The Best Tech for Conducting Keyword Research

An effective SEO campaign includes many different elements and moving parts. One of the most integral, however, is the application of keywords. Whether it’s in your ads or blog content, keywords are necessary for targeting the right customers the right way. To ensure you know which keywords are going to best assist your SEO efforts,…

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To ensure you know which keywords are going to best assist your SEO efforts, you need to conduct keyword research.

The Benefits Of Keyword Research

Even without research, you will be aware of certain keywords present in your chosen industry. For instance, an IT consultancy business will know “IT consultancy services” and “IT consultancy rates” are in-demand keywords that will generate a fair bit of traffic.

However, guesswork – even if it is based around sound knowledge – is never wise when it comes to developing an on site SEO keywordKeywords are the words and phrases that potential customers might search for to find your business. strategy. You need a plan in place, and the foundation for this is gained through keyword researchKeyword research helps websites unearth the best keywords to drive traffic and visibility. This research is supported by a number of powerful web-based tools, the best of which we’ve listed here..

To demonstrate why, here’s a quick look at the benefits of keyword research:

Understand your audience: Before you can begin creating optimized SEO Blog Writing and other content, it’s vital you understand your audience. Keywords help in that regard. They highlight what interests your target customers and the type of content they’re seeking.
Boost conversionA conversion is a desirable result on a website that leads to an action such as completing an order, filling out a form, or simply clicking on a link. rates: Besides attracting more visitors, relevant, keyword-rich content also brings in more qualified traffic. As the content you’re delivering is meaningful to those consuming it, conversion rates will inevitably rise.
Gain insights into current trends: The prevalence of keywords generally changes over time. What was gaining heavy search traction last year may have dropped off a cliff this year. As a result, regular keyword research can help you to keep up-to-date with consumer behavior and marketing trends, ensuring your content remains relevant.
Prioritize your time: Rather than creating content that isn’t targeting your audience correctly or improving your bottom line, you can spend your time more wisely by getting the keyword research part right from the start.

The advantages are impossible to ignore. Yet, for your business to enjoy these positive points, you need to conduct keyword research the right way. This is where keyword research tools can play an important role.

The Best Free Keyword Research Tools

If you’re just starting out in the world of keyword research tools, it makes a lot of sense to start with a free option. This way, you can test out features and get a grasp of how this technology works, all without having to invest any money for the privilege.

As you would expect, these tools are not going to contain all the bells and whistles compared to their paid counterparts. However, they are perfectly serviceable in getting the ball rolling with your keyword research campaign.

There are many free keyword research tools available. To stop you from having to search for them, we have compiled a list of the best free keyword research apps below:

Google Keyword Planner

This tool is simple yet functional, only offering a small number of basic features. Yet even with the limited functionality, Google Keyword Planner is a handy tool that can be of benefit to any business – both big and small.

The reason for this is simple: it is one of the most accurate and up-to-date sources of keyword-related data you can find. After all, the search engine giant supplies Google Keyword Planner’s data directly.

To start using the software, simply use the search boxA search box is an empty text field that allows the user to type a query for the website. to enter one or more keywords. You will then receive information about your entered keywords and other related keywords. Data provided includes average monthly searches, competition levels (high, medium, low), and 30-day search trends.

As long as you have an active Google Ads account, you can use Google Keyword PlannerThe Google Keyword Planner Tool helps you find new keywords and synonyms based on the ones you already rank for. free of charge.

Key features:

Data directly provided by Google for accurate search volume
Use the “top of page” bid range to find commercial keywords
The “refine keywords” feature allows you to filter keywords with specific attributes
Discover historical data about the top of page bids for keywords

WordStream Free Keyword Tool

The WordStream Free Keyword Tool is useful for conducting PPC keyword research quickly and easily. When you do a keyword search, you will receive the first 25 results for free. If you want to gain the rest of the results, it’s still free – but you will need to exchange your email address for this extra data.

Aside from entering a keyword into the search bar, you can also begin your research by inputting a URL for a list of keyword suggestions. You are also supplied with long-tail keywordLong-tail keywords are phrases with more than two words. They're also more specific, often using modifiers to narrow down a search. variations. Added details for each keyword include search volume, CPC for Google and Bing, and competition levels.

As with the aforementioned Google Keyword Planner, it’s also possible to filter your search. For instance, you can limit it to a specific location or industry (with 24 unique verticals).

Key features:

Gain a variety of information from both Google and Bing in one place
No account or download is needed. Initial keyword information is provided within a matter of seconds.
For beginners, the tool’s “Popular Keywords” page offers tips such as utilizing high-volume keywords.

AnswerThePublic

Compared to the rest of the choices on the market, AnswerThePublic functions in a different way than you’d expect. You still get that juicy keyword information, but this data is presented more visually. This aesthetic style isn’t just for show, and it makes for an effective way to conduct your keyword research.

As for the keyword results you gain from AnswerThePublic, these relate to current auto-suggest/autocomplete searches from Google and Bing. You can also base your keyword search ranking on a specific country and language.

Once you have received your list of results, these are separated into categories such as “Who”, “When”, “How”, and “Where”. This will help your keywords better match search intent. Also, if you’re not a fan of the more visual presentation, AnswerThePublic allows you to see results in list format or to download them as a .csv file.

While the free version of this software is great for beginners, AnswerThePublic’s pro plan supplies additional features that more experienced keyword researchers require.

