What Is A Keyword?
A keyword is a specific word or phrase that users enter into search engines like Google when seeking information about a certain subject.
To help your website appear in relevant search results, you should incorporate those same keywords—terms your audience is actively searching for—into your site’s content and metadata.
Explore our comprehensive guide on [Keyword] to gain deeper insights into how they work and why they matter.
What Does Keyword Research Involve?
Keyword research is the process of discovering the words and phrases people use on search engines to find websites like yours.
To begin, brainstorm topics, products, or services that are central to your website. Then, use free keyword tools to identify how often those terms are searched.
This helps you pinpoint which keywords are most popular and relevant to your audience’s interests.
With this knowledge, you can strategically include high-demand keywords in your content to attract more visitors.
For a complete overview, our keyword research article walks you through every step.
Why Is Keyword Research Crucial?
Keyword research plays a vital role in SEO and digital marketing for several key reasons:
Understand What Your Audience Wants
Analyzing keywords related to your niche helps you uncover your audience’s search intent—what they’re looking to achieve or the questions they want answered.
By aligning your content, products, or services with this intent, you can better satisfy your visitors’ needs and attract more targeted traffic.
Build a Smarter Content Strategy
Identifying trending and relevant keywords within your industry allows you to create content that aligns with what people are actively searching for.
This helps you produce valuable, targeted content that not only ranks better but also meets user demand, making your content strategy more effective.
Improve Your SEO Rankings
Search engines rely on keywords found in page titles, headers, and body content to determine which pages best match a user’s query.
By integrating relevant, high-performing keywords into your content, you improve your chances of ranking higher in search results—boosting visibility and driving organic traffic.
Search engines like Google use the words and phrases on web pages, called keywords, to decide which pages to show people when they search.
Gain Competitive Insights
Keyword research also allows you to analyze which terms your competitors are targeting on their websites.
This competitive analysis can reveal gaps or untapped keyword opportunities that your rivals have overlooked—giving you an edge in capturing more search traffic.
Optimize Paid Search Campaigns
When running paid search ads (PPC), selecting the right keywords is critical to reaching your ideal audience.
Targeting well-searched, relevant keywords helps attract qualified leads—users more likely to engage with your offer.
This not only increases ad performance and click-through rates but also improves your return on investment by reducing wasted spend.
Staying Ahead of Search Trends
The words and phrases people use to search online are constantly evolving. New trends emerge, while others fade in popularity.
By regularly researching up-to-date keywords, you can stay aligned with current search behavior. This allows you to refresh your website content with the most relevant and trending terms.
Keeping your keyword strategy current ensures your SEO efforts remain effective in today’s dynamic search landscape.
Key Components of Keyword Research
Effective keyword research involves several essential elements. Understanding these components will help you build a more strategic approach to both SEO and content planning.
Using the right search terms allows you to attract users who are genuinely interested in your offerings.
Here are some of the most critical factors to consider:
Monthly Search Volume (MSV)
Monthly Search Volume (MSV) refers to the average number of times a keyword is searched each month.
MSV gives you a sense of how popular a keyword is. However, a high search volume doesn’t always mean it’s the best fit for your goals.
Broad keywords with high MSV often attract a wide audience that may not be ready to take action. In contrast, lower-volume keywords tend to be more specific and can draw in users who are further along in the buying journey.
So, while MSV is a helpful indicator, it’s just one factor in choosing the right keywords for your SEO strategy. Targeting a mix of high- and low-volume terms can help you reach both broad and niche audiences effectively.
Read all about Monthly Search Volume in detail.
Search Intent
Search intent refers to the purpose behind a user’s search query—what they’re hoping to find when they enter a keyword into a search engine.
By identifying the user’s intent, you can tailor your content to meet their expectations and provide exactly what they’re looking for.
To explore the different types of search intent and why it's essential for keyword research, check out our comprehensive guide on Search Intent.
Content Relevance
Content relevance measures how closely your webpage content aligns with a user’s search query.
Search engines like Google analyze various signals—such as click-through rates and user engagement—to determine whether your content satisfies the searcher's needs.
When your content directly addresses the query and offers value, it’s more likely to rank well in search results.
Dive into our beginner-friendly guide on Content Relevancy to learn how to create content that resonates with both users and search engines.
Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific search phrases that target a narrow audience.
Although these keywords typically have lower search volumes, they tend to attract highly motivated visitors who are closer to making a decision or purchase.
The term “long-tail” comes from their position on the search volume graph—fewer searches, but often higher intent.
Targeting long-tail keywords is a smart strategy to draw in qualified traffic and increase conversion potential.

