“A happy accident” as Bob Ross would call it – means your SEO is working.
In every Alpha SEO campaign, we start by choosing a set of primary keywords—the main search terms we target, track, and optimize for. But sometimes, your site starts ranking for related keywords we explicitly target. These are called Secondary Keywords and they're a great indicator your SEO campaign is gaining momentum.
Secondary keywords show up when your site starts earning authority and relevance in your space. They’re usually closely related to your main keywords—think variations, long-tail phrases, or local twists—and they rise naturally as your content, structure, and strategy improve.
You may be targeting “emergency roofing service,” but start ranking for “weekend roof repair” or “leak patching near me.”
Secondary keywords bring real benefits:
More visibility in search results
New traffic from customers searching in slightly different ways
Insights into how Google is connecting your business to relevant searches
Opportunities to expand your content or services
They’re not the focus of the campaign—but they’re a strong indicator that your SEO is working.
At Alpha SEO, we surface these wins in:
Your Dashboard – In the keyword rankings section, you’ll spot new terms gaining traction organically. *You can filter between primary and secondary keywords
Your Monthly Reports – We highlight secondary keywords and their current ranking on Google in every monthly report.
Secondary keywords are a great sign your SEO is doing what it should: building trust, improving visibility, and opening new doors online. They may not be the stars of the campaign—but they’re still a reason to celebrate.
More reach. More rankings. More results. That’s the effect of secondary keywords.