High CPC keywords

What are high CPC keywords

First, let’s start with definitions of CPC. Simply speaking, CPC – Cost Per Click – represents one of the most common programmatic media buying pricing models; it tells the average cost an advertiser pays when a user clicks an ad. However, publishers should also be aware of the risk of users’ misclicks. If they happen too often, and due to, for instance, implementing practices prohibited by Google, the company might decide to inflict Confirmed Click, a feature asking users who clicked an ad if they really want to be redirected to the advertiser’s site.

Now that you know what CPC is, it’s time to define high CPC keywords. They are search terms that allow to earn higher than usual sums of money. Their high value may be caused by several factors:

• High industry demand refers to the popularity and importance of specific industries where many companies want to advertise their products or services. Because so many businesses compete to reach the same audience, they are willing to pay more to show their ads for specific search terms (keywords);
• Another type of keywords that usually have high CPC is keywords connected to fields in which people are quickly ready to buy or commit to a service. An example of such a service would be legal advice, as legal issues typically cause stress, and individuals are eager to resolve their problems as fast as possible;
• In a niche market, if the audience is highly valuable, it usually doesn’t matter if keywords don’t have very large search volumes, the publisher can still be handsomely paid if the users click an ad. An example of such a niche would be some specific tech solutions.

The role of negative keywords

Another term publishers should understand in the context of high CPC keywords is negative keywords. These are keywords that advertisers use to filter out irrelevant traffic from their Google Ads campaign. For example, an advertiser selling luxury handbags might set terms like “Birkin bag alternative” or “cheap handbags” as negative keywords to avoid clicks from users unlikely to make a purchase. Ok, but what can a publisher do with such a piece of knowledge? You can try to put yourself in advertisers’ “shoes” and avoid putting certain phrases in your content in order not to attract irrelevant, low-value traffic. An example of applying such a strategy would be avoiding phrases like “cheap watches” when you wish to maintain a premium audience for your website about luxury accessories.

Why should publishers care about CPC keywords

In the digital marketing world, understanding and utilizing high CPC keywords is essential not just for SEO strategies but also for website monetization efforts:

• When it comes to the SEO context of high CPC keywords, by optimizing for such high-intent keywords, websites can attract qualified traffic. What’s more, crafting content that answers user queries around these terms can position a site as a trusted resource, driving more organic traffic over time. Importantly, not all such keywords have a very high search volume, as there are some specialized industries or niches that might have strong competition but have a relatively small number of queries;
• As for the monetization context of high CPC keywords, websites that include such keywords can attract more valuable ads and, thus, generate higher ad revenue, as each click should offer a competitive rate. What’s more, advertisers are usually ready to spend more for clicks on ads tied to those phrases.

So, in summary, while you perform keyword research, it’s recommended to find precious high CPC keywords, as these words can benefit both worlds – SEO and monetization!

Where to look for high CPC keywords

If you are planning to do your own keyword research, it’s best to choose the tool that will help you the most. One of the most popular and helpful solutions for finding the most expensive Google keywords is Google’s Keyword Planner, but also Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest. The advantage of a Keyword Planner is that it’s free, all you need is a Google Ads account. In the case of Ahrefs, the company shares a free keyword generator, but all the most useful options are only available to premium users. Both SEMrush and Ubersuggest are paid solutions, but they offer free trials.

How does Google Ads determine keyword costs

The final keyword cost is calculated by Google based on various factors. The two most relevant ones are:

• Quality Score – Google Ads evaluates the ad relevance, chances of people clicking an ad, and UX of the advertiser’s landing page;
• Ad Rank is the formula for determining whether the ads are appropriate for a display and, if so, how high or low they are placed on the page compared to competing ads.

What is the most expensive keyword category

As with everything else, there are some categories of keywords that are more valuable than others. If you are wondering what the most expensive keyword categories are, below you’ll find four of those:

Loan keywords

Loan keywords position themselves as one of the most expensive keyword categories. One of the reasons for that is for sure their high value but also fierce competition among advertisers. Here are a few examples of such keywords: “the best student loan companies”, “apply for business term loan”, or “low rate small business loans”.

Legal keywords

Some of the most expensive keywords are those from the legal industry. Undoubtedly, this field has a lot of money in it, and usually, people are quick to pay for the service. An example of high CPC keywords from the law industry might be “accident lawyer woodland hills”, “motorcycle crash attorney atlanta” or “pedestrian accident attorney”.

Insurance keywords

Insurance keywords are so expensive, mainly due to high demand, the fact that these keywords are premium, and such services can create significant revenue over time. High CPC keywords examples are, for instance, “century insurance claims”, “what to do if i lost my insurance card” or “allstate insurance apple valley”.

Education keywords

Education is yet another field where high CPC keywords can be found. Many people are searching for degree programs that might help them on their professional journey. “online schools for education majors”, “online colleges for masters in social work” and “online schools early childhood education” are a few examples of high CPC keywords.

Top 10 most expensive Google keywords

Here you will find the list of the 10 most expensive high CPC keywords in the United States as of early 2025, according to Ahrefs:

1. “car accident lawyer edinburg”
2. “car accident attorney edinburg”
3. “software development romania”
4. “head on car accident attorney”
5. “vpa instructure”
6. “aai edu”
7. “keiser student”
8. “is keiser a good university”
9. “what is system io”
10. “keiser university course schedule”

As you can see, keywords on that list are related to the industries regarded as expensive Google keywords categories, including legal services, software development, and higher education. Phrases such as “car accident lawyer” and “head-on car accident attorney” highlight the fiercely competitive nature of the legal field, where attracting clients is of great significance. What’s interesting is that the average CPC for these 10 keywords in the list is around 1167$!

Success wears many hats!

Although incorporating high CPC keywords is a chance for publishers who want to earn more from displaying ads, it’s not the only way. True success in digital publishing often comes from a combination of approaches. High CPC keywords can be just one part of an effective Search Engine Optimization strategy. If you want to know more elements of the “puzzle”, we recommend the SEO category on our blog. If you want to dig even deeper, we also prepared an article on boosting organic traffic to your website!

However, not every digital content has to revolve around highly paid topics where applying CPC keywords can be done easily – but don’t worry! If you want to unlock the full monetization potential of your website, your efforts should be complemented by yield optimization – where ad monetization partners like optAd360 can turn out to be extremely helpful. By collaborating with us, publishers gain access to smarter ad placements, premium demand, and even AI-based solutions, helping you earn more. All you need to do is get familiar with our network’s requirements and fill in the registration form. Create your own route to greatness – no GPS required!