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Keyword Tools for Baidu: How to Research Chinese Search Terms

Keyword research for Baidu

The Translation Trap

Direct translations of English keywords often miss the mark. "Logistics services" translates to "物流服务" — but Chinese users might search "货运代理" (freight forwarding), "报关公司" (customs clearance company), or "集装箱运输" (container shipping). Different industries, different conventions.

Baidu's Built-In Tools

Baidu Keyword Planner is the first stop. It shows:

  • Search volume for each term
  • Competition level (low/medium/high)
  • Suggested bid ranges
  • Related keyword suggestions

Third-Party Tools

5118.com
Popular Chinese SEO tool with Baidu keyword data. Good for understanding search trends and competitive keywords.
Ahrefs (Baidu data)
Added Baidu coverage recently. Useful if you're already an Ahrefs user for Western SEO.
Zhihu Search
Search Quora-style for how Chinese users phrase questions in your industry. Great for understanding natural language queries.
Baidu Index
Shows trending searches and topic popularity. Good for understanding seasonal patterns and emerging interests.

Best Practices

Focus on high-intent, mid-tail keywords. "物流" (logistics) is too broad. "深圳到洛杉矶货运" (Shenzhen to LA freight) is too niche. "国际货运代理" (international freight forwarding) hits the sweet spot of reasonable volume with strong intent.

Include location modifiers. If you serve specific regions, add city or province names: "广州进出口报关" (Guangzhou import/export customs clearance).

Build keyword themes, not keyword lists. Group related terms — product type + service type + location — and build landing pages around each theme.

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