How to Do Keyword Research Like a Pro (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)

Don’t know how Pro Blogger does keyword research? Or do you want to know how to do keyword research like a pro? Then, chill here’s a detailed article for you.

When I first started blogging, I used to hear the term “keyword research” all the time. But honestly, I had no clue what it meant or why everyone kept talking about it. It just sounded like some technical thing that only SEO experts needed to worry about. But I quickly learned that keyword research is one of the most important parts of growing a blog or website, whether you’re brand new or have been doing it for a while.

Here’s the truth: if you want people to find your content on Google, you need to know what they’re searching for. That’s where keyword research comes in. It helps you understand your audience better, create content they want to read, and most importantly, get your posts ranked on search engines.

Now, I know keyword research might sound a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you’re just starting. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. In this article, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know in the simplest way possible. No fancy jargon, just simple, proven stuff that works.

We’ll go over the best tools you can use (many of them are free), easy-to-follow techniques, tips I’ve personally tested, and real examples so you can see how it all comes together. Whether you’re writing your first blog post or looking to improve your existing content, this guide will help you do keyword research like a pro, even if you’ve never done it before.

Let’s dive in.

What Is Keyword Research?

Let’s break it down super simply , keyword research is the process of finding out what people are typing into search engines like Google. That’s it. You’re figuring out the exact words and phrases your target audience is using when they search for information, products, or answers online.

For example, if you run a blog about fitness, people might search for things like “home workout for beginners” or “how to lose belly fat.” These search terms are called keywords, and doing keyword research helps you discover them so you can create content that matches what your audience is already looking for.

Now, you might be wondering, why is this such a big deal in SEO? Well, here’s the thing: if you don’t know what your audience is searching for, you’re just guessing when you write blog posts or build pages on your website. And guessing doesn’t usually get you traffic.

But if you use keyword research to guide your content, you’re more likely to rank on Google and get people to visit your site. That’s why keyword research is considered the foundation of SEO (Search Engine Optimization); it tells you exactly what kind of content to create so you have a better shot at showing up in search results.

Another important part of keyword research is understanding the difference between short-tail and long-tail keywords.

When I first started, I made the mistake of going after big, broad keywords that were way too competitive. It wasn’t until I learned about long-tail keywords that I started seeing results.

So, keyword research helps you understand your audience, create better content, and improve your chances of showing up in Google search results. And once you get the hang of it, it’s not as complicated as it sounds, I promise!

Understand Your Niche and Audience First

Before you even open up a keyword research tool, take a step back and think about who you’re creating content for. One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was jumping straight into tools and looking for keywords without really understanding my niche or what my audience truly needed. And trust me, that approach rarely works.

Instead of blindly picking keywords, start by thinking about your readers. What kind of questions are they asking? What problems are they trying to solve? What are they curious about or struggling with in your niche?

Let’s say your blog is about personal finance. Your audience might be searching for topics like:

See how specific that gets? You’re not just writing about “money”, you’re addressing real-life situations your readers are going through.

A great way to get started is to list out categories, common problems, pain points, and desires in your niche. For example:

Doing this kind of brainstorming helps you get inside the mind of your audience. It’s not just about what you want to write, it’s about what they want to read and search for.

And here’s a bonus tip I use all the time: check out places where people ask real questions. Forums like Quora, Reddit, and even YouTube comments are goldmines for keyword ideas. Just type your topic into the search bar and see what people are talking about. You’ll find tons of raw, unfiltered questions and problems that can spark blog post ideas, and later, keyword research.

So remember, don’t rush into tools just yet. Spend some time understanding your niche and your people first. This will make your keyword research way more effective and your content way more valuable.

Use Free Keyword Research Tools (No Need to Pay at First)

When I first started blogging, I thought I needed to buy a fancy paid SEO tool to do proper keyword research. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to spend any money in the beginning. There are plenty of free tools out there that can give you amazing keyword ideas, you just need to know where to look and how to use them.

Here are some of my favorite free keyword research tools that I still use today:

1. Google Autosuggest

This one is super simple but powerful. Just go to Google and start typing a word related to your topic, and you’ll see a bunch of suggestions pop up below the search bar. These are real things people are searching for! For example, if you type “how to lose weight…”, Google might suggest:

These are perfect long-tail keyword ideas you can build blog posts around.

2. Google “People Also Ask”

When you search for something on Google, you’ll often see a box called “People Also Ask” with related questions. This is a goldmine for keyword research and content ideas. These questions reflect what people are curious about, and you can use them as subheadings or FAQs in your posts.

3. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest by Neil Patel is one of the first tools I ever used for keyword research. It’s free for limited searches per day and gives you a lot of info, like search volume, keyword difficulty, and related keyword ideas. Just pop in a topic, and it will show you a list of terms you can target.

