The Best Keyword Research Tools and Tips for 2023

Struggling to get more visitors to your site? You’re not alone. But, there’s a key to getting more people to see your website: smart keyword research. Use the best tools and tips, and you could boost your site’s visitors by almost 30% in a year¹.

Table of Contents

To do well in SEO, you must be in front of trends. There are many keyword tools out there, from easy-to-use ones like the Free Keyword Tool by Backlinko, to more complex ones like Ahrefs and Semrush. It can be hard picking the right one for you¹.

No matter if you run a small business or work in SEO, knowing how to find the best keywords is crucial. You learn what your audience wants, find great ideas, and see what works for your rivals. This way, your content not just shows up in searches but also connects with your readers².

This guide is filled with the best keyword research tools and tips for next year. You’ll check out top choices like Google Keyword Planner and Semrush, as well as cool finds like QuestionDB and AlsoAsked. These insights will help raise your SEO skills. So, get ready to make big changes to how you work on content and see your site’s visitors increase!

Key Takeaways:

Find the top keyword tools whether you’re just starting or already know a lot about SEO
Understand what your audience is looking for with keyword data
Discover the best topics and keywords to bring in the right visitors
See what keywords your competition is using to find new chances
Make keyword research a big part of how you improve your content for the best results

Why Keyword Research is Essential for SEO Success

Keyword research is vital for SEO success, driving targeted traffic. It helps identify the best keywords for your content. This leads to higher rankings and more visitors³. It ensures your content meets your audience’s needs and guides them through the buying process, boosting your online presence³.

Understanding Search Intent

Understanding search intent is key in keyword research. Users search with specific goals or questions in mind. Crafting content that meets these needs improves user experience and tells search engines your content is relevant. They consider this when ranking content³.

Gathering Valuable Topic and Question Ideas

Keyword research generates new content ideas and ensures thorough coverage of subjects. Tools help find what users are searching for. This leads to comprehensive, engaging content and positions your website as an authority in your niche.

Analyzing the Competitive Landscape

A key part of keyword research is looking at what your competitors are doing. It shows you what keywords they’re using successfully. This lets you find areas to target and ways to outperform them. Tools like Semrush and Ahrefs provide insights invaluable for shaping your strategies.

Creating topic buckets filled with relevant keywords is essential³. It allows for organized content strategy that covers a wide keyword range. Additionally, analyzing which keywords bring traffic to your site helps focus your efforts on what works. This way, you can improve your existing content and create new pieces optimized for those successful keywords.

In conclusion, keyword research is crucial for effective SEO. It helps create content that your audience finds compelling and drives the right traffic to your site. By continuously improving your keyword research techniques and keeping up with SEO trends, you can lead your industry and sustain success in the long run.

Top Free Keyword Research Tools

A good SEO strategy needs the right tools. Even though paid keyword research platforms have more, free options still give great advice for your keyword planning. These free tools are perfect if you’re just starting your keyword research guide. They lay a strong base for your SEO analysis and keyword optimization. After looking at 80 tools, 4 were picked for being the best fit for different users⁴.

Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner is loved by many in SEO. It’s free and made mainly for Google Ads. It gives useful keyword research techniques and insights. You can make keyword reports, find new ideas, and understand search volumes and competition for free. Plus, it lets you plan your Google Ads budget with its forecasting features⁴. It can even suggest over 1,000 keywords, with more than half not having your main keyword⁵.

Google Trends

Google Trends is a must-have in your keyword research software. It shows you how keywords change in popularity over time. This helps you find trends and understand when keywords peak. Using Google Trends helps you decide which keywords to focus on and when. It shows how a keyword’s search interest changes over time and suggests related searches that are growing⁵.

Answer the Public

Answer the Public is unique. It shows questions and keywords based on what people search for. It’s great for finding longer keywords and seeing what users are looking for. By using Answer the Public, you can create content that meets what your audience is looking for. It gives more than 800 keyword ideas in different groups⁵.

Keyword Surfer

Keyword Surfer is a tool that works inside your browser. It adds keyword data right to your Google searches. You can see search volume, CPC, and get more keyword ideas while you search. This helps you understand which keywords might work best for you and your audience. Also, it lets you view how many visits top pages get for a specific keyword⁵.

