In the world of online marketing, content creation, SEO, and blogging, keyword research is the backbone of success. Whether you’re a business owner, digital marketer, freelancer, or aspiring blogger, understanding what your audience is searching for can drastically improve your online visibility.
The best part? You don’t have to break the bank to get started. In this article, we’re going to demystify the basics of keyword research and present you with free tools and techniques to begin without shelling out any cash.
What is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of discovering and examining the words and phrases that individuals search for on search engines such as Google, Bing, or YouTube. These keywords enable you to determine your target audience’s intent and, therefore, create content that responds to their needs.
For instance, if a user searches “best running shoes for beginners,” that is a keyword with good commercial intent. Having this information allows a blog, online shop, or review website to produce related content around it.
Why is Keyword Research Important?
Below are some important reasons why keyword research is crucial:
✅ Better Google rankings: Employing the correct keywords enhances your opportunity to rank on Google.
✅ Improved content strategy: You create content on what people actually search for.
✅ Increased traffic: Relevant content leads to more organic (free) traffic.
✅ Improved conversions: You get the right audience who are most likely to convert.
Basic Concepts You Need To Know
Before we dive into free tools and strategies, let’s learn some key keyword research concepts:
- Search Volume
This tells how many times a keyword is searched monthly. High-volume keywords can drive a lot of traffic, but they’re usually more competitive. - Keyword Difficulty (KD)
Indicates how hard it is to rank on the first page for a keyword. Free tools use different formulas to calculate this. - Long-Tail Keywords
These are more lengthy and descriptive search terms (e.g., “how to begin affiliate marketing with zero money”). These are simpler to rank and drive relevant traffic. - Search Intent
Search intent is the motivation behind a search — is the user in buy, learn, or discover mode? Content needs to match intent to rank.
Best Free Tools for Keyword Research
Here are some totally free tools that can effectively assist you with keyword research:
- Google Keyword Planner
Even though it is made for Google Ads, it is a great tool for discovering keyword ideas and search volume.
Visit: https://ads.google.com
Sign up for a free Google Ads account (no need to actually run ads).
Utilize the “Discover New Keywords” function.
- Google Autocomplete
Type a phrase in Google’s search bar. It will instantly tell you what people are looking for.
Example: Search for “how to start a blog” → Google recommends:
how to start a blog for free
how to start a blog and earn money
- AnswerThePublic
This tool provides question-based keyword suggestions around your subject. Excellent for blog posts and FAQs.
Go to: https://answerthepublic.com
- Ubersuggest (Free Plan)
Developed by Neil Patel, it displays keyword suggestions, volume, and ease. You receive limited daily searches with the free plan.
Go to: https://neilpatel.com/ubersuggest
- Google Trends
Assists you to know if a keyword is gaining popularity or losing it.
Go to: https://trends.google.com
- YouTube Search Suggest
Similar to Google, type in YouTube’s search bar. It shows us what others are searching for, really useful for video producers.
Step-by-Step: How to Do Free Keyword Research
Let’s follow a simple beginner-friendly step-by-step process with free techniques:
Step 1: Brainstorm Topics
Consider what your target audience would search for. Draw from your own experience, audience questions, or competitor material.
Example: You have a fitness blog. Keywords: “home workouts”, “weight loss”, “healthy recipes”.
Step 2: Google Autocomplete
Write your topic in Google and jot down suggested searches. These are actual searches that people enter frequently.
Step 3: Check Keywords on Ubersuggest
Put your topics in Ubersuggest. Search for:
Low to medium competition
Good search volume (100+)
Long-tail keywords
Step 4: Inspect Trends and Intent
Inspect Google Trends to see if the keyword is seasonal or increasing. Analyze next if the keyword aligns with your objective:
Informational? → Develop a blog post or YouTube video
Commercial? → Utilize it for product pages
Step 5: Construct a Keyword List
Utilize a spreadsheet to gather your keyword ideas, search volume, difficulty, and intent. This list will be your guide for content development.
Tips to Utilize Keywords Effectively in Content
It’s only the beginning to find the right keywords. Here’s what to do with them next:
✔️ Include the keyword in your title, URL, and first 100 words.
✔️ Use it naturally in subheadings (H2, H3).
✔️ Don’t keyword stuff — write for people, not search engines.
✔️ Use related keywords and synonyms.
✔️ Optimize images (alt text, filenames).