4. AnswerThePublic

This tool turns keywords into visual mind maps of questions, comparisons, and phrases people are searching for. Type in something like “blogging,” and it’ll show you real-world questions like:

It’s a great way to understand how people think and what they want to know.

5. RaptorKit Free Keyword Tool

If you haven’t checked it out yet, RaptorKit’s Free Keyword Tool is another easy-to-use option. It helps you find relevant keywords based on your main topic and breaks them down nicely. It’s great for beginners who want clean, fast results without getting overwhelmed.

6. KeywordTool.io

This one is kind of like an advanced version of Google Autosuggest. It pulls keyword suggestions from Google, YouTube, Bing, Amazon, and more. The free version doesn’t show full data like search volume, but you can still collect loads of ideas to explore further.

7. Google Trends

If you want to know whether a topic is growing or dying in popularity, Google Trends is your friend. Just enter a keyword and it’ll show you interest over time, by location, and related topics. I often use it to compare terms and see which one is trending more. For example: “AI tools” vs “SEO tools.”

Bonus Tip: Use ChatGPT for Idea Expansion

Yep, tools like ChatGPT (like the one you’re reading right now!) can be a massive help when you’re stuck or need more keyword ideas. You can ask things like:

It’s not a replacement for traditional keyword tools, but it’s an awesome way to brainstorm and get content ideas you might not have thought of otherwise.

So if you’re just starting, don’t feel like you need to invest in expensive SEO software right away. These free tools are more than enough to help you find powerful, low-competition keywords to get your blog off the ground. Once your site starts growing and making money, you can always explore paid tools later. For now, just focus on learning the basics and taking action!

Start with Seed Keywords and Expand

When you’re starting keyword research, one of the best things to do is begin with seed keywords. So, what exactly is a seed keyword? Think of it as the basic starting point or the main idea for your topic, just a simple word or short phrase that sums up what you want to write about.

For example, if your blog is about blogging (which is pretty meta, I know!), a seed keyword could be something like “blogging tips.” It’s short, simple, and easy to remember.

But here’s the thing: a seed keyword alone isn’t enough to drive traffic or rank on Google. It’s too broad and competitive. That’s why you need to expand from that seed keyword to find more specific, useful keyword ideas, the ones people are searching for.

Let me show you how I do this:

Starting with “blogging tips,” you can brainstorm and come up with 50+ related keyword ideas by adding keyword modifiers. These are words or phrases that you add before or after your seed keyword to make it more specific and useful. Some popular modifiers include:

By mixing and matching these modifiers, you suddenly have a huge list of keyword ideas that are more targeted and easier to rank for.

For instance:

This process of starting with a seed keyword and expanding it with modifiers helps you cover a lot of ground. It gives you a clear path to create lots of content that answers specific questions or meets specific needs.

So next time you sit down to do keyword research, start small with your seed keyword, then grow it into a big list of ideas by using modifiers and related phrases. It’s simple, effective, and a great way to avoid feeling overwhelmed at the beginning.

Analyze Keyword Metrics (Without Getting Overwhelmed)

Once you have a list of keyword ideas, the next step is to check the important metrics so you know which keywords are worth targeting. But honestly, this can get confusing if you dive too deep or try to analyze every little detail. So here’s my advice on how to look at keyword metrics without getting overwhelmed.

Search Volume

This tells you how many people are searching for that keyword each month. Sounds simple, right? But here’s the catch: not all search volumes are worth chasing.

For beginners, I usually recommend going for keywords with moderate search volume, maybe a few hundred to a few thousand searches per month. That’s the sweet spot where you can still get decent traffic without facing huge competition.

Keyword Difficulty (KD)

Keyword difficulty measures how hard it is to rank on the first page of Google for that keyword. Most tools give you a score from low to high.

If you’re just starting, stick to keywords with low to medium difficulty. Trying to rank for high-difficulty keywords when your blog is new is like trying to win a marathon without training, it’s possible, but it’s going to take a lot longer and be way harder.

Focus on those easier keywords first. They might not bring massive traffic immediately, but they’ll help you build authority and grow your site step by step.

CPC (Cost Per Click)

CPC shows how much advertisers are willing to pay for a click on ads related to that keyword. It’s a handy way to know if a keyword has commercial value. High CPC usually means the keyword is valuable and people searching for it are likely ready to buy something or spend money.

While CPC isn’t the only factor you should look at, it can help you prioritize keywords if you’re aiming to make money through ads, affiliate marketing, or selling products.

Real Talk: Don’t Get Stuck Chasing “Perfect” Metrics

Here’s the most important part: don’t get stuck trying to find the perfect keyword with perfect metrics. No keyword is flawless, and sometimes focusing too much on numbers can slow you down or cause confusion.

Sometimes, a keyword with slightly lower search volume but great relevance to your audience is way better than a super competitive, high-volume keyword that doesn’t fit your niche.

