Why one keyword isn't enough
Google decides which businesses match a search using categories, names and descriptions. "Dentist" returns general dentists, but some orthodontists, implant clinics and emergency practices rank under their own terms. Searching several related keywords catches businesses each single search would miss.
Building a keyword list
Start from three angles:
- The category name — "dentist", "roofing contractor".
- Specialities — "cosmetic dentist", "metal roofing", "storm damage repair".
- Customer language — "emergency dentist", "roof leak repair".
Five to ten keywords cover most niches. Our industry pages list proven keywords for 50+ niches.
Running them in Prospect Cheap
Open the Google Maps scraper, switch to Bulk keywords and paste one keyword per line (up to 50). Add your locations. Each keyword-and-location pair is searched, and the results are merged into one list.
Duplicates are handled
The same clinic often appears for "dentist" and "cosmetic dentist". Prospect Cheap removes duplicates, so you pay for each business once — and the Keyword column shows which search found it.
How many results per keyword?
Set results per keyword based on how dense the niche is. Big cities support more per keyword; small towns fewer. Unused credits are returned when the search finishes.
Tips
- Avoid keywords so broad they bring in other niches ("services", "store").
- Check the Category column after the first run and drop keywords that add the wrong businesses.
- Save your best keyword list — you'll reuse it for every new city.
Next: scraping Google Maps across a whole country.
Example keyword lists
Roofing: roofer, roofing contractor, roof repair, metal roofing, storm damage repair, gutter installation.
Dental: dentist, cosmetic dentist, pediatric dentist, dental implants, emergency dentist, orthodontist.
Legal: lawyer, family lawyer, estate planning attorney, immigration lawyer, criminal defense lawyer.
Fitness: gym, fitness center, crossfit, boxing gym, pilates studio, yoga studio.
Keyword × location maths
Five keywords across ten cities is fifty searches. That's normal for a solid regional list — Prospect Cheap queues them all from one form and merges the output. Before you start, the maximum possible cost is reserved; when the search finishes, credits for results that weren't found go back to your balance.
Use the Keyword column
After a run, sort by the Keyword column. If one keyword brought mostly irrelevant categories, remove it next time. If one brought many unique businesses, add similar ones. A few rounds of this gives you a reusable keyword list that covers a niche properly.