Keyword Research & Post Topic Bank
How to build and maintain the keyword bank that feeds the GBP post writer for each client.
GBP Keyword Research & Post Topic Bank
Overview
Every client on the Local Visibility service gets a keyword bank built during onboarding and refreshed quarterly. This bank is the foundation for all Google Business Profile posts. It ensures every post uses language that real customers are searching for — not generic filler content.
This chapter covers how to build the keyword bank, where to store it, and how to load it into the client's Claude post writer project.
Why We Do This
Google can only connect your client's profile to searches that match language used on the profile. Posts written without keyword research tend to use generic phrases that no one searches for. The keyword bank solves this by pulling real search data directly from Google — for free — using three methods that take 30–45 minutes per client.
The output is a living document that feeds the post writer. The VA writing posts never has to think about keywords — the Claude project handles that automatically.
Prerequisites
Before starting keyword research, you need:
- Client's primary service category (e.g. "plumber", "auto body shop", "marketing consultant")
- Client's city or service area (e.g. "Calgary", "Edmonton", "Vancouver")
- Client's secondary services if applicable (e.g. "drain cleaning", "hot water tank replacement")
- Access to the Client Keyword Bank template (Google Sheet — link in client folder)
- Access to the client's Claude Project (post writer)
Step 1 — ABC Autosuggest
This method pulls real search phrases people are currently typing into Google.
Always use an incognito/private window (Ctrl+Shift+N / Cmd+Shift+N). Your browser history skews Google's suggestions and will produce inaccurate results.
Open incognito and go to Google
Open a new incognito window and navigate to google.com.
Run A–Z searches
Type the client's primary category + city, add a space and the letter A — for example plumber Calgary a — and observe the dropdown suggestions without pressing Enter. Screenshot or copy any relevant phrases. Repeat for B through Z.
Run service and location variations
Also run combinations of secondary services + city (e.g. drain cleaning Calgary), category + neighbourhood (e.g. plumber NW Calgary), and category + qualifier (e.g. emergency plumber Calgary).
Log results
Paste all usable phrases into the ABC Autosuggest tab of the Client Keyword Bank. One phrase per row.
Target: 20–40 usable keyword phrases from this step.
Step 2 — People Also Ask (PAA)
This method pulls real questions customers are asking. These become post topics and Q&A content on the profile.
Search for the client's primary service + city
Example: plumber Calgary
Find the People Also Ask box
Scroll down the results page until you see the box labelled People also ask.
Expand the list
Click to open one question — the list expands. Open several more to keep expanding. Capture every question a real customer of this client might ask.
Log results
Paste exact question text into the PAA Questions tab. Do not paraphrase — copy the question exactly as Google shows it.
Target: 15–25 relevant questions from this step.
Step 3 — Related Searches (PASF)
This method pulls Google's own approved keyword variations — phrases Google already associates with the client's service.
Scroll to the bottom of the results page
Using the same search from Step 2, scroll to the very bottom and look for the section labelled Related searches or People also search for.
Capture the bold phrases
These are Google's own language connections. Copy all phrases relevant to the client's services.
Log results
Paste into the Related Searches tab of the Client Keyword Bank.
Target: 10–20 phrases from this step.
Step 4 — Organize by Post Type
Add a Post Type column to each row and tag with one of these labels:
| Tag | Use for |
|---|---|
offer | Promotional posts, seasonal offers, discounts |
service | Posts about a specific service the client offers |
educational | Tips, how-to posts, explainer content |
qa | Q&A posts using the PAA questions directly |
local | Posts referencing the city, neighbourhood, or local context |
A keyword can carry more than one tag. Use your judgment.
Steps 1–4 combined should take 45–60 minutes for a new VA, and 25–35 minutes once you have done it a few times.
Step 5 — Load Into the Claude Post Writer Project
Each client has a dedicated Claude Project that acts as their post writer. The keyword bank must be loaded into that project's knowledge before any posts are written.
Open the client's Claude Project
Find the link in the client folder.
Go to Project Knowledge
Open the file called [ClientName] Keyword Bank, or create it if it does not exist yet.
Paste the keyword bank content
Copy all three tabs from the Google Sheet and paste using this format:
--- ABC AUTOSUGGEST KEYWORDS ---
[list of phrases, one per line]
--- PEOPLE ALSO ASK QUESTIONS ---
[list of questions, one per line]
--- RELATED SEARCHES ---
[list of phrases, one per line]
Confirm it loaded correctly
Ask the project: "What keywords do we have for this client?" It should return the full list.
Quarterly Refresh Process
The keyword bank is not a one-time task. Refresh every 90 days, or sooner if the client adds a new service, expands to a new area, or posts are showing consistently low engagement.
Re-run all three methods
Run ABC Autosuggest, PAA, and Related Searches in a fresh incognito window.
Compare to existing bank
Add new phrases. Flag (do not delete) anything that no longer appears — it may still be useful.
Update the Claude Project Knowledge file
Paste the revised bank and save.
Date-stamp the Google Sheet
Rename or note the refresh date (e.g. KeywordBank_2026-04).
Time: 15–20 minutes once the process is routine.
Quality Check Before Completing
- At least 20 phrases in ABC Autosuggest tab
- At least 15 questions in PAA Questions tab
- At least 10 phrases in Related Searches tab
- All rows tagged by post type
- Claude Project Knowledge updated and confirmed working
- Keyword bank file saved in client folder with date stamp
Next Step
Once the keyword bank is complete, proceed to Post Planning & Writing for the monthly fulfillment process.