Boosting Business Listings: The Power of Keywords

As a business broker, franchisor or private seller, getting your listings in front of the right buyers is essential. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by leveraging keywords in your online ads. Keywords are the terms that potential buyers type into search engines like SEEK Business when they are looking for businesses to buy. Using the right keywords can significantly improve your ad’s visibility, resulting in more enquiries and a faster sale. Here’s how you can harness the power of keywords to optimise your listings.

Understanding Keywords

Keywords are the words or phrases buyers use when searching for businesses. The SEEK Business search function matches the terms buyers enter with business listings that contain those keywords. The closer the match, the higher your listing appears in the search results, increasing the chances of catching a buyer’s attention.

How to Choose the Right Keywords

Choosing the right keywords starts with understanding your audience. Think about the terms potential buyers might search for and create a list of relevant words and phrases. Don’t just think in broad terms like “cafe” or “gym” or “laundromat” – dive deeper into specific details that might set your business apart, such as “coffee”, or “fitness” or “laundry”; or “gourmet” or “24/7”, or “dry cleaning”.

Looking at the top searches on SEEK Business is also a valuable tool for gauging buyer demand. The most-searched keywords often point to industries where buyer interest is highest.

Where to use Keywords

To ensure your ad shows up in more searches, use your keywords throughout the entire ad and in as many fields as possible. Scatter them naturally throughout the text, ensuring they are grammatically correct and relevant to the listing. This will maximise your ad’s visibility without compromising the flow.

Where NOT to use Keywords

While it’s important to use keywords, avoid keyword stuffing. This refers to overloading your listing with keywords to the point where it sounds unnatural or forced. Always ensure the keywords flow logically and contribute to the overall value of the description.

Industry keywords Vs descriptive keywords

Whilst many of the top keywords refer to specific industries, there are other popular keywords that are commonly used to describe a particular characteristic of a business, such as ‘under management’, “fully managed” and “retire”. Make sure to think about your audience and what they may want out of business ownership. This can help you find more descriptive keywords to attract a specific type of buyer.

Top 10 most-searched keywords in FY25 Q1and how they’re trending compared to FY24 Q4.

Recent data from SEEK Business shows some interesting trends in search demand. For instance, searches for car wash businesses grew by 13.0% in Q1 2025, while laundromat searches rose by 21.4%. Meanwhile, searches for supermarkets dropped significantly by 27.5%. Keeping track of these trends can guide your keyword choices and help you target in-demand industries.

FY25 Q1 Top 44 Keywords

In addition to the top 10, here’s a more extensive list of the top 44 most-searched keywords on SEEK Business in FY25 Q1. If relevant, incorporating any of these into your ad can improve performance:

Trending Keyword

A noteworthy trend sitting at number 16 is NDIS keyword searches, which saw a 5.9% above average increase (FY25Q1 Vs FY24Q4). Unlike industry-specific keywords, NDIS is a characteristic of a business, referring to businesses across different industries that provide services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Make sure to look out for keywords that describe your particular industry and where applicable, use it to help attract buyers.

Incorporating the right keywords in your business listings can make a significant difference in attracting buyers and closing deals faster. Whether you’re listing a laundromat, car wash, or NDIS-related business, tailoring your ads to match the terms buyers are searching for is key. Just remember to use keywords strategically and naturally throughout your ad to boost visibility and engagement. Plus, keeping an eye on top searches gives you valuable insight into shifting buyer demand, helping you stay ahead of the competition.