How to Do SEO Research as an Indie Hacker: A Clear, Step-by-Step Guide

When you’re building something from the ground up, you can’t afford to waste time and resources on guesswork. And yet, many indie hackers jump right into creating websites or products without first checking if there’s a sizable audience actively searching for what they’re making. If you want to drive consistent, organic traffic, you need to master SEO research early on. Below, you’ll find a clear, step-by-step approach to discovering high-volume, low-difficulty keywords and planning your content so every page on your site pulls in the right kind of visitors.

1. Define Your Niche and Objective

Start by knowing exactly who you’re trying to reach and why. It sounds basic, but clarity is king here:

- Identify your target audience: Are you building a SaaS for freelancers? An online course for digital nomads? The more specific, the better.

- Specify your primary goal: Do you want people to sign up for a free trial? Join your email list? Make a purchase? Your ultimate objective will shape your SEO strategy.

Why this matters: The more precisely you define your niche, the easier it is to find the keywords that match user intent—meaning you’ll attract visitors who actually want what you’re offering.

2. Brainstorm Potential Keywords

No fancy tools yet—just brainstorm. Write down every phrase or question you think people might type into Google to find your product or service. For instance, if you’re building a project management tool for indie hackers, possible keywords might include:

- “Best project management tools for small startups”  

- “How to organize projects as a solo founder”  

- “Simple Kanban board for indie hackers”  

Collect as many phrases and questions as possible. You’ll refine them later.

Pro Tip: Check popular communities like Reddit, Indie Hackers, or niche Facebook groups. See how your target audience talks about their problems or desires. Those are often gold mines of authentic language you can turn into keywords.

3. Use Tools to Validate Search Volume and Keyword Difficulty

Now that you have a big list, it’s time to see if these keywords are actually worth going after. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush can help you answer two critical questions:

1. Search Volume: How many people are actually searching for this keyword each month?  

2. Keyword Difficulty (KD): How competitive is the keyword? Can you realistically rank for it?

Aim for:

- Moderate to high search volume: (anything above a few hundred searches per month is often worth noting, depending on your niche).  

- Low to moderate keyword difficulty: so you don’t spend months fighting to rank for a term dominated by big brands.

4. Research Your Competitors

Once you identify a handful of keywords with promising search volume and manageable difficulty, investigate who’s ranking at the top for those terms. These are your top competitors. Look at:

- Their on-page SEO: How do they structure their content, titles, and headings?  

- Their backlinks: Where are they getting mentions or backlinks from?  

- Their content approach: Do they use blog posts, long-form guides, or videos?

By studying the competition, you’ll see what’s already working and uncover gaps you can fill. Maybe their guides are too short or they’re missing important details. You can capitalize on these weaknesses by creating deeper, more valuable content.

5. Find Related (Long-Tail) Keywords

You might stumble upon important “related keywords” or “long-tail keywords” while doing competitor analysis. These are more specific phrases that generally have lower competition. For instance:

- “Best simple Kanban tool for freelancers on a budget” 

- “Project management software for solopreneurs with no coding skills”

These longer phrases often attract highly motivated visitors ready to buy or sign up. Make a note of them—these can become separate blog posts or detailed pages that feed traffic to your main product page.

6. Map Out Your Content Strategy

You now have a list of validated keywords and insights into how your competitors approach the market. It’s time to map out every page you plan to create:

1. Main Landing Page: Target your most competitive, high-volume keyword. This is your core offer, so it should be laser-focused on converting visitors.

2. Supporting Pages/Blog Posts: For each related keyword or subtopic, create detailed content that links back to your main page. This internal linking strategy helps your audience navigate your site easily and signals to search engines that your main page is authoritative.

Why this structure works: Every supporting page funnels traffic back to your primary offer, maximizing your chance of turning casual browsers into devoted users or customers.

7. Create High-Quality Content

Now for the crucial part—execution. Follow copywriting best practices:

- Write for clarity: Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and descriptive subheadings to break up text.

- Address user intent: Provide solutions, tips, or answers directly related to the keyword you’re targeting.

- Incorporate your keywords naturally: Don’t “stuff” keywords. Use them in your title, headings, and throughout the text where they make sense.  

- Include clear calls-to-action (CTAs): Each page should direct users to the next step—sign up, read another post, or try your product.

A Quick Tip: Sprinkle in personal stories or examples to connect with readers on a human level. Authentic storytelling sets you apart from faceless competitors.

8. Track, Adjust, and Improve

SEO isn’t a set-and-forget strategy. Use analytics tools—whether it’s Google Analytics, Ahrefs, or SEMrush—to track how well each page is performing:

- Monitor traffic growth: Identify which pages get the most visitors.  

- Check keyword rankings: See if your targeted keywords move up or down in search results.  

- Evaluate conversions: Traffic is only valuable if it leads to sign-ups or sales.

When you notice a page underperforming, revisit your content. Maybe you need to optimize your headline, improve readability, or add new sections to better address user intent. Keep refining your pages, and over time, you’ll earn more traffic and build credibility in your niche.

Final Thoughts

SEO research is the foundation for building a website that doesn’t just exist but thrives. By selecting the right keywords with low competition and high intent—and backing them up with high-value content—you’ll draw the right audience to your main page. Remember, a little bit of planning goes a long way, especially for resource-strapped indie hackers who can’t afford to miss the mark.

Key Takeaway: Do your homework before you start building. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to find high-volume, low-difficulty keywords, spy on your competition, and then create an internal linking strategy that points every supporting page to your core offer. This approach turns your website into a magnet for your ideal customers, setting you up for sustainable growth.