How To (Intelligently) Steal Your Keyword Strategy

When I am looking for a new niche, I always do the same thing.

First I brain storm a list of actual niches by observing the world around me.

Whether that’s in your house, the street, while watching a movie, in a mall or listening to music – niches are everywhere.

For example right now I can easily think of-

  • Power tools
  • Electric scooters
  • Drones
  • Video blogging

Once I have a target list of niches, I do some Google searches to see what kind of sites exist for a topic.

The best way to find affiliate type sites is to do searches with 2x types of keyword modifier-

Best Modifier

  • Best Power Tools
  • Best Electric Scooters
  • Best Drones
  • Best video blogging

Cheap Modifier

  • Cheap Power Tools
  • Cheap Electric Scooters
  • Cheap Drones
  • Cheap video blogging

With a list of 5x sites that shows up regularly for those searches…

…We can begin to steal our way to an intelligent keyword strategy!

How To (Intelligently) Steal Your Competitors Best Keywords

The easiest way to do this is with my personal Google sheet.

This is something I had developed to help me build intelligent keyword strategies in minutes rather than days-

This sheet will automatically spit out a personalized keyword strategy based on your competitors current search rankings in less than 5 minutes.

It does a bunch of cool things-

  • Automatically find’s the best keywords with high search volumes & low competition
  • Tell you if its possible to win a featured snippet
  • Calculates the intent of the keyword to help you focus on $$$ keywords

In fact:

With this free spreadsheet and the one I am going to give you tomorrow…

You’ll be able to create intelligent keyword & backlink strategies in minutes!

How To Setup The Keyword Theft Sheet

It only takes a few minutes to find all of the best keywords in your niche.

First take a look at this SAMPLE sheet and familiarize yourself with it.

Note: The SAMPLE sheet is view only, you need to make a copy of the blank template below to use it.

There are 4x tabs at the bottom to navigate through-

  1. Start Here – Enter your competitor domains here
  2. Data – Enter the data you export here
  3. Keyword Analysis – Automatically finds the best keywords for you to select
  4. Final Selections – Shows you final keyword selections

Just take a moment to browse around and click on the checkboxes and things to see how it works.

When you are ready make a copy of the Google Sheet below-

Steal Your Keywords Sheet – MAKE A COPY OF ME

Do that by going to File > Make A Copy.

make a copy

Next:

You are going to take out the 100% free 14 day SEMRush trial.

This is where we are going to get all of the world class data to plug into the sheet without spending any cash! (mwahaha)

UPDATE: The Ahrefs & SEO Powersuite versions of the sheets have problems at the moment. We are working on a fix, in the mean time enjoy the free SEMRush data.

How To Setup The Sheet For Your Niche

Setting up the sheet is easy and really just boils down to a 2 step process-

  1. Import the data
  2. Make our keyword selections

It really doesn’t get any easier than that and the sheet will do all the heavy lifting in the background for us.

FOLLOW THIS VIDEO TO SETUP THE SHEET

Step #1 – Start Here Tab

Go to the first tab “Start Here” and enter the domains of your competitors (without http or www) in column A-

Then click on the links to automatically open the right report that you need.

Make sure you are on the Organic Research > Positions report-

And then on the right side, scroll down a bit and click on the export button and select the first 3,000 rows to export-

Repeat this for each of the competitors until you have exported all of the data.

Step #2 – Loading The Data

Head over to tab #2 – Data and import each of the files you exported in step #1.

The quickest way to do that is-

  1. Open one of the files from step #1
  2. Delete the first row of data
  3. Highlight all of the remaining data and copy it
  4. Then paste it into Tab #2 of the google sheet
  5. Repeat the process adding each report you exported in step #1 to tab #2

This is how you should do it-

Once you have loaded in the data from all of your competitors, you are ready for…

Step #3 – Keyword Analysis

Now head over to the 3rd tab #3 – Keyword Analysis.

This sheet has already found the easiest to rank for keywords with the highest search volumes for you-

It also includes some extra helpful columns like if there is opportunity for a featured snippet.

It will also tell you if it’s a tyre kicker keyword (ignore these) or a commercial based keyword.

Just work through the sheet and tick the little tick box when you find keywords you like!

Step #4 – Review Your Final Selections

Last but not least jump over to the 4th tab #4 – Final Selections and review your final keyword choices.

Once you have done that, your personalized keyword strategy is complete!

Wrapping It Up

Make sure you get that setup right now and that you tick the boxes to make your final keyword selections.

Because I am going to show you how to steal all of your competitors best backlinks for those keywords VERY soon!