Key features:

You can conduct searches without signing up for an account.
Information is presented in a simple yet effective manner
Instantly learn what people are currently searching for relating to specific keywords

The Best Paid Keyword Research Tools

As the above examples demonstrate, it’s possible to conduct an effective keyword research campaign without spending a penny on any tools. With that said, to get the best results – and to ensure you are targeting the best possible keywords for your brand – you’ll have to splash the cash a little.

The reason for this is simple: in the world of keyword research tools, the more in-depth features are typically hidden behind a paywall. Yet if you’re willing to spend the money in the right areas – and we recommend you do – you can take your on site SEO and content creation to the next level.

As for the best paid keyword research tools, here’s a small selection of the best picks on the market today:

SEMrush

Describing SEMrush as simply a keyword research tool is doing it a disservice. This is one of the most complete pieces of technology for managing your entire SEO campaign. Although SEMrush boasts an assortment of features to make it worth your while in terms of keyword research.

Rather than other tools, SEMrush doesn’t supply you with a seemingly endless list of keywords. Instead, it delivers up to 10 highly specific keywords that your competitors already use. Along with proven results, these keyword suggestions fall in line with your content and ultimately help to boost your brand’s visibility.

The main disadvantage of SEMrush is its price. The cheapest plan is available at $99.95 per month, billed annually. As a result, it might not be suitable if all you’re searching for is a specific keyword research tool.

Note: a week-long free trial is available to see if SEMrush is the right fit for your business.

Key features:

Discover specific ad group ideas and long-tail keywords
In-depth organic trafficOrganic search traffic (sometimes called natural or unpaid search) is the traffic that's driven to a website because of unpaid placement on a search engine results page. insights and keyword difficulty analysis
Global CPC distribution figures
Yearly keyword search ranking trends

KWFinder

Self-described as “the only keyword tool in the universe you will ever need”, it’s hard to disagree with the developers of KWFinder. Simple on the surface but packed with powerful features, this tool – created by renowned company Mangools – makes it easy to find suitable keywords for your content.

One of its most impressive and standout features is its “Keyword Difficulty” ranking. With a rating between 1-100, you can easily tell which keywords you should avoid trying to target – and the ones which present a prime opportunity for your website to get the search engine results page (SERP) top spot.

Pricing for KWFinder starts at a reasonable $29.90 per month, billed annually. Your subscription also provides you with access to 4 other tools provided by Mangools. These are SERPChecker, SERPWatcher, LinkMiner, and SiteProfiler.

Key features:

An easy-to-use, unique interface
In-depth SERP overview, including keyword suggestions
Gain precise stats regarding keyword competition
Refine keyword suggestions with additional filters
Local keyword research with over 50,000 locations covered

GrowthBar

Another powerful keyword research tool is GrowthBar. This software boasts all of the features you’d come to expect from a paid tool. Yet one of its main differentiators is how it specifically targets bloggers and those creating on site SEO articles.

In fact, a unique feature of GrowthBar is its content outline generation. Alongside a selection of suggested keywords to rank for, this content outline recommends word counts, images, linksHyperlinks, also known as links, are the connection points on a webpage that take you to other webpages., headers, and more. Following these guidelines gives you a greater chance of landing on the first page of Google search results.

Pricing for GrowthBar starts at $29 per month. There’s also the option to test the tool via a 5-day free trial.

Key features:

Benefit from innovative AI technology to generate content outlines
Accurate ranking for keyword difficulty
Gain in-depth metrics and insights about competitor websites
Receive suggestions for long-tail keywords to target

Benefits of human analysis

Keyword research tools are a great asset to have in your SEO repertoire. Few are going to dispute that. Nevertheless, this technology is not something you want to rely on fully with your keyword research. You can gain great insights and discover search terms you’ve never previously considered, but you don’t want to rely on them entirely.

Make no mistake: keyword research tools are not infallible. In fact, there are various flaws with using only keyword research tools.

For instance, keyword data can be inaccurate, and this is why search volumes can vary drastically from one tool to another. Even with all of the data they have access to, each keyword tool can only supply a “best guess” in terms of results – and this inaccuracy can be even more prevalent with low-volume keywords.

There are two other points to remember: keywords are not always an indication of intent or relevancy.

This is why we are proponents of human analysis with keyword research. Rather than being at the mercy of your keyword tools, you place a greater emphasis on your own knowledge base. This human wisdom, this experience helps you to understand search intent. It helps you know the relevancy of search terms.

To gain more practical, accurate keyword data with human analysis, consider these two tactics:

Research your analytics: Your analytics is a great way to measure the performance of your content and keywords. For example, if you have a page with high bounce rates, this could mean you’re targeting the wrong keywords. Constantly monitor results, test out different ways to keep visitors engaged, and assess how new keywords perform.
Run a pay-per-click campaign: If you want to judge the potential of keywords, look no further than PPC ads. With a limited PPC campaign, where you spend minimal money but still gain vital insights, you can test out different keyword-rich titles and descriptions. If you find keywords that deliver strong click-through rates and conversions, this is a sign you’re onto a winner.

Things to be aware of

Keyword research is far from easy. Even if you purchase a premium piece of keyword research technology, you cannot depend on it to make decisions and incorporate the data it provides. That, ultimately, is down to human wisdom. To learn more about this and keyword research in general, make sure to read our Knowledge Hub Guide.

Along with other benefits, keyword research tools help to save time and resources. Yet keyword research, in general, is still a tricky, time-consuming process. Instead of tacking it on your own, why not hand the task over to Click Intelligence as part of our managed SEO?

Our experts are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all-things keywords. They know how to get the most out of the above keyword research tools. They’re also well aware of the importance of human analysis and how these can be used together to ensure your business targets the right keywords that get results.