These free tools are great for starting your keyword research. Remember, though, they might not do everything a paid tool can. They look at traffic, how hard a keyword is, what your competition is doing, and how best to use keywords. It’s good to think about switching to a paid tool like Semrush or Ahrefs as you grow. These paid tools offer more features. For example, Semrush gives 10 Analytics reports and lets you track 10 keywords daily in their free version for people who are serious about SEO⁴.

Best Paid Keyword Research Tools

While free keyword tools can be beneficial, investing in paid keyword research tools offers a significant advantage for SEO success. These premium tools provide extensive data, detailed analysis, and user-friendly features that streamline your work. By utilizing these advanced tools, you can uncover new keyword opportunities and enhance your SEO strategy.

Semrush

Semrush is a powerful tool for analyzing competitors and discovering valuable keywords. Its Keyword Magic Tool enables comprehensive keyword research. The Pro Plan is available for $129.95 per month or $108.33 per month when billed annually. Many experts consider Semrush to be the leading paid keyword research tool, offering a 14-day free trial to get started.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is renowned for its vast backlink database and its Keywords Explorer tool, which provides extensive keyword data. The subscription costs $99 per month and includes 500 credits, with the option to purchase additional credits for $35 per month. Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer delivers in-depth information on keywords, first-page competition, and click-through rates.

Moz Keyword Explorer

Moz Keyword Explorer is an intuitive tool for identifying keywords. It provides keyword suggestions and insights into ranking difficulty. Pricing starts at $99 per month, or $79 per month if billed annually. The highest tier plan costs $599 per month. Moz Keyword Explorer is favored for its ease of use and robust keyword analysis.

Jaaxy

Jaaxy is another excellent paid keyword research tool, providing a wealth of keyword data and analysis features. Its Pro Plan costs $49 per month or $39 per month if billed annually. Jaaxy offers valuable insights into keyword competition, search volume, and related keyword suggestions, making it a strong contender in the keyword research market.

Tool	Monthly Price	Annual Price	Key Features
Semrush Pro	$129.95	$108.33	Keyword Magic Tool, competitor analysis, keyword trends
Ahrefs	$99 (500 credits)	–	Keywords Explorer, SERP analysis, click-through rate data
Moz Pro	$99	$79	Keyword suggestions, search volume, keyword difficulty
Jaaxy Pro	$49	$39	Keyword competition, search volume, related keyword suggestions

Other notable tools include Serpstat, which starts at $59 per month or $50 per year, and SEO PowerSuite, with the Professional plan at $299 per year and the Enterprise plan at $499 per year. Additionally, SECockpit is favored by SEO professionals for its detailed analysis and trend insights.

Using these paid tools will elevate your keyword research efforts. You’ll gain valuable insights and significantly enhance your SEO performance.

Keyword Research Tools and Tips for Finding Long-tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are crucial for boosting your website’s visibility. They are less commonly used but account for 92% of all search queries. Targeting these keywords allows you to reach more specific audiences and generate more leads.

I rely on tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, and Jaaxy to discover effective long-tail keywords. These tools provide insights into the words and phrases people use in searches, as well as the difficulty of ranking for those terms. This information helps me choose the best keywords for my content.

When researching keywords, I consider the search intent behind them. This helps me create content that meets the needs of my audience. Tools like AnswerThePublic and Google’s “People Also Ask” feature provide valuable insights into the questions people are asking, which I then use to guide my content creation.

Incorporating long-tail keywords naturally into your content is essential but can be challenging. Planning where to use keywords throughout your website ensures that your pages and posts are well-optimized.

“The best place to hide a dead body is on the second page of Google search results.” – Anonymous

Success Stories with Long-tail Keywords:

A travel website discovered over 1,500 valuable keywords by exploring variations of “travel guides” using Semrush. This significantly boosted their search visibility.
Using Ahrefs, another site generated tens of thousands of keyword ideas from a few seed keywords, uncovering many low-competition phrases that attracted substantial traffic.
With Jaaxy, a niche blog identified highly specific long-tail keywords that dramatically increased their organic search traffic.

