Introduction
Imagine trying to open a locked treasure chest without a key. That’s what SEO is like without keyword research. You can write the most brilliant content, but if nobody is searching for it, it’s like throwing a party and forgetting to send invites.
Most people think you need expensive tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to do keyword research, but guess what? You don’t! With some creativity, free tools, and a bit of Sherlock Holmes-level investigation, you can find great keywords without spending a dime.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to do keyword research without any paid tools while keeping things fun, easy, and effective! Let’s dive in.
Understanding the Basics of Keyword Research
Before we start our keyword treasure hunt, let’s cover the basics.
What is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of finding the words and phrases people type into search engines like Google when looking for information. It’s what helps search engines connect users with relevant content.
For example, if someone searches “how to train a cat”, Google wants to show them articles, videos, or products that match their intent. If you run a blog about pets, using the right keywords ensures your content reaches the right audience.
Why is Keyword Research Important?
- Traffic Magnet:- The right keywords bring in more visitors.
- SEO Powerhouse:- Keywords help search engines understand your content.
- Content Direction:- Knowing what people search for guides your content strategy.
- Higher Conversion Rates:- Targeting the right keywords helps attract visitors who are actually interested in your product or service, increasing sales and engagement.
- Competitive Advantage:- Understanding what your competitors are ranking for allows you to find gaps and opportunities to outrank them.
Now that we know why it’s important, let’s start finding keywords for free!
Using Google Search for Keyword Research Ideas
Google Autocomplete: The Lazy Genius’s Hack
You know when you start typing something in Google, and it tries to finish your sentence? That’s Google Autocomplete, and it’s a goldmine for keyword research.
Example:
Type “best coffee for” and see what comes up:
- best coffee for weight loss
- best coffee for energy
- best coffee for espresso
Each of these suggestions is a real search query, meaning people are actually looking for this information! “Are we trying to hack Google ????“
Related Searches: The Hidden Treasure
Scroll to the bottom of the Google search results, and you’ll see “Related searches.” These are additional keyword ideas that Google thinks are relevant.
Example:
Search for “how to bake a cake”, and at the bottom, you might see:
- how to bake a cake without an oven
- how to bake a cake step by step
- how to bake a cake at home
Again, these are real search queries you can use for content ideas.
Leveraging Google Trends for Popular Keywords
Google Trends is like a crystal ball that tells you which keywords are rising or dying.
How to Use Google Trends for Keyword Research?
- Go to Google Trends (trends.google.com)
- Type in your keyword (e.g., “vegan diet”)
- Check if the search interest is rising or falling
- Compare similar keywords to see which one is more popular
Example:
Let’s say you run a fitness blog. Should you write about “keto diet” or “intermittent fasting”?
A quick check on Google Trends will show which one is more popular over time, helping you choose the better keyword.
10 Best & Free Tools for Keyword Research
While paid tools are fancy, there are some fantastic free tools for keyword research.
1. Google Keyword Planner (The OG of Keyword Tools)
- It’s free (you just need a Google Ads account).
- It shows search volume and competition.
- Great for finding related keyword ideas.
- If you want to know top features and more about Keyword Planner, click it.
2. Answer The Public (Find Questions People Are Asking)
- Enter a keyword, and it generates hundreds of questions related to it.
- Best for FAQ-style content and blog topics.
3. Ubersuggest (Limited but Useful)
- Shows keyword difficulty, search volume, and related keywords.
- Free version has limited searches per day, but still useful.
4. Google Search Console (Your Free SEO Dashboard)
- Shows which keywords are already bringing traffic to your site.
- Helps identify underperforming pages that could be optimized.
- Great for discovering long-tail keyword opportunities you’re already ranking for.
5. Google “People Also Ask” (A Hidden Goldmine)
- Google suggests questions people frequently ask related to your topic.
- Expanding the questions gives even more ideas.
- Perfect for finding content gaps and FAQ-style topics.
6. Keyword Surfer (A Free Chrome Extension)
- Displays search volume, related keywords, and estimated traffic directly on Google search results.
- Allows you to analyze keyword competition without leaving the search page.
7. Reddit & Quora (Where Real People Ask Questions)
- Search for your niche topics on Reddit or Quora to find real-world keyword ideas.
- Look for common problems and trending discussions to create highly relevant content.
8. YouTube Auto-Suggest (For Video & Blog Topics)
- Just like Google, YouTube autocomplete suggests popular search queries.
- Great for finding video keywords and blog ideas based on video trends.
9. Ahrefs Free Keyword Generator
- Enter a keyword, and it provides hundreds of free keyword ideas.
- Also shows keyword difficulty and search volume estimates.
10. Google Sheets + Keyword List (DIY Research Method)
- Create a spreadsheet to manually track all keyword ideas from free tools.
- Organize keywords by search volume, competition, and intent.
How to do Competitor Keywords Research for Free Manually?
If your competitors are ranking well, why not steal their best keyword ideas? (Legally, of course!)
How to Spy on Competitor Keywords Without Paid Tools?
- Google your niche topic (e.g., “best digital marketing tips”).
- Click on the top-ranking pages.
- Scan their titles, headings, and content for repeated phrases.
- Check the meta description (hover over the Google result).
- Use a free tool like SEO Minion (Chrome extension) to analyze on-page SEO.
Example:
Let’s say you want to write about “best running shoes”. You Google it and find that most articles use keywords like:
- Best running shoes for beginners
- Best running shoes for flat feet
- Best running shoes for long distances
Boom! Now you have content ideas based on what’s already working.
Tracking Keyword Performance for Free
Once you start ranking for keywords, you need to track their performance. But how can you do that without a paid tool?
1. Google Search Console (Your Free SEO Dashboard)
- See which keywords you’re already ranking for.
- Track clicks, impressions, and average position.
- Find pages that need SEO improvement.
2. Manual Google Checking (The DIY Way)
- Open Incognito Mode (so Google doesn’t personalize results).
- Search your target keyword.
- See where your content ranks.
- Do this weekly to track progress.
Example:
If you wrote an article about “best home workout routines”, check Google Search Console to see:
- How many people clicked your page.
- Which keywords brought them there.
- If your ranking is improving over time.
Final Thoughts on Free Keyword Research
Keyword research doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. With the right techniques, you can find amazing keywords for free, drive traffic, and boost your SEO without spending a penny. But this free ka maal is good until things aren’t going to big and on a higher level. After a point of time you and your brand will be needing a good agency to take care of everything for you, well ta-da you got adwebcraft.
Agencies and companies handling IT services handles all the problems with an ease as you don’t have to pay for research tools, after that learn how to do keyword research, than refine it, than rank it and on-n-on-n-on, headache for bigger problems, so hire them.
Here’s a quick recap of what we covered:
- Use Google Autocomplete and Related Searches for keyword ideas.
- Check Google Trends to see keyword popularity.
- Use free tools like Keyword Planner, Answer The Public, and Ubersuggest.
- Analyze competitor content to find hidden keyword gems.
- Track your keyword performance using Google Search Console.
Now that you know how to do keyword research without any paid tools, it’s time to put these tactics to work. Happy keyword hunting! ¡Vamos!
