If you’re looking to learn or expand your keyword research knowledge, you’ve come to the right place! On this page you’ll find the best free keyword research resources, from guides to tools and even tips. Take a look below.
1. SEO Fundamentals Learn to Develop a Keyword Research
Tips when doing a Keyword Research
Actionable tips shared by seasoned SEO specialists from conducting keyword research activities over the years.
“Initial keyword research data can be gathered offline, by understanding the language and the needs from your ideal user. Get familiar with topics, pain points, content types and search intent before you start performing KW research using SEO tools.”
Tweet
“Start with the user intent: map the user intent to a wheel of their life cycle and figure out what pieces of content you can/do offer for those phases.”
Tweet
“Sort keywords by relevance and choose what makes sense. Sort keywords by volume and choose what makes sense. For GSC terms, keep an eye on search terms with many impressions ranking on page 2 or lower.”
Tweet
“While researching for keywords always look at the intent of keyword by searching it into the search engines. Types of search results for that query tells a lot about intent behind a keyword. It’s important to know search intent to generate right kind of content.”
Tweet
“Use search console to see what keywords you’re website is already ranking for and start there. Easier to get a keyword higher than start from scratch.”
Tweet
“Even if a keyword is really competitive, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t create the page. Your audience still wants to know that information, and you’ll get some long tail search too. It’s not always about the number one ranking.”
Tweet
“Start with a keyword gap analysis vs. competitors (what competitors are ranking for vs. what you’re ranking for, to identify the differences and opportunities). It’ll give you really valuable information.”
Tweet
“Keywords are useless if you don’t understand the user intent.”
Tweet
“Rather than relying on search volume data, use your CTR data to calculate estimated traffic at current rank and at improved rank for a more realistic potential traffic uplift. Group keywords in categories to analyse uplift by categories rather than on a keyword by keyword basis.”
Tweet
“Focus on long-tail keywords. They will probably have lower search volume but also less competition. You will be able to rank easily and drive quality traffic to your website.”
Tweet
“Just start with Google Seach Console query data: you can check for which keyword are you already ranking for and maybe you’d just need few tweaks to rank even better.”
Tweet
“There are a lot of ways to go about keyword research.
1. Start with a single term.
2. Keyword gap analysis to find what others rank for you don’t.
3. Page gap analysis. Look at successful content. This could look at traffic, traffic value, or even which pages get the most links.”
Tweet
1. Start with a single term.
2. Keyword gap analysis to find what others rank for you don’t.
3. Page gap analysis. Look at successful content. This could look at traffic, traffic value, or even which pages get the most links.”
“Don’t focus solely on search volume, keyword tools not always get the right numbers. Start by identifying what your competitors rank for, and use also this insight”
Tweet
“Instead of researching keyword from scratch, do competitor analysis first to find: > What low-competition keywords they are ranking for on the 1st page > Keywords your competitors are ranking for but you aren’t Plus, never blindly rely on Keyword Difficulty of any SEO tool to create content.”
Tweet
“Focus on keyword understanding. The ‘intent’ behind the 8 types of various keyword groups. Breakdown these correctly to convert better in each. Short tail, long tail, customer defining, intent targeting, long term evergreen, short term fresh, geo targeting and product defining”
Tweet
“For niches where keyword volume is low across the industry or for top products/services, run a search ads campaign for a few weeks to discover : 1. More keyword ideas 2. Identify keywords that convert Especially for high ticket items.”
Tweet
“Forget ABC (always be closing). Not *every* page on your site has to be pitching to clinch a sale. Match keywords to the position in your sales funnel (Top, Middle, Bottom or ToFu, MoFu, BoFu). Write content to match that intent.”
Tweet
“Sometimes just put aside all the industry research tools and filter keywords directly from Google Search. Also, if you come across an issue in your own niche but the solution hasn’t been covered, well then bingo. Use keywords that haven’t been regurgitated multiple times already. People might think “oh everything has been written already,” but surprisingly it’s not always true. It’ll make your site stand out if you find those keywords and use them accordingly.”
Tweet
Keyword Research FAQ
Why is identifying keywords important for SEO?
The keyword research is a market research that will allow us to target the SEO process, it allows us to identify which are those terms used by our audience when searching in Google or any other search engine that we want to optimize for, as well as how much traffic it’s viable for us to attract from ranking for them, which we should use to establish a strategy that is aligned with our SEO process goal.
What is long tail keyword research?
Long tail keyword research focuses on finding and using “long tail keywords” — specific, detailed, and often longer phrases that people type into search engines. Long tail keywords are typically three to five words long, though they can be longer. This often involves using keyword research tools to find phrases that people are searching for that tend to have a lower search volume, but that aren’t overly competitive.
How to do local keyword research?
Local keyword research is a vital part of local SEO. It helps local-focused businesses to understand how their target local audience searches and for which terms to show up in search results for people in a specific geographic area. The steps to follow are the same as for a traditional keyword research but while including local focused keywords -including terms that specify the target location, such as the name of the city, neighborhood, or other local identifiers, as well as “Near Me” queries used to find local businesses.
When to do a keyword research?
Keyword research should be conducted at multiple stages in your SEO journey to ensure your content aligns with user queries and evolves with changing search trends, for example: At the Start of an SEO Project, During Content Creation, Prior to Website Redesign or Migration, or Periodically for Existing Content.
The SEO Learning Roadmap
Take a look at the SEO learning roadmap below, featuring the different areas, from the basics of SEO, to the most common activities and phases of the SEO Process:
You are here
1 SEO Fundamentals
Start learning SEO with the fundamental concepts and areas, why they're important, and the basics to execute them: keyword research, content optimization analysis, technical optimization and link building.
Once you know the main SEO concepts, it's time to put them in practice by learning to develop an SEO process, from establishing a strategy and setting goals to management, measurement, and reporting.
Learn to implement the most important SEO configurations in the top Web platforms in the market, along with considerations to take into account.
It's time for an SEO deep-dive into those particular areas and common scenarios where you have a bigger interest or need to tackle.
Advanced Technical SEO
Advanced Content Optimization
Advanced Link Building
Advanced SEO Management
Advanced SEO Opportunities
Learn and specialize in one of the most popular SEO verticals.
Learn to automate your SEO tasks and accelerate your SEO process execution.
Learn how to rank in other search engines besides Google.
Stay updated with the latest news, updates and resources in SEO.
Learn about complementary areas that can help you as an SEO.
Get access to free SEO tools to execute your SEO tasks.
It's time to take your SEO knowledge further.