So, use these metrics as guidelines, not strict rules. Pick keywords that make sense for your content and audience, and keep moving forward. Keyword research is part art, part science, and you’ll get better at it with practice.

Focus on Search Intent

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on with keyword research was picking a keyword just because it had good numbers, decent search volume, and low difficulty, but completely missing the intent behind it. That’s where search intent comes in. And trust me, understanding this will make a huge difference in your content results.

So, what exactly is search intent?

In simple words, it’s the reason why someone is searching for something on Google. What are they hoping to find or do? Once you understand that, you can create content that delivers what they’re looking for, and that’s what Google loves.

There are four main types of search intent:

Matching Intent with the Right Type of Content

This part is super important: your content must match the intent behind the keyword. If someone is searching for “how to start a blog,” and you try to sell them a course immediately, it’ll feel pushy and off-track. Instead, they’re expecting a helpful, beginner-friendly guide.

Let’s look at an example

Keyword: “best protein powder for men”

This is commercial intent, the person is looking to compare and maybe buy. So, the right type of content here would be a listicle or product roundup. Think something like:

“Top 10 Protein Powders for Men in 2025 (Based on Real Reviews)”

You could also include affiliate links to earn commissions, making it both helpful to the reader and profitable for you.

But if someone searched “what does protein powder do,” that’s more informational, and your content should focus on educating, no hard sells, just solid info.

In short, when you choose a keyword, pause for a moment and ask:

What is this person looking for?

Then, build your content around that intent. The better your content matches their expectations, the more likely you are to rank, get clicks, and keep your readers happy.

Spy on Your Competitors (Ethically)

Now, I know the word “spy” might sound a bit shady, but don’t worry, we’re talking about ethical spying here. This simply means keeping an eye on what your competitors are doing in the keyword and content space, learning from it, and using that information to make your blog better. No copying, no stealing, just smart strategy.

When I started blogging, one of the best pieces of advice I got was: “Look at what’s already working, and then do it better.”

And that’s exactly what competitive research helps you do.

Tools You Can Use to Peek Into Competitor Strategies

You don’t need a huge budget to do this. Several tools let you get a pretty good look at your competitors’ keyword game, even for free or on a trial basis.

What Should You Look For?

When you analyze your competitors, you’re not just being nosy, you’re gathering valuable insights to improve your content. Here’s what to focus on:

Ethical competitor research is about learning, not copying. It helps you discover what’s already proven to work, and then create even more helpful, valuable content for your readers.

Think of it like this: You’re not trying to steal someone’s seat at the table, you’re just seeing what they ordered, so you can cook up something even better.

Organize Keywords Into Content Clusters

Once you’ve got a bunch of keywords, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Trust me, I’ve been there, staring at a list of 50+ keyword ideas, wondering how to turn them into actual blog posts without going all over the place.

That’s where content clusters come in. It’s a fancy-sounding term, but the idea is super simple: group similar keywords together and build one solid piece of content around them.

Let Me Break It Down With an Example:

Let’s say I’m targeting the topic of starting a blog. Here are some keyword ideas that might pop up during research:

Now, instead of writing five separate posts that basically say the same thing (and compete with each other), I can create one complete guide that covers all these angles. Maybe title it something like:

“How to Start a Blog in 2025: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide”

Inside that post, I’ll naturally cover each keyword topic in different sections, like one for the step-by-step setup, another for tips, and another discussing blogging in 2025. This way, I’m not only targeting multiple keywords in one go but also giving readers a full, helpful piece of content.

Why It Works

Organizing your keywords into content clusters helps you in a few big ways:

So, instead of writing 100 scattered posts, you’re building topic hubs that show both your audience and Google that you know your stuff. It’s like building a strong house; each piece supports the other, and everything’s connected.

This small shift in how you group keywords can make a huge difference in the long run.

Prioritize Keywords (Don’t Try to Rank for Everything)

Here’s a truth I had to learn the hard way: you can’t (and shouldn’t) try to rank for every keyword you find. When I first started, I wanted to write blog posts for every keyword idea on my list. But that approach quickly led to burnout and a bunch of half-baked content that didn’t perform well.

So what’s the better way? Prioritize.

Think of your keyword list like a menu; just because everything looks good doesn’t mean you should order it all at once. You’ve got to pick what makes the most sense right now.

Here’s How I Decide Which Keywords to Focus On:

1. Relevance: Ask yourself: Is this keyword related to what my blog is about?
   If you run a fitness blog, writing about “best gaming laptops” just because it has high search volume doesn’t help your brand or your audience.
2. Competition: Use tools like Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to see how tough it is to rank for a keyword. If the keyword has a high difficulty score and your blog is new, skip it for now. Instead, go for low to medium difficulty keywords where you have a better shot at ranking.
3. Search Intent: Make sure the keyword matches the kind of content you want to create.
   For example, if someone searches “how to meal prep for the week,” they’re likely looking for a step-by-step guide, not a product review or a sales pitch.
4. Content Value: Think: Can I write something valuable around this keyword?
   Some keywords may be relevant, but they just don’t lead to useful content ideas. Focus on the ones where you can genuinely help your readers or answer a common question they have.

