SEO Strategy3 min

The SEO Gap Analysis: Finding the Money Keywords You're Missing

There are keywords your competitors rank for that you don't. These gaps are literally money sitting on the table.

Here's a fun exercise.

Take your top 3 competitors. Look at the keywords they rank for. Now look at the keywords you rank for.

See the gap?

Those are keywords where potential customers are searching, your competitors are showing up, and you... aren't.

That gap is revenue you're leaving on the table.

How to run a gap analysis

Step 1: List your top 3-5 SEO competitors

The sites that consistently rank for your target keywords.

Step 2: Pull their keyword data

Using SEMrush, Ahrefs, or similar tools, export the keywords each competitor ranks for.

Step 3: Find the gaps

Look for keywords where:

  • 2+ competitors rank, but you don't
  • Competitors rank in the top 10, you're not in the top 50
  • The keywords have commercial intent (people searching to buy/hire/compare)
  • Step 4: Prioritize by opportunity

    Score each gap keyword by: search volume x CPC (as a proxy for commercial value) x your ability to create competitive content.

    Step 5: Create a content plan

    For each priority gap, determine:

  • What page do you need? (New or existing)
  • What content format works? (Look at what's ranking)
  • How can you make yours better?
  • The shortcut

    Don't get so lost in analysis that you forget to execute.

    Most of the foundational work that makes gap analysis pay off is already inside SEO Checkup.

    113 tasks. Step-by-step execution. Free. No credit card. 30 seconds.

    Find the gaps. Close them. Make money. Start your gap analysis with a proper competitor keyword gap analysis and use Ahrefs' keyword research tools to pull the data.

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