Buying intent keywords: how to spot them
The words in a search tell you where the searcher is: learning, comparing, or ready to buy.
Facts checked 29 Sep 2026 · by the AdSworn team
Buying intent keywords are searches whose wording suggests someone comparing or ready to buy: words like best, top, vs, alternative, price, cost, service, agency, hire, software, tool or review. Research searches use words like what, how, why, meaning or history. Pages reached by buying searches are usually the most valuable to sponsor, because their readers are choosing what to buy.
The words to look for
| Reading | Typical words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Buying | best, top, vs, alternative, price, cost, service, agency, hire, software, tool, review, unlimited, subscription | "unlimited video editing service" |
| Research | what, how, why, meaning, history, ideas, tips, examples | "celtic symbols and meanings" |
| Brand | the site's own name | "flocksy" |
| Real search | AdSworn's reading | Clicks, 28 days |
|---|---|---|
| “best online video editor” | Buying intent | 2 |
| “best free online video editor” | Buying intent | 1 |
| “best video editing app for android 2026” | Buying intent | 1 |
What this reading is, and isn't
It's a reading of the words, not a measurement of what the person did next. A research search can still reach a buyer later, and research audiences are great for awareness. On AdSworn the label is always marked as our reading, next to the real search and its clicks from Google.
How to use it
- Advertisers: sponsor pages with buying searches for sales, research pages for awareness.
- Publishers: price buying-search pages higher, and pitch them first.
| Page | Search that brings readers | Banner / 4 weeks | Featured / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 12 Best Online Video Editors of 2026 (Free and Paid)Flocksy | “best online video editor” · 2 clicks | $25 | $2,000 |
| The 8 Best Video Editing Apps for iPhone and Android (2026)Flocksy | “best video editing app for android 2026” · 1 click | $25 | – |
Straight answers
What are examples of buying intent keywords?
"best online video editor", "unlimited video editing service", "logo design agency", "X vs Y", "X alternatives", "X price".
Where can I see which searches bring people to a page?
In Google Search Console's Performance report, filtered to the page. On AdSworn, every listing shows them.