My Simple Trick to Stay Organized

To keep things easy, I use a basic spreadsheet (sometimes Notion) where I list all my keyword ideas and add a few columns like:

This way, when I sit down to write, I’m not starting from scratch or wasting time deciding what to write about.

At the end of the day, keyword research isn’t about collecting a massive list, it’s about picking the right keywords that align with your content goals and your audience’s needs. Focus on what matters, and you’ll make steady progress instead of spinning your wheels.

Keep Updating and Refreshing Your Keyword List

Here’s something I wish someone had told me earlier: SEO isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. It’s more like a garden; if you don’t keep checking on it, pruning, and planting new things, it gets messy and stops growing.

When I started blogging, I’d do keyword research once, write the post, and move on. But over time, I noticed that traffic would dip or plateau. That’s when I realized the internet keeps changing, and so do people’s searches.

Keep an Eye on Your Performance

I now make it a habit to regularly check my rankings using Google Search Console. It’s free and super helpful. It shows:

Sometimes, I find keywords I never even aimed for, which tells me there’s potential to update the post and double down on those terms.

Stay in Sync with Trends and Seasons

Some keywords are evergreen, but many are tied to trends, seasons, or new updates.
For example, a keyword like “best budgeting apps” might need a refresh every year to stay relevant.

Or maybe there’s a trending topic in your niche, like “AI tools for writers”, that didn’t exist a year ago. By refreshing your keyword list regularly, you can catch new opportunities before everyone else jumps on them.

What I Do (and Recommend)

Trust me, these small tweaks can have a big impact. Some of my best-performing posts only took off after I updated them months later with newer keywords and better optimization.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Let’s be real, when you’re just starting out with keyword research and SEO, it’s easy to make a few wrong turns. I’ve been there myself, and trust me, these mistakes can slow you down or even make you feel like giving up. So let me walk you through some of the most common keyword research slip-ups that beginners (including me once) often make, and how to steer clear of them.

1. Targeting Keywords with Huge Competition

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was going after keywords like “how to start a blog” or “best SEO tips”, thinking, “If these have high volume, I should totally write about them!”
The problem? Every big blog and brand out there is already ranking for those. And they’ve got massive authority, backlinks, and a whole team behind their content.

As a new blogger, your best bet is to focus on low to medium competition keywords, even if they don’t bring in thousands of searches a month. You’ll rank faster, grow confidence, and actually get traffic that matters.

2. Ignoring Search Intent

Another trap is writing a blog post based on a keyword without understanding why people are searching for it.

For example, if someone searches “best laptops for video editing,” they’re probably looking to buy, so a comparison or listicle with affiliate links makes sense.

But if you write a general opinion piece or a personal story without matching the intent, your post may never rank, no matter how well-written it is.

Understanding the reason behind the search, whether it’s informational, transactional, or something else, makes a huge difference.

3. Writing Random Blog Posts Without Keyword Goals

This is super common. I used to write blog posts just because they sounded cool or interesting. But without a target keyword or clear topic, you’re basically just hoping Google picks it up.
Spoiler: It usually won’t.

Now, before I write anything, I ask myself:

Having that direction keeps me focused and increases the chances of ranking.

4. Focusing Only on Traffic, Not Conversions or UX

Getting traffic is great, but what happens after people land on your page?

Are they finding what they came for? Are they signing up for your newsletter? Clicking your affiliate links? Sharing your content?

I used to obsess over pageviews but totally ignored whether those visitors were taking action. Big mistake.

These days, I focus more on user experience, making sure the content is helpful, easy to read, and solves a real problem. And when I do that, not only does traffic improve, but so do conversions.

Conclusion

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about keyword research, it’s this: it’s a skill, not rocket science. You don’t need to be an SEO expert or a data nerd to get started. In fact, most of what I know today came from simply doing it, failing a bit, learning from mistakes, and gradually improving over time.

Sure, there are tools, techniques, and best practices, and I’ve shared a bunch in this article, but the real progress comes from practice and experimentation. You’ll slowly begin to understand what works for your blog, your audience, and your niche. Some keywords will flop, others will surprise you and bring in traffic you didn’t expect. That’s all part of the journey.

And here’s my final bit of advice: Just start.

Even if your keyword research isn’t perfect, even if you feel unsure, taking action is better than doing nothing. Every blog post you write with a keyword in mind is a step forward. You’ll learn more by doing than by overthinking.

So open that keyword tool, jot down some ideas, and get writing. You’ve got this.