📈 Which Keywords Are Worth Bidding On—and Which Are Just Noise?

Overview:
When you’re running ads or building SEO strategy, keyword selection isn’t just about volume—it’s about intent. The right keywords bring in visitors who are ready to engage, buy, or refer. The wrong ones? They burn budget, inflate vanity metrics, and leave you chasing ghosts.

This guide helps you cut through the noise and focus on keywords that actually move the needle.

🔍 Step 1: Understand Keyword Intent

Before you even look at search volume, ask: What does this searcher want?

• Informational: “What is off-grid hosting?” → Good for blog content, not ads.
• Navigational: “Bigfoot.host login” → Already knows you, low ad value.
• Transactional: “Buy solar panel kit for RV” → High-value, ad-worthy.
• Commercial Investigation: “Best WordPress hosting for tiny homes” → Prime for both SEO and ads.

Focus your ad spend on transactional and commercial investigation terms—they’re closest to the money.

📊 Step 2: Use Real Data, Not Hype

Tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush can show you:

• Impressions: How often your site shows up
• Clicks: Who’s actually engaging
• CTR (Click-Through Rate): Are your titles/meta pulling their weight?
• Conversion Rate: Are those clicks turning into leads or sales?

If a keyword gets tons of impressions but no clicks, it’s either irrelevant or your listing isn’t compelling. If it gets clicks but no conversions, it’s attracting the wrong crowd.

🧠 Step 3: Avoid Vanity Metrics

High-volume keywords like “web hosting” or “solar setup” might look tempting, but they’re often:

• Too broad
• Too competitive
• Too expensive
• Too vague to convert

Instead, go for long-tail keywords that match your niche:

• “RV solar panel setup for winter travel”
• “WordPress hosting for off-grid consultants”
• “Tiny home internet options in rural New Mexico”

These may only get 10–50 searches a month, but they’re laser-targeted—and they convert.

🛠️ Step 4: Test, Track, Refine

Start small. Run ads on 5–10 keywords. Watch the data. Refine.

• Kill off anything with low CTR and no conversions
• Double down on terms that bring qualified leads
• Use negative keywords to block irrelevant traffic (e.g., “free,” “cheap,” “template”)

This isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it game. It’s a feedback loop.

🐾 Bonus Tip: Brand-Specific Keywords

If your brand has a unique angle—like Bigfoot Hosting or off-grid consulting—lean into it.

• “Bigfoot-friendly hosting for WordPress”
• “Yeti-proof solar setups for mobile work”