How to make the best use of Keyword Planner?

What Are the Do’s and Don’ts of Keyword Planner in GEO?

If you're looking to improve your GEO (Geographic Engine Optimization) strategy and connect more effectively with location-based audiences, Scalenut's Keyword Planner is an essential tool. It allows you to research, organize, and manage keywords and clusters based on geographic intent, local trends, and regional audience behavior.

To get the most out of Scalenut’s Keyword Planner, especially for GEO-focused campaigns, it’s important to follow structured best practices—and avoid common pitfalls. The following are the Do’s and Don’ts for making your keyword planning efficient, accurate, and locally impactful.

Do’s of Keyword Planner for GEO
1. Add Relevant Long-Tail Keywords with Local Intent

Use geo-specific long-tail keywords that match the search behavior of users in specific locations (e.g., “affordable dentists in Austin” instead of just “dentists”). These keywords help capture high-converting, intent-driven local traffic.

Tip: Use filters in the Keyword Planner to narrow down to “local intent” keywords or location-based search phrases.

2. Create Multi-Keyword Reports for Local Niches

Scalenut's Keyword Planner lets you select multiple keywords tied to various locations or services and generate a comprehensive keyword report. This helps you spot regional trends and structure your content strategy per city, state, or neighborhood.

Tip: Use this to compare keyword behavior across cities to prioritize where to focus your content and marketing efforts.

3. Add Relevant Filters to Get Localized Clusters

Use filters such as:

• Search volume
  

• Keyword difficulty
  

• Geographic modifiers
  

• Intent type (navigational, transactional, informational)
  

These filters help generate keyword clusters that align with hyperlocal and regional search patterns.

4. Choose Keywords with High Potential Score for Local Reach

Scalenut calculates a Potential Score based on factors like search volume, keyword difficulty, and opportunity. Focus on keywords with a high potential score in your target service areas.

Example: Instead of just selecting “real estate,” go for “real estate agents in Miami with no commission.”

5. Refine Your Keyword List by Region

Regularly refine your keyword list by:

• Removing generic or unrelated terms
  

• Focusing on keywords that match local buyer personas
  

• Clustering keywords by region, ZIP code, or city names
  

This ensures your content is aligned with specific location-based search intent.

6. Consider Clusters with Low Difficulty to Win Local SERPs Fast

Targeting low-difficulty keyword clusters helps you gain visibility faster in location-specific search results. These are particularly useful for new websites or businesses trying to establish GEO authority quickly.

Tip: Start with low-difficulty clusters in underserved areas, and scale as you build authority.

7. Monitor Keyword Difficulty by Location

Keyword difficulty varies by location. For example, “plumbers in NYC” is far more competitive than “plumbers in Albany.” Monitor the difficulty at the local cluster level and prioritize your efforts accordingly.

8. Enable Keyword Gap Settings (for Pro & Ltd Users)

Scalenut’s Keyword Gap feature allows you to:

• Identify keywords your competitors rank for in your targeted geographic area
  

• Discover untapped opportunities to close local visibility gaps
  

• Get real-time keyword movement data in one dashboard
  

Use this to benchmark against top local competitors and adjust your strategy.

9. Optimize Keyword Cluster Selection with “Top Domains” Insight

Prioritize keyword clusters where the Top Domains percentage indicates dominant local relevance. This metric helps you:

• Find content gaps in local markets
  

• Focus on clusters where your domain has a chance to outperform

Don’ts of Keyword Planner for GEO

1. Don’t Add Narrow or Overly Specific Keywords

Avoid using extremely narrow local keywords like “best vegan taco truck on 5th Street at 2pm.” These may sound precise but often have no search volume and are too restrictive.

Instead, broaden to “best vegan taco trucks in Austin.”

2. Don’t Select High CPC Keywords Without Local ROI Justification

High CPC (Cost Per Click) keywords can drain your budget quickly, especially in competitive local markets. Only target them if:

• You have the budget
  

• The conversion value justifies the spend
  

• The audience aligns with your local offering
  

Example: Don’t bid on “lawyer Los Angeles” with high CPC unless you offer high-ticket legal services.

3. Don’t Select Low-Relevance Keywords for Your Location

Always ensure the keywords match your local service or product offering. For example, ranking for “emergency plumber” is useless if you only offer scheduled services in a specific area.

4. Don’t Stuff Too Many Keywords in Local Pages

Avoid overloading your location pages with keywords like:

“Looking for a New York dentist in New York offering New York dental services in New York?”

This harms readability and can trigger penalties. Keep content natural, helpful, and focused on user intent.

5. Don’t Ignore User Intent

Make sure your keyword selection reflects:

• What locals are actually searching for
  

• Whether they are looking to buy, learn, or compare
  

• Local culture or terminology
  

Example: “flat” might work in the UK, but Americans search for “apartment.”

6. Don’t Forget to Regularly Update Your GEO Keyword Research

Local trends shift due to:

• Seasonality
  

• Economic or cultural events
  

• Competitor activity
  

Revisit your keyword research at least once a quarter and update clusters to reflect real-time search behavior.

Conclusion

Optimizing your content with geo-focused keyword clusters ensures you're not just ranking in search engines, but ranking in the right places for the right audiences. Scalenut’s Keyword Planner—when used with the right filters, insights, and strategy—can help you:

• Expand local visibility
  

• Capture high-intent traffic
  

• Build regional authority faster
  

Remember: keyword clustering for GEO isn’t just about volume—it’s about intent, relevance, and local context.