Indie Hackers Smart Keyword Selection: Beyond Volume for Builders

Learn why search volume misleads indie builders.

Master 4-step keyword evaluation for traffic potential, competition, and business alignment.

Most indie builders chase high search volume keywords and wonder why their organic traffic sucks. Here's the uncomfortable truth: volume alone is terrible for picking keywords.

After analyzing hundreds of failed SEO attempts in our community, I've identified a better framework that actually works for solo builders and small teams.

The Real Traffic Question

Search volume lies. Constantly.

Take a cooking blog targeting "easy pasta recipes" with 8K monthly searches. The #1 result? Gets maybe 2K visits. Why? Google's recipe cards answer everything above the fold.

Meanwhile, "project management tool comparison" shows 1.2K searches, but the top page pulls 15K monthly visitors. Different story entirely.

The fix: Check actual traffic to ranking pages, not volume estimates. Free tools like Ubersuggest or paid ones like SEMrush show real visitor numbers for any URL.

Content Reality Check

Google ranks what searchers actually want, not what you think they need.

Search "invoice generator" and you'll find interactive tools, not blog posts explaining invoicing. Try ranking a guide here and you'll waste months.

But search "how to invoice clients" and boom — informational content dominates.

Quick test: Open an incognito window, search your target keyword, and scan the first page. Whatever content type appears most is what you need to create. No exceptions.

Business Alignment Matrix

Not every keyword drives revenue, even with perfect rankings.

I use a simple scoring system:

• Score 3: Direct product mentions possible naturally
• Score 2: Subtle product integration fits
• Score 1: Minimal business connection
• Score 0: Zero monetization potential

Example for a project management app:

• "Asana alternatives" = Score 3 (direct comparison opportunity)
• "team productivity tips" = Score 2 (mention your tool as solution)
• "office plant benefits" = Score 0 (totally unrelated)

Focus on 2+ scores unless you're pure content marketing.

Competition Assessment

Three filters separate winnable keywords from impossible ones:

1. Link Requirements

Count backlinks to top 3 results. Need 500+ quality links to compete? Skip it unless you have serious link building resources.

2. Domain Strength

If every result comes from Forbes, HubSpot, and similar giants, your 6-month-old domain won't crack page one. Look for mixed results with smaller sites ranking.

3. Content Quality Gaps

This is where indies win. Big sites often publish generic, outsourced content. If you spot thin articles with stock photos and no real insights, you can dominate with authentic, detailed content.

The Indie Advantage

Large companies can't move fast or get personal. Your advantages:

• Real user feedback integration
• Quick content updates
• Authentic product experience
• Niche community understanding

Play to these strengths when evaluating keywords.

Red Flags to Avoid

Skip keywords where:

• Every result needs custom development (calculators, tools)
• Medical/financial topics requiring professional credentials
• Highly regulated industries with compliance requirements
• Seasonal trends already declining
• Pure informational searches with zero buying intent

Implementation Framework

1. Export 100 keyword ideas from any tool
2. Filter by actual traffic potential (not volume)
3. Match content types you can realistically create
4. Score business alignment using the 0–3 system
5. Analyze competition across all three factors
6. Pick 5–10 winners and create a content calendar

Measuring Success

Track these metrics monthly:

• Organic traffic growth to target pages
• Keyword position improvements
• Actual conversions from organic traffic
• Content engagement (time on page, scrolling)

Volume vanity metrics don't pay bills.

Next Steps

Start with 3 keywords maximum. Perfect your process on a small batch before scaling. Most indie builders try targeting 50 keywords simultaneously and rank for none.

Quality content on winnable keywords beats mediocre content on perfect keywords every time.

What's your biggest keyword selection challenge? Drop a comment below.

Building in public?

Follow my SEO experiments at:

• LinkedIn — where I share my insights on product-led SEO
• Medium

Sonu Goswami (SaaS content writer) Posted to SaaS Marketing on September 9, 2025