And once you have done that…

…you will have an intelligent SEO plan of attack based on cold hard data!

If you have any questions, please ask below and I will help you out!

And if you want to take things to the next level I highly suggest you check out my step by step 90 Day SEO strategy to grow your search traffic.

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What Are Your Thoughts?

352 Responses

  1. Hello Matthew, I heard your podcast with Spencer Haws today and feel lucky to have stumbled upon your great advice…

    Reply

  2. Hi Matthew, I am a KWfinder fan and am not looking to change search tools, so I suspect it is not designed for me. I do appreciate the time you have taken to create these sheets. All the best for the future. Warm regards, Lawrence

    Reply

  4. You need to make a copy of the blank sheet – the link to it uses this text ‘Steal Your Keywords Sheet – MAKE A COPY OF ME’

    Reply

  6. You certainly can – make sure you are making a copy of the blank sheet which is where it says – ‘Steal Your Keywords Sheet – MAKE A COPY OF ME’

    Reply

  9. Hi Matthew,It’s been awhile since the last time I commented on your posts. You’ve come a long way! Seeing your success inspires me to start my own blog or vlog on my own niche.Thank you again for your helpful posts! This is a goldmine, sames through with your other posts!Congratulations to your Success! Keep inspiring people!PS. Hope you don’t mind if I include my website. But currently it is down for maintenance. Thanks Again!

    Reply

  11. Can this tutorials be used to offer seo service on fiverr? and if possible it is, what can be the gig title on fiverr and what would be delivered. Please I need enlightenment or is there any software that can be used to render seo service. I don’t mind buying if its under my capacityThank you

    Reply

  12. I am sick of searching for your spreadsheet. I have spent like 2 hrs searching for it but couldn’t find it. I always get into the bonus section of your page but cant find any spreadsheet or anything there.

    Reply

  18. I followed all the instructions, waited for the grey progress bar to finish but when I click Tab 3 there are only about 5 keywords there. I imported nearly 5,000 from my competitors to tab 2, any ideas what’s going wrong?

    Reply

  19. I enjoy, cause I found exactly what I was taking a look for.You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! GodBless you . Have a great day.

    Reply

  20. Hey, I’ve received the welcome email and clicked on all three links in the email:download my intelligent Google SheetClick here to download the sheet nowthis spreadsheetI’m not able to get the sheet. Are you able to share it by sending a direct link. Many thanks,Lisa

    Reply

  21. I failed to use your worksheet. I managed to copy the data into Tab #2, but there is no results in tab #3. There is only “N/A” results.I was using the blank sheet, where there is only shoutmeloud.com.I look forward to your assistance. Thanks.

    Reply

    1. You need to wait for Google to save the sheet then do the calculation – You have to wait for the little grey progress bar to finish on the right side and for it to say “all changes saved”.

      Reply

  22. Thanks for sharing, find good keywords is always a challenge and with so many tools I always get confused. One issue I always have is trying to figure which keyword is the best to target.

    Reply

    1. Hey Michelle – well now you can use this spreadsheet to do all the research for you 🙂

      Reply

  23. Hey Matthew!! Both the files and your post is brilliant!! Been following your guidelines with some success =)I have the same issue as most here; Tab3 doesn’t show anything and in order to prepare a better question:1.- I am using the tool2.- I have opened the bolded sheets in blank and made a copy to my drive. 3.- I’ve added at least 2 competitors on Tab14.- I’ve added 6,000 rows on Tab 25.- When you go to Tab3, there’s just an “N/A” with the Query all have copied before in cell D2. There doesn’t seem to be any formulas apart from column G for the featured snippet and column H for the Intent. 6.- Tried to see if I had to run a macro but there are none7.- Not sure how to make it do the magic that you do with that voodoo SEO of yours =)Any thoughts?

    Reply

    1. Hey Rodrigo. I have just tested it all and seems to be working with no issues. You need to wait for Google to save the sheet then do the calculation.You have to wait for the little grey progress bar to finish on the right side and for it to say “all changes saved”.If you are still having problems then send a screenshot of tab #2 and a quick explanation to my email – matt@matthewwoodward.co.uk

      Reply

  24. Hi Matthew,I signed up and followed your instructions for the spreadsheet but after importing the data into tab 2 nothing is populating in Tabs 3 and 4. All I’m seeing is #N/A on those tabs. Not sure what the issue is.

