Filtering and Refining Keywords by Location, Language, and Competition Level

Filtering and refining keywords by location, language, and competition level is essential for targeted and effective keyword research, especially for local SEO and paid campaigns.

Here is how you can approach each filter systematically:

1. Filtering by Location

• Purpose: To target keywords relevant to specific geographic areas such as cities, regions, or countries.
• How to do it:
  • Use location-based modifiers (e.g., city names, neighborhoods, zip codes) combined with your keywords to generate local keyword lists.
  • Tools like Google Ads Keyword Planner, Semrush, and LowFruits allow you to select or enter specific locations to get search volume and competition data tailored to that area.
  • This helps identify keywords that are popular and relevant locally, not just nationally or globally.
  • For example, setting filters for Montérégie, Quebec, or a specific city will show keyword metrics for that area only.

2. Filtering by Language

• Purpose: To ensure keywords match the language preferences of your target audience, which is crucial for multilingual markets or international campaigns.
• How to do it:
  • Select the language filter in keyword research tools to get search volume and trends for that language.
  • Keyword localization involves researching keywords in the local language to capture motivated audiences and often lower competition.
  • This is especially important for targeting non-English speakers or multilingual regions, maximizing ad budget efficiency.

3. Filtering by Competition Level

• Purpose: To find keywords that are easier to rank for organically or bid on cost-effectively in paid campaigns.
• How to do it:
  • Use competition filters available in tools like Google Ads Keyword Planner, Semrush, and others to sort keywords by low, medium, or high competition.
  • Focus on low to medium competition keywords if you want to avoid high bidding costs or tough organic ranking battles.
  • Look for long-tail keywords, which tend to have lower competition and higher intent.
  • Analyze competitors’ keywords to find gaps or weak spots with lower competition that you can target.

Additional Tips for Effective Filtering and Refinement

• Combine filters for location + language + competition to narrow down to highly relevant keywords for your specific audience and market.
• Use negative keywords to exclude irrelevant terms and reduce wasted spend in paid campaigns.
• Regularly update and refine your keyword list based on performance data and changing trends.
• Tools like Google Trends can complement keyword planners by showing seasonal or regional popularity shifts.

Summary Table

By systematically applying these filters, you can generate a refined, actionable keyword list that aligns with your business goals, audience, and budget constraints.

If you want, I can provide a step-by-step example using a specific tool like Google Ads Keyword Planner or Semrush.