How Keyword Research Powered $662 Profit in Two Weeks

Overview

In early March, affiliate marketer Spencer Mecham set out to test a fresh approach: combining powerful keyword research with paid search ads to drive sales quickly. Using Ahrefs, he filtered for high-intent, low-competition queries and then matched each phrase with affiliate offers on Skillshare and Amazon. Within two weeks, with a small ad budget, he generated 836 clicks, $759 in sales, and cleared $662 in profit—proof that a data-driven method can outpace guesswork.

Background

Spencer Mecham is the founder of Buildapreneur, a YouTube channel and blog teaching passive income through affiliate marketing. He noticed rising ad costs on crowded keywords and realized many marketers chase the same high-volume terms. To break free, he targeted fresh, under-the-radar searches—those never-typed-before queries that make up nearly 20% of Google’s annual search volume.

The Strategy

His playbook had three pillars:

• UseAhrefsto find “how to” and “best” keywords with over 300 monthly searches but few advertisers.
• Build simple landing pages—one for “how to” tutorials, another for “best” product roundups.
• Test with a small Google Ads budget, then scale winners quickly.

Implementation

Step 1: In Ahrefs Keyword Explorer, search “how to” and filter global volume >300, exclude ads-heavy terms, set CPC $0.30–$0.50. Discover high-value tutorials like “how to crochet” (55,000 searches).
Step 2: Repeat for “best _ for _” queries. Identify “best sewing machine for beginners,” ideal for buyers with credit cards in hand.
Step 3: Find affiliate programs: Skillshare for crocheting courses, Amazon Associates for sewing machines and microphones. Grab commission links.
Step 4: Create two types of landing pages: a tutorial page with a Skillshare plug, and a product review page with Amazon links. Keep designs lean—images, brief copy, and clear calls to action.
Step 5: Launch a Google Ads search campaign. Budget $10/day, CPC bids $0.20. Use exact match (brackets) and modified broad (plus signs) for tight targeting. Write multiple headlines and descriptions, then pin top performers.

Results

After 14 days (March 1–14), the test campaign logged 836 clicks and drove $759 in affiliate sales. Total ad spend was zero in this test phase, so the only cost was a $97 Ahrefs pass—yielding $662 pure profit. Spencer noted this approach hadn’t even been scaled yet, suggesting exponential growth once multiple keywords and programs roll out.

Conclusion

This case proves that smart keyword filtering and lean paid ads can unlock affiliate revenue fast. By steering clear of hyper-competitive terms and focusing on buyer intent, you can launch high-ROI campaigns on a shoestring. Test small, track every click, then double down on your top performers.