Here is a complete guide on Long-tail Keywords. Read this to get more insights.
Keyword Difficulty
Keyword difficulty measures how challenging it is to rank prominently in search engine results for a specific keyword.
Several factors influence keyword difficulty, including the level of competition, the domain authority of competing websites, the number of backlinks, content quality, and how well the content is optimized on-page.
Popular SEO tools—such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, Ubersuggest, KWFinder, and SERPstat—assign a difficulty score from 0 to 100. A higher score means it will be harder to rank for that keyword.
Striking the right balance between low and high-difficulty keywords is key to a successful SEO strategy.
If your website is new or still growing, it's smart to start with low-difficulty keywords—those less targeted by large, established sites. This gives you a better chance of ranking and gaining traffic early on.
As your domain authority increases over time, you'll be in a stronger position to compete for high-difficulty keywords that attract larger search volumes.
Evaluating keyword difficulty ensures you choose terms that align with your website’s current SEO strength, while also planning for long-term growth.
CPC (Cost Per Click)
Cost Per Click (CPC) is a key metric in paid advertising, especially in pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns on platforms like Google Ads.
CPC indicates how much advertisers are willing to pay each time a user clicks on their ad after searching for a specific keyword.
A higher CPC suggests that the keyword is more competitive and typically signals higher commercial value, as advertisers are willing to invest more due to strong conversion potential.
When selecting keywords—especially for PPC or monetization-focused strategies—CPC is just as important as search volume.
Even if a keyword doesn’t receive a high number of monthly searches, a high CPC can indicate that it leads to better conversions and revenue.
That’s why it's beneficial to consider both monthly search volume and CPC when evaluating keywords for advertising or content marketing. Keywords with high commercial intent, even with lower traffic, can deliver strong ROI.
How to Conduct Keyword Research for SEO
Effective keyword research for SEO typically happens in three key stages:
Discovering Keywords
Analyzing Keyword Potential
Strategically Using Keywords
Let’s break down each stage in detail.
Discovering Keywords
The first step in keyword research is generating a list of potential keyword ideas. But how do you come up with terms worth targeting?
Here are several effective methods to help you get started:
Understand Your Target Audience
Begin by getting inside the mind of your audience. What are their goals, pain points, or common questions? Understanding your customers’ needs can guide you toward keywords that match their search behavior.
Make a list of terms related to your industry, services, and customer interests. These seed keywords form the foundation of your research.
Brainstorm Relevant Topics
Think about the main subjects your audience is interested in, especially those that relate directly to your products or services.
For instance, if you run a fitness coaching business, potential topic areas might include:
Strength training routines
Meal plans and nutrition advice
Personal training sessions
Weight loss strategies
Home workout programs
Each topic can branch into multiple keyword variations based on how people search for them online
Research Competitor Keywords
Analyzing your competitors is one of the quickest ways to uncover valuable keyword opportunities.
Review their blog posts, landing pages, and product descriptions to see which keywords they’re targeting. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest can help you extract this data.
By comparing your keyword list with theirs, you can spot gaps or missed opportunities—keywords they rank for that you could target as well.
Competitor analysis often reveals hidden gems that can boost your SEO efforts.
Explore Wikipedia for Ideas
Wikipedia is an underrated source for keyword inspiration. Search for a broad topic related to your niche, and take a close look at the table of contents and subheadings.
These sections often highlight important subtopics and related terms that people frequently search for when learning about that subject.
You can use these specific phrases as keyword ideas for your own content strategy—especially when targeting informational search intent.