Top Tools for Keyword Research:

Tool	Starting Price	Key Features
Semrush	$99.95/month	Keyword Magic Tool, competitive analysis, keyword gap identification
Ahrefs	$99/month	Keyword suggestions, competitor analysis, SERP analysis
KWFinder	$49/month	Low-competition keywords, keyword difficulty scores, rank tracking
GrowthBar	$29/month	2 billion+ keyword database, “value of position one” metric, AI writing tools
Jaaxy Pro	$49/month	Keyword competition, search volume, related keyword suggestions

By leveraging the right tools and strategies, you can excel in keyword research and improve your website’s search engine rankings. So, dive into your keyword research and watch your website flourish. Happy searching!

Utilizing Competitor Analysis for Keyword Opportunities

Competitor analysis is key in SEO. It offers great insights into your rivals’ keyword strategies. It helps find chances for your website. Use tools like Semrush and Ahrefs to learn what keywords your competitors focus on and rank for⁹. These tools give lots of info, from organic ranks to paid ads.

To find new keywords, try a keyword gap analysis. Moz and Ahrefs are great for this. They let you see what keywords your site misses compared to your rivals⁹. Explore tabs like “Weak,” “Missing,” and “Untapped” to find fresh keywords. This helps you focus your content efforts, aiming at new search visitors.

Identifying Competitor Keywords

There are tools to spot your rivals’ keywords. WordStream is free and needs no account¹⁰. Google Keyword Planner lets you see competitors’ top keywords and offers reports. For more, try Ahrefs Site Explorer and Semrush. They offer deep competitor keyword analysis, including ranking data and filters¹⁰.

Uncovering Keyword Gaps

Keyword gap analysis is crucial for uncovering new opportunities in your SEO strategy. By examining search trends and keyword difficulty, you can identify valuable keywords that are both relevant to your business and commonly searched by your target audience. This approach ensures you reach the right people and maximize your visibility.

To further refine your keyword strategy, it’s essential to analyze your competitors’ paid ads. Tools like SpyFu and SE Ranking provide insights into your competitors’ keyword strategies, search volume, and more, helping you identify effective keywords and optimize your campaigns accordingly.

Top Keyword Research Tools

Tool	Features	Pricing
Ahrefs	Site Explorer, Keyword Explorer, Content Explorer, Rank Tracker	Starting at $99/month
Semrush	Keyword Magic Tool, Domain Overview, Keyword Gap, Organic Research	Starting at $119.95/month
Moz	Keyword Explorer, Link Explorer, Site Crawl, Rank Tracking	Starting at $99/month
SE Ranking	Keyword Research, Competitor Analysis, Rank Tracking, Website Audit	Starting at $55/month
Jaaxy	Keyword competition, search volume, related keyword suggestions	Starting at $49/month

These competitor analysis techniques and tools provide a significant SEO advantage. They help you identify excellent keyword opportunities and refine your SEO strategy by learning from your competitors’ successes and failures. Dive into your competitors’ keyword data to unlock the full potential of your website’s search performance and achieve greater SEO success.

Tips for Effective Keyword Research

In addition to using keyword research tools, here are some practical tips for effective keyword research:

Understand Search Intent: When selecting keywords, consider why people are searching for those terms. Understanding search intent helps you create content that addresses their needs and queries.
Utilize Long-tail Keywords: Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive, making them easier to rank for. They often represent the majority of search traffic and can drive highly targeted visitors to your site.
Monitor Trends: Keep an eye on search trends to stay ahead of emerging topics and interests. Tools like Google Trends can help you spot rising keywords and capitalize on timely opportunities.
Evaluate Keyword Difficulty: Assess the difficulty of ranking for specific keywords using tools like Ahrefs and Semrush. Focus on keywords with a good balance of search volume and competition to optimize your chances of ranking well.
Check Competitors: Regularly analyze your competitors’ keyword strategies. Identify the keywords they are ranking for and explore opportunities they might have missed. Tools like SpyFu and SE Ranking can provide valuable competitor insights.

By integrating these tips and leveraging the right tools, you can develop a robust keyword strategy that drives organic traffic and improves your website’s search engine rankings. Happy keyword hunting!

Keyword Metrics to Consider

When you look for keywords, it’s key to look at different numbers. These include how often the keyword is searched, how hard it is to rank for it, and its cost-per-click. Understanding these can make your SEO better. The right keywords should be very related to what you offer to get the best results¹².