    Reply

    1. This could be because you need to wait for Google to save the sheet then do the calculation – You have to wait for the little grey progress bar to finish on the right side and for it to say “all changes saved”. I have tested it all again my end and everything is working. If you are still having problems then send a screenshot of tab #2 and a quick explanation to my email – matt@matthewwoodward.co.uk

      Reply

  25. Matthew, WOAH, this is Grand. This is the first time I have used any of your strategies or processes, but I am SHARING this one in Facebook groups like crazy. Using it right now for one of my main SEO clients who are in a very narrow niche (Rural High-Speed Internet) with high competition levels for keywords. Halfway through the organic keyword swipe, but Im dying to get to the backlinks module. I love this SOP so much, Im going to do a Youtube video showcasing the process on my YouTube channel! Killer Stuff Bro! thanks a million.

    Reply

  26. Hi Matthew, not sure what I’m doing wrong. I have followed steps 1 & 2 and tab 3 is not being populated? Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hey Mik, this could be because you need to wait for Google to save the sheet then do the calculation – You have to wait for the little grey progress bar to finish on the right side and for it to say “all changes saved”. If you are still having problems then send a screenshot of tab #2 and a quick explanation to my email – matt@matthewwoodward.co.uk

      Reply

  28. Hi,i copied all the data from my competition to tab 2 (data)but nothing shows up in tab 3 (keywords)What did i do wrong or forgot?Thanks

    Reply

    1. Hey Gregory, I have tested it my end and all seems to be working well. You need to wait for Google to save the sheet then do the calculation – You have to wait for the little grey progress bar to finish on the right side and for it to say “all changes saved”.

      Reply

  29. Thank’s For posting this informative article, I applied it and already my website traffic is increasing.

    Reply

  30. You provide some of the best and most actionable SEO tips and strategies online today. I have always loved your blog and work. I really appreciate this awesome share!Thanks!!!

    Reply

    1. Hey Tess, thanks very much. If something is worth doing then might as well make it the best 🙂

      Reply

    1. Hi Simon – This could be because you need to wait for Google to save the sheet then do the calculation – You have to wait for the little grey progress bar to finish on the right side and for it to say “all changes saved”.

      Reply

  32. This is one of the most helpful tutorials. I really appreciate your work, please keep it up and help others in such a unique way.Thanks

    Reply

  33. sorry but you were not providing any type of downloading link through mail. you are making people fool. dont make people fool, f you really want to provide real content they do what you promise. I check your mail and it redirect to this page and i am not found any type of spreadsheet over here

    Reply

    1. If you took as much time to read the page as you took to complain, you would have found 1 of the 6 links to the spreadsheet to download.

      Reply

    1. In the – How To Setup The Keyword Theft Sheet section. You’ll see the bold pink link with ‘(blank)’ at the end

      Reply

  37. Hey,I followed all the steps but it seems it’s not doing the “keyword analysis” in Tab 3 nor the “final selection” in Tab 4.Both Tabs 3 and 4 have an error#N/A=QUERY(A2:D500,”select A,B,C,D WHERE A IS NOT NULL ORDER BY C ASC LIMIT 300″,0)Kindly let me know why the error occur and what should I do? Thanks!Reply

    Reply

    1. Hi Josh – This could be because you need to wait for Google to save the sheet then do the calculation – You have to wait for the little grey progress bar to finish on the right side and for it to say “all changes saved”. If you are still having problems then send a screenshot of tab #2 and a quick explanation to my email – matt@matthewwoodward.co.uk

      Reply

  38. Going through everything to find the spreadsheet. lol Haven’t found it yet. This is great info though. Keywords are a little hard because mine is all horror fiction in a story linkable universe, but I’m managing. Hoping to rank on scary stories and scary stories for adults which is a really huge market. But I’ll get there!

    Reply

    1. In the ‘how to set up the keyword theft sheet’ section, scroll down half a page and you will see it in bold

      Reply

    1. Hi Jack. You need to wait for Google to save the sheet then do the calculation – You have to wait for the little grey progress bar to finish on the right side and for it to say “all changes saved”. All is working when I tested it.

      Reply

  42. Just took advantage of the SEOPower tools special you ran. Now I would like to take advantage of the spreadsheets. Once I provide my email address, I get to this page for “How To (Intelligently) Steal Your Competitors Best Keywords” But isn’t there a spreadsheet for backlinks? I can’t find a link to it on your site.Thank you for your tools.

    Reply

  43. I have one competitor kw sheet with shortcuts, but this is very very smarter than which I created. Thanks Bro!

    Reply

    1. Where are the words PDF or eBook on any of the pages or video you went through? This is a free tool, not a PDF someone through together in an hour.

      Reply

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