Related Searches
Google offers valuable keyword suggestions right on the search results page. After you search for any term, scroll to the bottom and you’ll find a section labeled “Related searches.” This typically includes 7–8 keywords or phrases closely connected to your original query.
These suggestions are based on real user behavior—keywords that people frequently search for in relation to the topic.
Because they reflect actual search trends, Google’s related searches can help you uncover additional relevant keywords to include in your content strategy. They're a simple yet effective way to expand your keyword list with terms that align with user interest and intent.

Reddit is a goldmine for discovering keyword ideas based on real conversations. Your target audience may already be discussing your niche on popular subreddits.
Search for a broad topic related to your business, then explore threads with high engagement—those with lots of comments and upvotes.
These discussions highlight what people are genuinely interested in or curious about. Extract common questions, phrases, and pain points—they often translate into effective long-tail keywords you can optimize your content for.
Reddit gives you a direct window into your audience’s language and concerns, making it a smart resource for keyword inspiration.

Current Site Queries
If your website already gets organic traffic, Google Search Console can show you the actual search terms people are using to find your content.
Under the “Performance” tab, check the “Queries” section to see which keywords are bringing users to your site. This helps you:
Understand how Google currently interprets your content
Identify which topics you're already ranking well for
Spot gaps where related keywords aren’t being targeted
For example, if you're ranking for “SEO basics” and “SEO tips” but not for “best SEO tools,” that’s a clear opportunity to expand your content and capture more relevant traffic.
Reviewing current site queries ensures your content aligns with what search engines (and users) expect from your site—and helps you prioritize new content based on existing strengths.

Google & Bing Suggest
Search engines themselves can suggest keyword ideas. Just type a topic into Google or Bing, and as you type, you’ll see a dropdown of auto-suggested searches.
These predictions are based on popular, real-time search behavior and can reveal long-tail keyword ideas and trending topics.
Typing your seed keywords into the search bar and reviewing these suggestions is a quick, free way to discover what users are actively looking for—and to generate content ideas that match their intent.

Popular Topics Using Forums
Forums act like ongoing focus groups where your target audience discusses their interests, challenges, and questions.
To tap into these insights, find forums related to your niche or industry where your potential customers gather.
Pay attention to how these forums are organized into different sections or categories—each can represent a cluster of keyword ideas worth adding to your list.

Try using search queries like:
"your keyword forum"
"your keyword" + forum
"your keyword" + forums
This will help you discover relevant forums and uncover popular discussion topics that could inspire your content strategy.
Using Keyword Research Tools
There are many keyword research tools available, both free and paid, designed to simplify and enhance your SEO keyword discovery.
Later in this article, we’ll take a closer look at the best free tools you can use to kickstart or expand your keyword research efforts.
Analyzing or Researching Keywords
Keyword analysis is a critical step in any SEO plan and should be done methodically to pick the most effective terms.
Here’s a breakdown of important factors to consider:
Search Volume Analysis
Search volume measures how many times a keyword is searched within a specific period.
For faster results, many SEO pros focus first on medium-volume, long-tail keywords—they often offer less competition and greater chances for ranking quickly.
High-volume keywords tend to be highly competitive, requiring more effort to rank.
That said, don’t disregard keywords with low or zero search volume if they are highly relevant to your audience—they can still drive valuable targeted traffic.
Shoulder Keywords
Shoulder keywords are related or adjacent terms your potential customers might search for, even if they don’t directly describe your main product or service.
Targeting these can attract a broader audience and nurture interest over time.
For example, a business selling fitness equipment might also create content on topics like healthy eating or workout tips to reach more users and position the site as a trusted industry resource.
Search Intent Analysis
Studying the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) for your keywords reveals what kind of content Google favors and what users are really looking for.
Understanding search intent helps you craft content that aligns perfectly with what searchers want.
Here’s a quick overview of the four main types of search intent:
(You can add the types of search intent here, if needed.)