Search Volume

Search volume shows how popular a keyword is in a month. It tells us how much traffic a keyword can bring to your site. Long-tail keywords bring more specific, interested users. Although simple terms like “keyword research” get searched a lot, they are tough to rank for¹².

For instance, “keyword research” might have 7,100 searches each month in the UK¹³. But, it is hard to compete for.

Keyword Difficulty

Keyword difficulty answers how hard it is to rank for a keyword. Tools like Moz and Ahrefs help with this. They rank difficulty from 0 to 100. They tell you if a keyword is easy or hard to target¹².

There are four categories: easy, medium, difficult, and very difficult¹³.

Cost-Per-Click (CPC)

CPC from Google Ads helps know a keyword’s commercial value. A high CPC means the keyword is important to advertisers. “SEO agency” at $6.00 CPC is harder to rank for than “SEO agency Manchester” at the same CPC. So, focusing on locations can attract more local searches¹².

Click-Through Rate (CTR)

CTR is how many people click on your search result. It measures how well you’re meeting their needs. Yoast’s SEO plugin and other tools help improve your CTR. They give tips on titles and descriptions. Google Search Console and Ahrefs also show CTR data to track your progress.

Using tools like Google Keyword Planner and SEMrush can boost your keyword strategy. But, remember the most crucial thing is that a keyword fits your audience and goals well¹².

Integrating Keyword Research with Content Strategy

To make your content strategy work well, it’s key to use info from keyword tools. These tools include Google Ads, Keyword Surfer, and Ahrefs’ Site Explorer. For example, keywords like “inbound marketing” and “SEO” are popular. They can help you make better content. You do this by looking for what people might search for, like “marketing automation tools.” Then, you create content that fits what they’re looking for³.

When you plan what to post and when, think about why people might search for certain words. Making detailed and top-notch posts that meet those needs is important. Understanding what people want when they search is a big part of choosing the right keywords³. Tools like SearchAtlas’s Keyword Researcher can help you pick keywords wisely. This can help your content do better and reach more people¹⁴. Using groups of related keywords can help you come up with solid themes for your content. These themes will make your messages clearer to people online¹⁴.

It’s smart to weave in keyword research with your planned posts. This way, what you share is both up-to-date and interesting to your readers¹⁴. It’s important to use keywords well in your writing but without forcing them in. Doing this makes your content better for both search engines and people to read¹⁴. Writing excellent content means you have to carefully choose your keywords and write well¹⁴.

Keep your website fresh and appealing by often checking and updating your content. This keeps you at the top of the search results. You should always be looking into new keywords and thinking of new ways to use them. Tools like Ahrefs, Kinsta, and AlsoAsked can show you places to improve, on your site and in your field¹⁴.

“Keyword research is the basis of great SEO writing. By knowing what your audience looks for and why, you can make content that not only shows up well in searches but also speaks to and convinces people.” – WordStream

Try to fit target keywords smoothly into your writing, in the title and throughout the text. But always focus on making your writing easy to read and enjoy. Getting your titles, meta descriptions, and URLs right is also key for being found online. Tools, like the Keyword Researcher, can guide you on this¹⁴.

Content Strategy Element	Keyword Research Integration
Topic Selection	Use keyword research to identify high-volume, relevant topics
Content Planning	Incorporate target keywords and search intent into content outlines
Content Creation	Naturally integrate keywords into headlines, subheadings, and body text
Content Optimization	Optimize meta tags, URLs, and images with relevant keywords
Content Maintenance	Regularly update content based on changes in keyword trends and search behavior

Bringing keyword research and content strategy together well helps your SEO writing do a lot. It brings more people to your site. It gets them interested in what you offer. And it makes your brand look like a top pick in your field.

Advanced Keyword Research Techniques

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing and SEO, using advanced keyword research is key. It helps you find great keywords, understand what users want, and bring more people to your site.

Leveraging Search Operators

Search operators like “intitle,” “inurl,” and “site” can show you where to find keyword chances. They help you look more closely at what competitors are doing. For instance, using “site:” and then adding a rival’s website can show their top pages and the keywords they use¹⁵. Tools such as SEMrush and Ahrefs are great for this. They list a site’s keywords, how hard they are, and how much traffic they get¹⁵.

