When it comes to online marketing, there are two main types of keywords you’ll want to focus on; buying and browsing. A buying keyword is one that you use to drive traffic to your website from Google or another search engine. Browsing keywords are those used to find information on a subject, like a product you’re interested in.

The main difference between the two is how likely people are to convert based on what they see. With buying keywords, your goal is to get as many people as possible onto your website so you can sell them something. If someone clicks through and sees nothing they’re interested in, they’ll probably move on. But with browsing keywords, you’re more interested in getting people onto your website so they can learn more about what you have to offer.

Knowing the difference between a sales keyword and a browsing keyword is crucial when attempting to promote products online in the hopes of making a sale and receiving a commission. And here’s why:

When building a website or collection of related websites, it’s important to keep certain keywords in mind. Find out what people are looking for before you spend time making content for them. You can think of this as an example of a keyword. When using a search engine, users enter either a single keyword or a phrase comprised of several keywords.

If you’re an affiliate marketer, your goal is to bring in customers who are ready to make a purchase. If you want to maximise your sales and affiliate commissions, optimise your site for the kinds of keywords people use when they already have money in hand.

First, let’s look at a concrete illustration. Okay, let’s discuss digital cameras. It’s easy to assume that someone who searches Google for “digital camera review” is in the market to buy, but in reality, the vast majority of people who do this are probably not even considering purchasing a camera right now. That’s a broad search term, and it’s unlikely the user has narrowed their options to just two or three digital cameras. At this moment, they are merely considering making a camera purchase.

The evaluation of digital cameras is a popular search term.

A user who searches for the “cheapest digital camera” is more serious about making a purchase than the previous user was. They have a firm grasp on what matters most to them. Price. And that’s it! Even though “cheapest digital camera” is a popular search term, we know of better options.

Any potential buyer who enters “cheapest Canon Powershot” into a search engine is likely to have their credit card ready to make a purchase if they find a price they deem to be lower than any others they have seen online or in stores.

If you want to make a sale, you need to know how to distinguish between a buying keyword and a browsing keyword. Keyword searching still has a useful purpose and can turn up some excellent results. Browsing keywords are great if you want people to sign up for an e-mail list you’re maintaining, if you want to demonstrate your expertise in your field, or if you’re looking for a chance to create some link bait.

However, purchasing keywords is essential if your page’s sole purpose is to direct visitors elsewhere so that you can earn a commission off of their purchases.
On occasion and by complete fluke, pages with browsing keywords can generate sales. Pages with buying keywords can reliably and frequently convert visitors into customers. I enjoy making sales on a regular and frequent basis.

The difference between a £100/month site and a £1000/month site can be as little as knowing the difference between a browsing keyword and a buying keyword.

Knowing the difference between these two types of keywords can help you create a more successful marketing campaign and reach your target audience.

Franklyn Frantos (Snr)
© 2022