Want your website to show up when customers search for what you sell? It all boils down to picking the right keywords. At Rankup Digital, we’ve watched businesses in Flanders and Germany go from hidden gems to top hits just by getting this step spot-on. Keywords are the exact words or phrases people type into Google or Bing to find you, and in 2025, nailing them is more important than ever. This isn’t some tech puzzle. It’s about knowing what your customers are after and making sure you’re the answer they see.
Keywords aren’t just a guessing game. They’re the link between your business and the people looking for it. HubSpot found that 75% of folks don’t bother scrolling past the first page of search results. If you’re not ranking for the right terms, you’re out of the game. Things are shifting fast in 2025. Voice searches like “Hey Google, find a plumber near me” are taking off. Statista predicts over half of all searches will be voice-based this year. Local searches are massive too, especially for small businesses. Choose the wrong keywords, and you’re buried. Get them right, and you’re the first name they spot. We’ve talked about how SEO beats ads for long-term wins. Keywords are where that victory kicks off.
Here’s our step-by-step plan to find the perfect keywords for your business. We’ve used this to help clients shine, and it’ll do the same for you.
Put yourself in your customers’ shoes. What would they type to find you? If you’re a bakery in Bruges, maybe it’s “fresh bread Bruges” or “best bakery near me.” Grab a pen and write down 5-10 ideas. Keep it simple. Don’t overthink it yet. Just list what feels natural. This is your starting point.
You don’t need to splash cash on tools. Google Keyword Planner is free. Sign up through Google Ads, plug in your ideas, and it’ll show you related terms, how many people search them, and how tough the competition is. For “fresh bread Bruges,” you might get “artisan bakery Bruges” with 200 searches a month or “bread delivery Flanders” with 50. Bing Webmaster Tools offers something similar. Look for keywords with 50-500 searches. That’s enough traffic without being a battlefield.
Take a peek at who’s already winning your ideas. Search “best bakery Bruges” and check the top 5 sites. What words pop up in their titles or pages? Free tools like Ubersuggest can reveal their top keywords too. If a rival’s ranking for “homemade pastries Bruges,” borrow that idea and make it yours, only better. It’s not sneaky. It’s smart business.
Short keywords like “bakery” are big and broad, with thousands of searches but fierce competition. Long-tail ones like “gluten-free bakery in Ghent” are smaller, maybe 50-200 searches, but easier to rank for and pull in people ready to buy. SEMrush says long-tail terms drive 70% of search traffic. Blend them together. Use “bakery Ghent” for reach and “organic cakes Ghent delivery” for precision.
Not every keyword does the same job. Some folks want info, like “what is a croissant,” while others are ready to buy, like “order croissants online.” BrightEdge data shows “buy” or “near me” terms convert 20-30% better. For your business, go for intent-driven ones: “hire plumber Berlin” beats “plumbing tips.” Match what your customers need, sales over clicks.
Local is everything in 2025. Add your city or region, like “dentist Hamburg” or “bike repair Antwerp.” Google’s 2024 local search report says 46% of searches have local intent. Voice search loves full questions too, like “where can I find a cheap haircut in Munich?” Say them out loud on your phone. Do they sound natural? We’ve got more on this in our local SEO guide.
Choose 5-10 keywords and weave them into your site: titles, headers, content. Google Search Console, which is free, will show you after a month which ones get clicks. If they’re flops, swap them out. Our traffic guide walks you through tracking this. It’s simpler than it looks.
Picking the right keywords isn’t a shot in the dark. It’s your way to being seen, clicked, and picked in 2025. At Rankup Digital, we’ve helped businesses across Flanders and Germany crack this code and watch their traffic and sales take off. Want keywords that work for you? Reach out today, and let’s find your winners. Start here, then ramp it up with our traffic guide or turn clicks into cash with our sales tips. Let’s make your business boom together!
You don’t need a giant list. Start with 5-10 solid ones that fit your business perfectly, like your main products or services. For a plumber, that could be “emergency plumber Brussels,” “cheap plumbing near me,” and a handful more. Get those working first, then add others if you want. It’s not about having tons. It’s about having the right ones that bring people in.
Sometimes that happens. They might be too tricky to rank for, or maybe no one’s searching them. Pop into Google Search Console to see how many clicks you’re getting. If it’s dead quiet after a month, switch to easier ones, like longer phrases.
Oh, definitely. Local terms like “hairdresser Antwerp” pull in people who can actually walk through your door, not just random browsers. Plus, they’re less crowded, so you’re not fighting giant companies. We showed in our SEO for SMEs post how a small shop doubled leads with a local focus. It’s a game-changer for small players like you.
Type your keywords into Google or Bing and see who’s on page 1. If they’re there and you’re not, they’ve got the edge right now. Take a look at their site for clues, then beat them with sharper content or a faster page. Our technical guide has tips to zoom past them. It’s all about outsmarting, not just outranking.
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After three months of SEO optimization for Robbe Industries, we are pleased to share the results achieved so far. The website has experienced a significant improvement in search engine visibility and traffic growth.
+30.000 impressions per month
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After our SEO optimization, IC-S has seen a significant improvement in keyword rankings and web traffic. The strategies implemented have increased their online visibility, and the initial results are promising. More details coming soon!
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At Rankup Digital, we understand that every business is unique. That’s why we offer tailored SEO strategies designed to meet your specific needs and goals. Get in touch with us and discover how we can take your business to new heights.
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