For a deeper understanding, check out our comprehensive article on Search Intent.
Topic Clusters
Topic clustering is a strategic SEO approach that groups related keywords around a central, high-volume “head” keyword.
By creating focused content for each related keyword and interlinking these pages, you build stronger topical authority for your website.
This method helps search engines better understand your site’s expertise and improves overall rankings.
Learn more about Keyword Clustering here.
Keyword Difficulty Analysis
When researching keywords, it’s important to evaluate their keyword difficulty (KD) score, which indicates how tough it is to rank for that term.
Match your keyword targets to your website’s current authority and trust level:
For new or less established sites, focus on easier keywords with a KD score below 30–40.
As your site grows in credibility, you can aim for more competitive keywords with higher difficulty scores.
However, always prioritize keywords that are relevant and valuable to your audience—even if their difficulty is higher.
Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to find KD scores for your potential keywords. Then, strategically incorporate those keywords into your content based on how well your site can realistically compete.
Regularly checking keyword difficulty ensures you’re targeting terms that align with your site’s current SEO strength and growth goals.
Here’s an example screenshot from Ahrefs illustrating keyword difficulty scores.

Ahrefs Content Gap Analysis
Ahrefs is a robust SEO tool that helps you uncover your competitors’ keyword strategies.
Its Content Gap feature lets you find keywords your competitors rank for—but your site doesn’t.
By identifying these gaps, you can discover new opportunities to boost your own rankings and capture more organic traffic.
To use Content Gap analysis in Ahrefs:
Log in to your Ahrefs account.
Navigate to the Site Explorer tab.
Enter your website’s domain or a competitor’s domain in the search bar.
Click on Content Gap in the sidebar.
In the Target field, enter your website’s domain (or the main site you want to analyze).
In the Competitors field, add one or more competitor domains to compare against.

Click on the "Show keywords" button.

Keywords as Topics
Rather than treating keywords as isolated phrases, view them as broader topics around which you can build comprehensive content hubs or clusters.
This method strengthens the semantic connections between related articles, helping search engines better understand the overall relevance and authority of your content.
For example, if your content hub focuses on “technical audit,” your structure might look like this:
Pillar Article (Main Topic):
Technical SEO Audit: Everything You Need to KnowCluster Articles (Supporting Topics):
Technical SEO Audit Checklist: A Complete Guide for Website Owners
Crawling and Indexing Issues: How to Troubleshoot Your Website
Website Speed Optimization: Top Strategies for Faster Load Times
Canonicalization Best Practices: How to Implement Them Correctly
Server Response Codes: What They Mean for Technical SEO
You can then interlink all these cluster articles back to the main pillar page on Technical SEO Audit, creating a strong, interconnected content structure that benefits both users and search engines.
Using keywords effectively is crucial for improving the visibility and relevance of your content in search engine results.
Here is a detailed explanation of how to use keywords:
Use Of Main Keyword
Once you have chosen a focus or main keyword for a specific page or post, use it strategically in key elements of that content. The key elements include
Title Tag: Incorporate the focus keyword in the title tag, as it is an essential element for search engines to understand the page's topic.

Headings and Subheadings: Use the focus keyword in the heading of the page and, if relevant, in subheadings. This helps to signal the main topic of the content.

Main Body: Your content body must also have a focus keyword, but make sure not to stuff the text with this keyword. Use keywords naturally where they make sense.

Anchor Texts: When linking to the page internally (within your website), use the focus keyword in the anchor texts. This practice helps search engines understand the content's context.

However, avoid keyword stuffing, which means using the focus keyword excessively throughout the content. Instead, focus on providing valuable and informative content that satisfies users' needs.
LSI Keywords
LSI keywords are a concept often misunderstood in SEO. They refer to a natural language processing method used by search engines to identify semantic relationships between words and phrases.
However, contrary to some claims, LSI keywords are not synonyms or related keywords you should artificially include in your content.
Google's John Mueller has clarified that there is no specific concept of "LSI keywords" for content optimization.