Analyzing SERPs for Keyword Intent

Figuring out what a keyword means is very important. It helps you make content that really connects with people. Look at the search engine’s results to see what kind of content appears most. This offers a lot of ideas, like questions people are asking or similar topics, that can inspire your content¹⁵. Adding these ideas into your articles can help them show up better in searches and meet what people are looking for¹⁵.

Using PPC Data for Organic Keyword Targeting

PPC ads are full of clues for your organic keyword plan. By checking how keywords do in ads, you can find the ones that work well. Google Ads helps here by letting you sort through keywords based on how clear their intent is and how much competition they have¹⁵. For example, focusing on keywords like “vs” or “review” in the fitness area can be great for sites that sell products¹⁶.

Going deeper than just the popular keywords is also smart. You can check results past the usual first few pages to see who else is out there¹⁷. Tools such as SEO Competitor Checker help you find these hidden gems. You can also think about keywords that get no searches right now but might in the future¹⁷. Doing this gives you a leg up by finding keywords your rivals don’t know about yet¹⁶.

To sum up, using advanced keyword research techniques can enhance your content and link building plans. Mix these methods with the best tools to spot the right keywords, create focused content, and improve your website’s visibility and traffic.

Common Keyword Research Mistakes to Avoid

It’s important to know the 14 common mistakes in keyword research. These can stop you from SEO success¹⁸. One big mistake is relying too much on search volume metrics. This can make you go after keywords that are too hard to rank for¹⁹.

Focusing only on big, popular keywords is another issue. It’s easy to forget about longer, less searched phrases. But, these long-tail keywords can bring traffic that is more interested in what you’re offering¹⁹.

When you don’t think about what people want from a search, you’re in trouble. Matching your content to what users want is key. This means picking keywords that are more relevant than just really popular¹⁹.

A smart move is to use a mix of short and long keywords. This can make your keyword plan better. And it helps you stay away from the too tough ones¹⁹.

Seed keywords are super important. Not giving them their due can hurt your search¹⁸.

Skipping looking at what your competitors do is also not wise. It shows you what works and where you might do better¹⁸. Relying on just one tool for keyword research is a bad idea. It might not show you the full picture²⁰.

Here are some other mistakes to avoid:

Not targeting keywords that show someone wants to buy¹⁸
Using the same keyword in too many places, which confuses search engines¹⁸
Not choosing keywords that match where your audience is located²⁰
Just using one type of keyword when search engines are smarter now²⁰

To dodge these errors, look broadly at keyword research. Think about what users want and what others in your field are doing. Use tools that measure how hard a keyword is to rank for. And remember, different places might use different search terms. Tailor your content to what your research tells you to get more hits on your site¹⁸.

Staying Up-to-Date with Keyword Research Trends

The digital world is always changing. It’s important to keep up with new keyword research trends for good SEO. By updating your keyword strategy, you can keep your content interesting to your audience. So, let’s see what’s trending in keyword research now.

Voice Search Optimization

Many people now use voice assistants like Siri and Alexa. So, it’s vital to make your content right for voice search. Use long, conversational long-tail keywords. This way you speak directly to what users ask. Look into keyword suggestions and searches in your area. This helps you see how to get more voice search users²¹.

Local Keyword Targeting

Local keyword targeting is more key than ever, especially with mobile searches. Focus on keywords that highlight your location. This brings in nearby people looking for your services. Using tools like Google Keyword Planner and Ahrefs can show you these local keyword chances. They help you know how often these keywords are searched and how hard it is to rank for them²²²¹.

Adapting to Algorithm Updates

Google often changes its search rules to bring better results. To keep up, watch for these changes. Adjust your keyword plans as needed. You might start using more specific, intent-focused keywords. Or focus on making your site faster and more mobile-friendly. Stay updated on these algorithm changes. Do regular checks on your competitors. This will help you stay visible and strong in searches²².

