SEO Niche Research Worksheet
Copy these nine columns into any spreadsheet, one row per candidate niche. The structure is published in full below; there is no download file and no email gate.
Niche and query set
Name the niche and list 10–20 actual phrases you found people searching.
Dominant intent
Split the queries into informational, commercial and transactional. Which dominates?
SERP observation
Who ranks in the top five? Directories, marketplaces, national brands or ordinary local businesses? What page type wins?
Weakness spotted
Where are the current results outdated, thin, or mismatched to the query?
Value of one enquiry
What is a typical job worth, and who would plausibly pay for an introduction?
Operating complexity
Licensing, regulated claims, seasonality, fulfilment dependencies, maintenance load.
Monetization paths
Which models are realistic here: leads, rank and rent, affiliate, directory, listings, ads?
MVP test
The smallest build that would produce a signal, and the pages it contains.
Decision
Build, park or reject — in one sentence, with the reason. Date it.
How to use it honestly
- Write sentences, not scores. A number can hide a guess; a sentence cannot.
- Compare at least three niches before committing to one.
- Treat any tool’s volume figure as a relative signal, not a fact.
- Date every row so you can audit your own reasoning in three months.
The reasoning behind each column is explained in the niche research guide.
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