Keyword Research · By scenario

Keyword Research for Ecommerce Websites: A Practical Guide

An online shop lives or dies by the keywords behind its product and category pages. Here is how keyword research works for ecommerce, why product and category terms matter, and how to find the buyer keywords that bring shoppers ready to purchase.

Updated: July 2026
Written by: Andrew Odgers, Managing Director
Reading time: 8 minutes
The short answer

Ecommerce keyword research separates product, category and informational terms, each mapping to a different page. Product keywords name a specific item; category keywords describe a group. Find buyer terms by looking for product names, model numbers and buy or best phrases. You should also target informational terms to catch early-stage shoppers. It brings the right visitors but does not guarantee sales on its own.

Terms sorted by page type

How ecommerce research differs, and product versus category terms

Ecommerce keyword research separates product terms, category terms and informational terms, since each maps to a different type of page in a shop. It sorts terms by page type; because a shop has product, category and guide pages, keywords are grouped to match them, the ecommerce side of content strategy. Product keywords name a specific item a shopper wants to buy, while category keywords describe a group of products, so each suits a product page or a category page. One is specific, one is broad; because they match different pages, you target them separately.

EC 01

Product terms

Specific items.

EC 02

Category terms

Groups of products.

EC 03

Guides too

Catch early shoppers.

Buyer terms, guides and honesty

Finding buyer keywords, why guides help, and an honest limit

You find buyer keywords by focusing on terms with clear buying intent, such as product names, model numbers and best or buy phrases, which show a shopper ready to purchase. Look for purchase language; because buyers use commercial words, filtering for them surfaces the valuable terms, the same skill as finding high intent keywords. Informational terms like how to choose or buying guides attract shoppers earlier in their journey and build trust before they buy. They catch early-stage buyers; because not everyone is ready to purchase, guides bring people who buy later. Ecommerce keyword research points you at the right terms, but sales also depend on your product pages, pricing and trust, so it helps rather than guarantees. It brings the right visitors; because buying has many factors, keywords start the sale rather than closing it, working alongside your ecommerce SEO.

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Frequently asked

Keyword research for ecommerce websites

How is keyword research different for ecommerce?
Ecommerce keyword research separates product terms, category terms and informational terms, since each maps to a different type of page in a shop. It sorts terms by page type. Because a shop has product, category and guide pages, keywords are grouped to match them.
What are product and category keywords?
Product keywords name a specific item a shopper wants to buy, while category keywords describe a group of products, so each suits a product page or a category page. One is specific, one is broad. Because they match different pages, you target them separately.
How do you find buyer keywords for a shop?
You focus on terms with clear buying intent, such as product names, model numbers and best or buy phrases, which show a shopper ready to purchase. Look for purchase language. Because buyers use commercial words, filtering for them surfaces the valuable terms.
Should ecommerce sites target informational keywords too?
Yes, informational terms like how to choose or buying guides attract shoppers earlier in their journey and build trust before they buy. They catch early-stage buyers. Because not everyone is ready to purchase, guides bring people who buy later.
Does ecommerce keyword research guarantee sales?
No, it points you at the right terms, but sales also depend on your product pages, pricing and trust, so it helps rather than guarantees. It brings the right visitors. Because buying has many factors, keywords start the sale rather than closing it.