Trend	Key Strategies	Tools
Voice Search Optimization	Target conversational, long-tail keywords; Create question-based content	Answer the Public, AlsoAsked
Local Keyword Targeting	Optimize for location-specific queries; Include local business information	Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush
Adapting to Algorithm Updates	Monitor updates; Focus on intent-driven keywords; Prioritize user experience	Google Analytics, Search Engine Journal, SEMrush Sensor

Keeping up with keyword research trends helps you stay strong online. Drive the right kind of visitors to your site. Use many keyword tools, like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush. They give you deep insight into keyword worlds. Make smart moves for your content improvements²¹.

Conclusion

Conducting thorough keyword research can greatly enhance your SEO strategy, giving you insights into the search behaviors of your target audience. This knowledge allows you to craft content that not only meets their needs but also surpasses your competitors’ offerings. Essential tools for this process include Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs. Key factors to consider are search volume, keyword difficulty, user intent (whether they are seeking information, navigating, or making a purchase), and competitor analysis.

Keywords are categorized into three types: head terms, body keywords, and long-tail keywords. Utilizing all three can optimize your website’s performance in various ways. Long-tail keywords, in particular, can attract highly specific traffic that is more likely to convert. Understanding and effectively using these keywords is vital, especially for beginners.

To boost your search rankings, aim for keywords with high search volumes and low competition. This strategy can help you attract more visitors more easily. However, choosing the right keywords requires more than theoretical knowledge; it involves practical testing with actual searches to ensure their effectiveness. Keeping abreast of new search trends and incorporating local keywords can help you stay competitive.

Once you’ve identified the best keywords, integrate them into your content and monitor your rankings. The primary goal is to create engaging and useful content that not only satisfies search queries but also retains visitors on your site. A well-planned and executed keyword strategy can significantly enhance your site’s search performance.

For those on a budget or just starting out, Jaaxy is a highly recommended keyword research tool. It also caters to advanced marketers who prefer to manage costs effectively. Jaaxy provides comprehensive features that allow you to find the most effective keywords without overspending. Incorporating Jaaxy into your keyword research efforts can be a strategic advantage for both novice and experienced marketers aiming to optimize their SEO results efficiently.

What Is The Best Free Keyword Research Tool? Click Here

FAQ

What are the best keyword research tools for 2023?

The top picks for 2023 are Moz Keyword Explorer, Google Keyword Planner, and Semrush. Also, don’t forget the Free Keyword Research Tool. Each brings something special to the table, making your keyword finding journey easier.

How does keyword research help with understanding search intent?

When you look at what people are searching for, you get into their heads. You get why they search and what they want. Then, you can tailor your content to fit those needs exactly.

What are some top free keyword research tools?

Need something free? Try Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends. Answer the Public and Keyword Surfer are also great. They give you lots of info, like what people ask and what’s trending, for your SEO work.

Why should I consider investing in paid keyword research tools?

Paid tools, like Semrush and Ahrefs, go the extra mile. They reveal what your rivals are up to. They show you where the good keywords are and what’s not too hard to get. This info helps you stand out in the online crowd.

How can I find long-tail keywords for my content?

For long-tail keywords, try Semrush’s Phrase Match or Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer. See what’s up on the SERPs. Use Google’s “People Also Ask” to spot opportunities that people are really looking for.

What are the benefits of conducting competitor keyword analysis?

Checking what your competitors use can be eye-opening. It’s a map to where you can grow. You find keywords they have but you don’t. Then, aim to grab those to boost your search results.

What keyword metrics should I consider when evaluating keywords?

Look at search volume, keyword difficulty, and CPC. Also, check CTR to see how many actually click. These numbers guide you to pick the best keywords for your strategy.

How can I integrate keyword research with my content strategy?

Use keyword research to plan what you write and when. Keep your finger on the search pulse. Update and adapt your content to stay on top of current search trends.

What are some advanced keyword research techniques?

To level up, use special search tricks and study the SERPs closely. Also, learn from PPC to sharpen your SEO aim. These steps make you an expert navigator of the keyword world.

What are some common keyword research mistakes to avoid?

Avoid key pitfalls, like only chasing big keywords or ignoring why people search. Don’t skip checking your rivals or relying too much on one source. Balance is key. Focus on what the searchers and your competitors are doing.

How can I stay up-to-date with keyword research trends?

To keep up, think about voice search, local needs, and be alert to search engine changes. Stay in tune with how people search and what’s new in the search world. This way, your keywords will always be on the mark.