If you’re starting a blog or growing your website, keyword research is one of the most important skills you can learn. But here’s the good news: you don’t need expensive tools or pro-level SEO skills to find great keywords.
There are many free tools that can help you discover topics people are searching for, understand search intent, find low-competition keywords, and plan content that drives traffic.
In this guide, we’ll break everything down into simple steps so beginners can follow easily — no confusing SEO jargon, no complicated strategies. Just clear, practical, beginner-friendly tips.
Let’s get started.
1. What Is Keyword Research?
Before jumping into tools, let’s understand the basics.
Keyword research is the process of finding what people search for on Google.
These searches could be:
- Questions
- Problems
- Topics
- Comparisons
- Tutorials
- Product searches
If you know what people search for, you can create content that answers their needs — which helps your blog appear on Google.
Why keyword research matters
- You avoid writing articles nobody searches for
- You find ideas that attract consistent traffic
- You understand what your audience wants
- You can rank faster by targeting the right keywords
Now let’s move on to the fun part — using free tools.
2. 100% Free Tools for Keyword Research
You don’t need Ahrefs or Semrush. These free tools are already powerful:
1. Google Search (Autocomplete + PAA)
2. Google Keyword Planner
3. AnswerThePublic (limited free searches)
4. AlsoAsked
5. Ubersuggest (limited daily searches)
6. KeywordTool.io (free version)
7. Pinterest Search (for lifestyle niches)
8. YouTube Search Autocomplete
You don’t need to use all of these every time. Just choose what works best for your niche.
3. Step-by-Step: How to Do Keyword Research (Using Only Free Tools)
Here’s the full process, explained in simple language and easy steps.
Step 1: Start with Your Main Topic (Seed Keyword)
A seed keyword is your basic topic.
Examples:
- “digital marketing”
- “healthy recipes”
- “blogging tips”
- “travel Japan”
- “lose weight”
Think of the general topic you want to write about.
How to find your seed keyword
Ask yourself:
- What is my blog niche?
- What do I enjoy writing about?
- What problems can I solve?
Once you have your seed keyword, move to the next step.
Step 2: Use Google Autocomplete
Go to Google and type your seed keyword.
Google will automatically suggest searches people commonly make.
For example, type “blogging tips” and you might see:
- blogging tips for beginners
- blogging tips to make money
- blogging tips for SEO
- blogging tips and tricks
These suggestions come straight from real search behavior — meaning people actually search for these.
Try different variations
- “blogging tips a…”
- “blogging tips for…”
- “blogging tips how…”
Each variation gives new keyword ideas.
Step 3: Check “People Also Ask” (PAA)
Scroll down on Google results to find People Also Ask.
These are questions related to your topic, such as:
- How do beginners start blogging?
- How many posts should a blog have?
- What makes a blog successful?
- What should I write first in my blog?
These are perfect for:
- Blog post ideas
- FAQs inside your articles
- Subheadings (H2 or H3)
If Google shows it, it’s relevant.
Step 4: Use Google Keyword Planner (Still Free!)
Google Keyword Planner is meant for ads, but bloggers can use it for research.
How to use it
- Go to Google Ads (free signup, no budget needed)
- Open Keyword Planner
- Click “Discover new keywords”
- Enter your seed keyword
You’ll find:
- Monthly search volume
- Competition level
- Related keywords
- Trending topics
Even though competition is for Google Ads, it still gives clues for ranking difficulty.
What to look for
- Keywords with medium or high search volume
- Low competition (if possible)
- Long-tail keywords (3+ words)
Long-tail keywords are easier to rank for.
Example:
- “blogging tips” — too broad
- “blogging tips for beginners” — better
- “blogging tips to grow traffic fast” — excellent
Step 5: Use AnswerThePublic for Questions
This tool visualizes questions people ask on search engines.
Enter your topic, and you’ll see:
- What
- Why
- How
- When
- Where
Example for “blogging”:
- Why is blogging important?
- What to write as a blogger?
- How often should I post?
- How to make money from blogging?
Use these as blog post titles or subheadings.
Tip: Because ATP has limited daily free searches, use it wisely.
Step 6: Check AlsoAsked for Hidden Questions
AlsoAsked shows related questions grouped by topics.
