SEM Keyword Research
Find the high-intent paid search keywords that attract buyers, not browsers — and spot the low-intent ones to avoid
What This Prompt Does
Paid search only pays off when you bid on terms real buyers type. This prompt casts an SEM strategist, reads your offer and landing page, and returns a shortlist of high-intent keywords, supporting terms, phrases to exclude, and the ad-group themes hiding inside the list.
When to Use It
- •Launching a new Google Ads or Microsoft Ads account
- •Existing campaigns are burning budget on browsers and research traffic
- •Expanding an account into a new service line or geography
- •Reviewing whether your SEO keyword list is actually appropriate for paid search
The Prompt Template
Act as an experienced search engine marketing strategist. Your goal is to identify the best paid search keywords for this business so ads attract qualified traffic that is likely to convert. Context: - Business type: [BUSINESS TYPE] - Product or service: [PRODUCT OR SERVICE] - Target audience: [TARGET AUDIENCE] - Geography: [GEOGRAPHY] - Conversion goal: [CALLS, LEADS, SALES, APPOINTMENTS] - Website or landing page text: [PASTE TEXT] Task: Identify: 1. the best high-intent paid search keywords 2. supporting keywords 3. low-intent keywords to avoid 4. the likely search intent for each main keyword group Process: 1. Review the business offer. 2. Identify the searches most likely to come from buyers, not browsers. 3. Separate high-intent and low-intent keywords. 4. Group the keywords by likely ad group theme. 5. Explain which keywords are best for paid search. Constraints: - Focus on paid search, not SEO. - Use plain English that a minimum wage employee would understand. - Be specific and practical. - Do not recommend broad keywords just because they have high volume. - Keep the response under 500 words. - Favor recommendations that reduce wasted spend and improve conversion quality, not just click volume. Output format: Use these headings: - Best High-Intent Keywords - Supporting Keywords - Keywords to Avoid - Likely Keyword Themes
How the Prompt Is Structured
"Buyers, Not Browsers"
The Process section's "buyers, not browsers" phrasing is the most important line in the prompt. It shifts the model away from SEO-style topic lists and toward the short, commercial queries that actually trigger calls and checkouts.
Conversion Goal Changes Everything
"Calls" produce a different list than "lead form submissions" which produce a different list than "e-commerce purchases." Naming the conversion goal in context ensures the AI optimizes for the action your account actually tracks.
"Keywords to Avoid" Is as Valuable as Keywords to Use
Explicitly asking for keywords to avoid kickstarts your negative keyword list and prevents expensive mistakes early.
"Do Not Recommend Broad Keywords Just Because They Have High Volume"
The constraint against chasing volume is deliberate. Paid search economics reward conversion quality — this keeps the output focused on spendable, buyable terms.
Example Output
Best High-Intent Keywords
- • emergency plumber bozeman
- • 24 hour plumber bozeman
- • burst pipe repair bozeman
- • after hours plumber near me
Supporting Keywords
weekend plumber bozeman, licensed emergency plumber montana, same day plumbing bozeman
Keywords to Avoid
how to fix a leak yourself, free plumbing advice, plumbing apprenticeship bozeman — all signal low commercial intent.
Likely Keyword Themes
1) Emergency/urgent service, 2) Specific emergency types (burst pipe, leak, overflow), 3) After-hours/weekend availability.
Tips for Better Results
Paste the Landing Page, Not Just the URL
The AI can only match keywords to what it can read. Paste the visible landing page text so the recommendations are grounded in your actual offer.
Run Volume & CPC in a Real Tool
The AI ranks by intent, not by real-world cost. Always verify the shortlist in Google Keyword Planner or a third-party tool before bidding.
Chain With the Intent Classifier
Feed the output into the SEM Search Intent prompt next to stage-rank each term and decide budget allocation.
Watch for "Free," "DIY," and "Jobs"
These modifiers almost always indicate the wrong audience. If the AI recommends keywords containing them, move them to Keywords to Avoid immediately.
Build a Paid Search Plan That Converts
We turn AI-generated keyword plans into fully-structured Google Ads campaigns with measurable ROI.