Google's algorithms have become more sophisticated in understanding context, so incorporating variations of your main keyword artificially won't guarantee you higher rankings.
Instead, your main focus should be on writing naturally and comprehensively about the topic.
Comprehensive And In-Depth Content
When writing about a topic, create detailed content that fully explains the whole subject. Aim for long, high-quality articles rather than short overviews.
In-depth content often ranks well for the target keyword and related words too.
For example, say you target the keyword “digital marketing plans.” Cover multiple subtopics like social media tactics, content building, and SEO tips and discuss each part thoroughly.
This comprehensive guide can then rank for your main term “digital marketing plans” plus the other specific keywords like “social media marketing” too.
Writing extensive, informational content allows you to reach users by searching many relevant phrases related to your main target topic.
Keyword Research Tools
Several keyword research tools are available for finding keywords for SEO within your niche.
Here we have compiled a list of top keyword research tools for you.
Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a free keyword tool provided by Google and is primarily designed for people running Google ad campaigns.
It gives access to keyword data directly from Google, making it a reliable source for keyword information. While it's intended for ads, you can still use it for SEO purposes.
How To Use It?
Step 1: Sign in to your Google Ads account or create one if you don't have it already.
Step 2: Once logged in, click on "Tools & Settings" in the upper right corner and select "Keyword Planner" from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: Choose between "Discover new keywords" or "Get search volume and forecasts" depending on your research needs.

Step 4: Enter relevant keywords, your website URL, or select a specific category related to your niche.
Step 5: Review the list of keyword ideas, search volumes, and other data provided by the Google Keyword Planner.

Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest helps you in finding keywords for SEO based on Google's search suggestions.
It also provides various data points for each keyword, such as search volume, CPC (cost-per-click), keyword difficulty, and more.
How To Use It?
Step 1: Go to the Ubersuggest website.
Step 2: Enter your target [keyword] or website URL in the search bar.
Step 3: Click on "Search" to generate a list of keyword ideas related to your input.
Step 4: Review the list of keywords along with their search volumes, CPC, keyword difficulty, and other metrics.

SEMrush
SEMrush is a comprehensive SEO tool that offers various functionalities, including keyword research.
It allows you to see the exact keywords a website ranks for, which can be valuable for understanding your competitors' strategies.
How To Use It?
Step 1: Sign up for a SEMrush account if you don't have one.
Step 2: Once logged in, enter your competitor's website domain in the search bar.
Step 3: Navigate to the "Organic Research" or "Keyword Gap" section to see the exact keywords your competitor ranks for.
Step 4: Analyze the keyword data to find relevant keywords for your own SEO strategy.

Ahrefs Keyword Explorer
Ahrefs is primarily known as a link-building tool, but it also offers a powerful keyword research feature called Keyword Explorer.
It provides extensive data for each keyword, helping you assess its potential value for your SEO strategy.
How To Use It?
Step 1: Sign in to your Ahrefs account or create one if you don't have one.
Step 2: Enter your target {keyword} in the Ahrefs Keyword Explorer search bar.

Step 3: Explore the various data points provided for the keyword, such as search volume, keyword difficulty, and other relevant metrics.
Step 4: Use the data to assess the keyword's potential value for your SEO efforts.

Each of these tools has its unique strengths, and the choice of which one to use depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Whether you're looking for trending topics, keyword ideas, or competitor insights, these tools can assist you in your keyword research and SEO efforts.
Moz Keyword Explorer
Moz Keyword Explorer is a comprehensive keyword research tool that provides insights into keyword difficulty, search volume, and organic click-through rates.
It helps you identify valuable keywords for your SEO and content strategy.
How to Use It?
Step 1: Go to the Moz Keyword Explorer.
Step 2: Enter a {keyword} or phrase in the search bar.
Step 3: The tool will provide data on keyword difficulty, search volume, organic CTR, and more.

Step 4: Explore the related keyword suggestions and their metrics.

Step 5: Use the data to choose keywords that align with your content goals and have a manageable level of competition.
Step 6: Export the keyword list for reference or integration into your SEO strategy.
Google Search Console
Have you ever wondered how to do keyword research using GSC?
Google Search Console offers various features and reports to help you understand how your website is performing in Google search results.
You can use this information to find valuable keywords for your website and improve its search engine rankings.
How To Use It?
Here are different ways to find keywords with the best potential and improve rankings using GSC:
Keywords with High Impressions & Low Clicks
In Google Search Console, navigate to the "Performance" section.
Under the "Queries" tab, you will see a list of keywords that your website has appeared for in search results.