This gives:
- Content structure ideas
- Additional keyword clusters
- Semantically related questions
For example, if your keyword is:
“how to start a blog”
You might get:
- How much does it cost to start a blog?
- What should a beginner blog about?
- Can I blog without showing my face?
- How long does it take to grow a blog?
These can become:
- New articles
- Sub-topics
- Supporting content
Step 7: Use Ubersuggest (Free Daily Searches)
Type your keyword → go to Keyword Ideas.
You’ll get:
- Search volume
- Keyword difficulty
- Related keywords
- Content ideas
Ubersuggest also shows what pages currently rank for your keyword.
Tip:
Look for keywords with:
- Volume around 100–3000
- SEO difficulty below 40
- Long-tail keywords
These are beginner-friendly and easier to rank.
Step 8: Explore Pinterest for Lifestyle Niches
Pinterest is amazing if you’re blogging about:
- Recipes
- Wellness
- Travel
- Home decor
- Crafts
- Fashion
Type your keyword and Pinterest will show:
- Related searches
- Trending pins
- Keyword variations
For example, if you search “meal prep”, you may see:
- meal prep for beginners
- meal prep on a budget
- meal prep for weight loss
- meal prep ideas for work
These can all turn into blog posts.
Step 9: Analyze Your Competitors
Search your keyword on Google.
Check the top 5 results:
- What topics do they cover?
- What questions do they answer?
- What subheadings do they use?
If big sites rank, choose a longer keyword.
If small blogs rank, you have a good chance too.
Shortcut:
Use the Chrome extension Keywords Everywhere (free version)
It shows:
- Related searches
- People also search for
- Trending keywords
Step 10: Choose the Right Keyword for Your Article
Now you have many keyword ideas.
Here’s how to pick the best one.
Choose a keyword that:
- Has real search volume
- Matches your content
- Has low competition
- Is long-tail (3–6 words)
- Has clear search intent
What is search intent?
The purpose behind a search.
Example:
- “how to start a blog” → informational
- “best blogging platforms” → comparison
- “buy WordPress hosting” → transactional
Match your article with the right type of intent.
4. How to Organize Your Keywords
You can organize your ideas into:
1. Main keyword
The main topic of your article.
2. Supporting keywords
Related keywords that will appear naturally in the text.
3. Questions
Use these as H2 or H3 subheadings.
4. Semantic keywords
Words with similar meaning to help Google understand your topic.
Example topic: Blogging tips
Main keyword:
- blogging tips for beginners
Supporting keywords:
- how to start blogging
- beginner blogging mistakes
- blogging advice
Questions:
- How do I start blogging as a beginner?
- What should a beginner blogger write?
Semantic keywords:
- blog traffic
- blog niche
- writing content
5. How to Use Your Keywords in a Blog Post
Use your keyword naturally.
No stuffing, no repetition every sentence.
Use your main keyword in:
- Title (H1)
- First paragraph
- One subheading (H2)
- Image alt text
- Meta description
- URL
Place supporting keywords:
- In subheadings
- Spread in your paragraphs
- Naturally where they fit
Google is smart — write for humans, not algorithms.
6. Example: Putting It All Together (Simple Sample)
Let’s say your keyword is:
“blogging tips for beginners”
Your blog post structure might look like:
Title:
10 Blogging Tips for Beginners to Grow Faster
Outline:
- What is blogging?
- Why blogging is still powerful
- Tip #1: Choose your niche
- Tip #2: Write helpful content
- Tip #3: Choose simple keywords
- Tip #4: Publish consistently
- Tip #5: Avoid beginner mistakes
- FAQs
Supporting keywords sprinkled inside:
- how to start blogging
- beginner blogging tips
- new blogger mistakes
- how to grow a blog
That’s it — simple but effective.
7. Tips to Make Keyword Research Faster
✔ Don’t aim for high-volume keywords
Low competition + specific keywords = easier rankings.
✔ Start with long-tail keywords
They bring faster traffic.
✔ Create many small articles
Better than one giant article with no ranking.
✔ Keep a keyword list
Use Google Sheets or Notion.
✔ Research weekly
Trends change — stay updated.
Conclusion
Keyword research doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. With free tools like Google Search, Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, and Pinterest, you can easily discover keywords that real people search for.
Once you know what your audience wants, writing articles becomes easier, faster, and more effective.
Start simple.
Start small.
Start today.
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