 7: Using AnswerThePublic for “Versus” and “Comparison” Keywords

AnswerThePublic is a brilliant free tool for visualizing search queries. While it's known for finding informational questions, it has a hidden strength: finding comparison keywords. Enter a product or brand name, and look at the “Comparisons” branch (the “vs” section). It will visually map out all the “Product A vs Product B” searches people are making, giving you a huge list of high-intent commercial keywords.

The Blueprint: How to Use Buying Keywords in Your Content Strategy

Finding a list of valuable keywords is half the battle. Knowing exactly what to do with them is what wins the war. You can't just sprinkle these terms into random articles. You need a blueprint that matches each keyword to a specific, high-converting content type.

Mapping Keywords to Content Types

This is how you translate keyword research into a powerful content plan. Every type of buying keyword has a perfect content match. Getting this right is critical for satisfying user intent.

• If the keyword is best

  …
  • Content Type: The “Best Of” List Post. This is a cornerstone of affiliate marketing. Your article should be a comprehensive roundup reviewing the top 5-10 products in that category.
  • Example Keyword: “best wireless earbuds for running”
  • Article Title: “The 7 Best Wireless Earbuds for Running in 2025 (Sweat-Proof & Secure)”

• If the keyword is

  review…
  • Content Type: The In-Depth Single Product Review. This article dives deep into one specific product, covering its features, pros, cons, pricing, and who it's for. This builds immense trust.
  • Example Keyword: “Apple Airpods Pro 2 review”
  • Article Title: “Apple Airpods Pro 2 Review: Still the King of ANC Earbuds?”
  • How to write a product review

• If the keyword is

  vs
  …
  • Content Type: The Head-to-Head Comparison Post. This content directly compares two popular products, helping a user make their final decision. Use tables and clear verdicts to make it easy to digest.
  • Example Keyword: “sennheiser momentum 4 vs sony wh-1000xm5”
  • Article Title: “Sennheiser Momentum 4 vs. Sony WH-1000XM5: The Ultimate Showdown”

• If the keyword is buy

  or discount…
  • Content Type: The Product/Sales Page. This keyword has the highest transactional intent. The content should be less informational and more conversion-focused, with clear pricing, strong calls-to-action (CTAs), and a direct link to purchase.

On-Page SEO for Maximum Conversion

Once you've created the perfect piece of content, you need to send clear, powerful signals to Google. For buying keywords, there's no need to be subtle. Be direct and precise.

• URL: Keep it short, clean, and include the primary keyword. (e.g., yourwebsite.com/best-running-shoes)
• Title Tag & H1: Your main keyword must be in the title tag (ideally at the beginning) and the H1 heading of the article.
• Introduction: Reiterate the main keyword or a close variation within the first 100 words to immediately confirm the topic for both the user and Google.
• Clear CTAs: Your affiliate links shouldn't just say “click here.” Use compelling, action-oriented text like “Check Current Price on Amazon,” “Get 25% Off Semrush Today,” or “See a Live Demo.”

For a deeper dive into the nuances of on-page optimization, I highly recommend reading Backlinko's On-Page SEO Guide, as it's a trusted resource in our industry.

A Warning: The Danger of ONLY Targeting Buying Keywords

A word of caution from someone who has coached thousands of marketers: Do not build a website that consists only of buying keyword content. This is a critical strategic mistake.

Think of your website as a complete ecosystem.

• Informational Content (Top of Funnel): These are your “how-to” guides and articles that answer questions. They attract a wide audience, build topical authority, and establish trust. They don't make much money directly, but they are essential.
• Buying Keyword Content (Middle/Bottom of Funnel): These are your “best of,” “review,” and “vs” posts. This is where you make your money.

A healthy content strategy needs all layers. The informational posts act as “feeder” articles. They build your site's authority and give you a powerful network of internal links you can point toward your money-making pages. Without them, your buying keyword pages will struggle to rank and will feel like a disconnected brochure, not a trusted resource.

Advanced Strategies & Common Pitfalls

Once you've mastered the fundamentals, it's time to add a few advanced techniques to your arsenal and learn how to avoid the common traps that even experienced marketers fall into. Think of these as the professional-level secrets that will set you apart from the competition.

Beyond Google: Finding Buying Keywords on Amazon and YouTube

While Google is our primary focus, don't forget that buying intent is rampant on other major platforms.

• Amazon: As I mentioned earlier, Amazon is a search engine for buyers. Go directly to Amazon.com and start typing your product category into the search bar. The autosuggestions are a pure reflection of what paying customers are searching for. Also, pay close attention to the “Sponsored Products” that appear; companies are paying money for those keyword placements because they convert.
• YouTube: YouTube is the world's second-largest search engine, and it's full of commercial intent. People go there for visual reviews, unboxings, and “how-to” videos before making a purchase. Search for [your product] review or [your product] tutorial on YouTube. Analyze the titles, descriptions, and comments on the top-ranking videos to find keyword variations and customer pain points.

The Danger of Keyword Cannibalization

This is a critical mistake to avoid. Keyword cannibalization happens when you have multiple pages on your own website that are all competing for the same primary buying keyword.

For example, if you have three different articles all trying to rank for “best protein powder,” you're essentially making them fight each other. This confuses Google, splits your authority (your backlinks and internal links are diluted across three pages), and often results in none of the pages ranking as well as a single, consolidated page could.

The solution: Be strategic. Every primary buying keyword should have one—and only one—authoritative “home” on your website. Audit your content regularly. If you find multiple pages competing, consolidate them into one “super post” and redirect the old URLs to the new one.

Conclusion: Stop Chasing Vanity Metrics, Start Chasing Revenue

Let's circle back to where we started. The goal of a successful website isn't just to get traffic; it's to get the right traffic. It's about attracting visitors who are actively looking for solutions and are ready to make a purchase. Success isn't measured by a high number on your analytics report, but by the tangible growth in your revenue.

By now, you have the complete blueprint to make that happen. You know that the secret lies in focusing on buying keywords.

Here is your action plan, simplified:

1. Master Search Intent: First, understand the “why” behind every search. Differentiate between informational queries and the profitable commercial and transactional ones.
2. Hunt for Buying Modifiers: Use the “Treasure Map” to identify the specific words (best, review, vs, buy, discount) that signal a user is ready to make a move.
3. Use the Right Toolkit: Leverage a combination of free methods and powerful premium tools like Semrush or Ahrefs to build your keyword list efficiently.
4. Map Keywords to Content: Match every keyword to its perfect content type—from “best of” listicles to in-depth reviews—to perfectly align with user expectations.

Stop chasing empty clicks. Start targeting keywords that matter. Go through this guide again, pick one method, and find your first ten buying keywords today.

What's your favorite method for finding buying keywords? Share your best tip in the comments below.