Look for keywords that have a high number of impressions but a relatively low number of clicks.
These keywords indicate a big traffic potential because they are generating many impressions, but users are not clicking on your site.
Keywords On 2nd Or 3rd SERP
In the same "Performance" section of Google Search Console, look for keywords that your website ranks on the 2nd or 3rd page of search engine results (i.e., the 11th to 30th positions).

These keywords matter a lot because your website is already ranking relatively well for them. With some optimization efforts, you can improve your rankings and potentially move these keywords onto the first page of search results.
Once you have identified keywords with the best potential, you can take specific actions to improve your rankings:
Improving Existing Articles
If you already have content that mentions the identified keyword, consider updating and optimizing the content to focus more on the keyword.
Ensure that the keyword appears in the title, meta description, headings, and throughout the body of the article in a natural and relevant manner. Make sure to avoid keyword stuffing.
Add relevant information, examples, and media to enhance the content and make it more valuable to readers and search engines.
Creating New Posts
If you find high-potential keywords that don't have dedicated content on your website, consider creating new blog posts or articles focused on those keywords.
Conduct thorough SEO research on the topic and provide comprehensive and high-quality content to address the user's search intent fully.
Optimize the new content as you would for existing articles, including incorporating the target keyword in strategic places and providing valuable information.
Keyword Surfer
Keyword Surfer is a Chrome extension that works directly within Google's search results. Once installed, it provides keyword ideas and data while you perform a Google search.
How To Use It?
Step 1: Install the Keyword Surfer Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.

Step 2: Once installed, perform a Google search for a topic or {keyword}.
Step 3: On the search results page, you'll see a list of keyword ideas and data provided by the Keyword Surfer extension.

Google Trends
Google Trends allows you to explore the popularity of search terms over time and in different regions.
It helps you understand how user interest in specific topics changes and provides insights into seasonal trends and related queries.
How to Use It?
Step 1: Visit the Google Trends website.
Step 2: Enter a keyword or topic in the search bar.
Step 3: Adjust the time range, location, and category filters to narrow down your results.
Step 4: Explore the trend graph to see how the search interest has changed over time.
Step 5: Scroll down to see related queries and topics that are currently trending.
Step 6: Compare multiple keywords to see their relative popularity.

Answer The Public
Answer The Public is a helpful tool for researching keywords. It generates a visual map of questions, prepositions, and related queries based on a given keyword.
It is a great tool for understanding what people are searching for in relation to a topic.
How to Use It?
Step 1: Visit the Answer The Public website.
Step 2: Enter a keyword in the search bar.

Step 3: The tool will generate a visual map of questions (what, why, how, etc.), prepositions (for, with, without, etc.), and other related queries.

Step 4: Explore the generated content ideas and use them to create relevant and comprehensive content.
Step 5: Download the visual map for reference or further analysis.
Keyword.io
Keyword.io is a keyword research tool that helps you generate keyword ideas based on your seed keyword. It collects data from various sources, including Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, and more.
This tool is designed to provide you with a wide range of keyword suggestions that you might not have thought of otherwise.
How to Use It?
Step 1: Visit the Keyword.io website.
Step 2: Enter your seed keyword or topic in the search bar.

Step 3: Choose your target location to customize the results.
Step 4: Select the sources you want to gather keyword suggestions from (Google, Bing, YouTube, Amazon, etc.).
Step 5: Click the "Search" button or press Enter to generate keyword suggestions.
Step 6: The tool will display a list of keyword ideas based on your input.

