Navigating Geographic Keywords: When Google Search Console, Google Maps, and Wix Disagree

When conducting a thorough keyword research process, it's not uncommon to encounter conflicting suggestions from different tools such as Google Search Console, Google Maps, and Wix. Each tool offers unique insights, but how do you determine the best keywords for your geographical area? This article will guide you through the steps to harmonize the different results and find the most effective keywords for your local SEO strategy.

Steps to Choose the Best Keywords for Your Geographical Area

The key to achieving the best outcome is to follow a systematic approach by prioritizing your audience, considering local intent, balancing your tools, experimenting, and tracking.

Prioritize Your Audience

Begin by understanding what keywords your target market is using to find products and services. Google Search Console is an invaluable tool for this. It provides insights into which keywords are driving traffic to your site. Focus on keywords that have a high intent to convert visitors into customers.

Local Intent

If your business is local, keywords designed for Google Maps are crucial. These keywords help potential customers find your business based on their location. This is particularly important if you are targeting a specific region or neighborhood.

Balance Between Tools

Wix SEO tools offer valuable content recommendations based on the content already published on your site. However, using a combination of Google Search Console, Google Maps, and Wix data can help you achieve a balanced keyword approach. This balance will ensure that you are optimizing for both traffic potential and relevance.

Experiment and Track

For beginners, it's essential to incorporate keywords from all three tools and then keep testing and modifying them based on performance. This iterative process will help you find the right keywords that align with your business goals and drive more traffic and leads.

Strategies for Harmonizing Keyword Results from Multiple Tools

When you encounter different keyword results from Google Search Console, Google Maps, and Wix, it's important to prioritize based on several factors to choose the most effective keywords.

1. User Intent and Relevance

Google Search Console displays keywords that existing users are using to find your site. These keywords are usually highly relevant and worth optimizing. On the other hand, Google Maps focuses on local searches, so if you are targeting local traffic, prioritize these keywords. Wix often suggests broader or generic keywords that can be a good starting point for expanding your reach, but they should be balanced with more specific intent-driven terms.

2. Search Volume vs. Competition

Use Google Search Console to identify high-traffic keywords based on performance data like impressions and clicks. Google Maps keywords are less competitive but highly targeted for local SEO. Wix may suggest popular keywords with high competition, so balance these with low-competition long-tail keywords from Google Maps for a well-rounded strategy.

3. Keyword Variants and Location-Specific Terms

Utilize Google Maps for location-specific keywords to rank higher for local queries and attract nearby customers. Search Console provides valuable insights into long-tail variations that users are already searching for. Wix keywords can help with broader search terms that might drive non-local traffic. Prioritize a mix of local-specific terms from Maps and user-driven queries from Console, adding broader keywords from Wix as a secondary focus.

4. Competitor Analysis

Compare the keywords suggested by all three platforms with those used by your competitors. This can help you identify gaps in your strategy or underutilized keywords. Use this information to refine your keyword list and improve your local SEO efforts.

5. Test and Monitor

Implement the selected keywords and track their performance over time using tools like Google Analytics or Search Console. Adjust your strategy based on the results to ensure you are making the best use of your resources.

By blending these approaches, you will create a more holistic and effective keyword strategy. Focus on keywords that align with your audience's needs and intent, while also balancing local relevance with broader SEO opportunities. With a strategic approach, you can optimize your website for both local and global searches, ultimately driving more traffic and conversions.