Step 7: Review the list of keywords and select those that are relevant to your content or SEO strategy.
Step 8: You can export the generated keyword list for further analysis or integration into your keyword research process.
If you're unsure of where to begin, get a comprehensive list of all the essential keyword research tools here.
Which Keywords Should You Prioritise?
The answer to this question depends on various factors.
These factors include
the size of your team
how effectively your website can convert visitors
the speed at which you expect to see results and other relevant considerations
Keyword research is a practice that takes into account these unique circumstances alongside important metrics like
the potential amount of traffic a keyword can bring
the level of difficulty associated with ranking for that keyword
whether it aligns with your business objectives
the underlying intent of users searching for that keyword
In some instances, the goal might be to attract a large volume of traffic quickly using high-volume keywords.
In other cases, the focus could be on generating leads or achieving conversions, which would involve selecting keywords that align with your business goals.
It's important to recognize that effective keyword research goes beyond identifying keywords that are easy to rank for; it's about pinpointing the ones that are most relevant and valuable for your specific business.
When developing an SEO strategy, it's crucial to set both short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals for improving your website's ranking in search results.
This approach ensures a well-rounded and sustainable SEO strategy that yields consistent results over time.
What Is The Best Keyword Research Tool?
Choosing a keyword tool is based on your budget and business requirements.
To assist you, we have compiled a list of the top ten keyword research tools along with comparisons to help you make an informed choice.
Depending on your preferences and requirements, you can select one or more tools from this list.
The goal is to ensure that the tools you choose align with your website's unique circumstances and contribute to the overall success of your SEO efforts.
Tool | Free Version | Paid Version | Features | Pros | Cons |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Google Keyword Planner | Yes | No | Search volume, competition, trends data, cost of Google Ads campaign | Free-to-use, easy-to-use, accurate search volume data, can be used to estimate the cost of a Google Ads campaign | Limited features, no SERP analysis tools |
Ubersuggest | Yes | Paid plans start at \$12/month | Search volume, competition, related keywords, backlink checker, SERP analysis | Easy to use, shows search volume, competition, and related keywords, includes a backlink checker and SERP analysis tools | Limited features, no keyword suggestions |
SEMrush | Free trial | Paid plans start at \$99.95/month | A comprehensive suite of keyword research tools, including search volume, competition, related keywords, SERP analysis, and backlink tracking | Free trial available, comprehensive suite of keyword research tools, easy to use, provides accurate data | Expensive, can be overwhelming for beginners |
Ahrefs Keyword Explorer | 7-day free trial | Paid plans start at \$99/month | A comprehensive suite of keyword research tools, including search volume, competition, related keywords, SERP analysis, and backlink tracking | Free trial available, comprehensive suite of keyword research tools, easy to use, provides accurate data | Expensive, can be overwhelming for beginners |
Moz Keyword Explorer | Free trial | Paid plans start at \$99/month | Search volume, competition, related keywords, SERP analysis, profitability feature | Free trial available, provides a variety of keyword research tools, easy to use, provides accurate data | Expensive, can be overwhelming for beginners |
Google Search Console | Yes | No | Keyword performance data, CTR, search impressions | Shows how your website performs for specific keywords, provides data on keyword CTR and search impressions | Limited features, no keyword suggestions |
Keyword Surfer | Yes | No | Search volume, competition, related keywords, SERP overview | Easy to use, shows search volume, competition, and related keywords, provides a SERP overview | Limited features, no keyword suggestions |
Google Trends | Yes | No | Relative search popularity of keywords over time, comparison of search popularity of different keywords | Shows the relative search popularity of keywords over time, allows you to compare the search popularity of different keywords | Limited features, no keyword suggestions |
Answer The Public | Yes | No | Questions people are asking about a particular topic | Shows you the questions people are asking about a particular topic, can be helpful for identifying long-tail keywords | Easy to use, limited features, no keyword suggestions |
Keyword.io | Yes | Paid plans start at \$29/month | Search volume, competition, related keywords, SERP analysis, keyword difficulty score | Easy to use, provides accurate data, affordable pricing | Limited features, no backlink tracking |
Takeaway
Doing keyword research is very important for good SEO and content planning. It means finding words and phrases people search online to find information, products, or services.
When you know the search terms used to find what you offer, you can create content matched to what people want.
This helps search engines show your pages to relevant users. So your website gets found more easily by targeted visitors looking for those topics.
Optimizing for real searcher keywords allows you to improve visibility and get more website traffic from search engines without paying for ads. Keyword research provides vital search data to reach the right audiences.