Keyword Research for Beginners: Find Topics People Actually Search
Keyword research is simply finding out what your readers type into Google, so you can write the page that answers it. Do it before you write, and every post has a real chance of being found. Skip it, and you’re guessing.
Three ideas to understand first
- Search intent: what the searcher actually wants. “Best standing desk” means they want to compare and buy; “how to sit properly at a desk” means they want instructions. Match the format to the intent.
- Long-tail keywords: longer, specific phrases like “standing desk converter for small desk”. Each gets fewer searches, but they’re much easier for new sites to rank for, and readers are often closer to buying.
- Competition: if page one is full of huge brands with very in-depth pages, pick a more specific angle.
A simple 6-step process (free tools only)
1. Start with a seed topic
Write down 5–10 broad topics your audience cares about, like “home office”, “side hustle” or “AI video”.
2. Mine Google itself
- Autocomplete: type your seed into Google and note the suggestions
- “People also ask”: great for H2 headings and FAQ sections
- Related searches at the bottom of the results page
3. Check interest over time
Google Trends shows whether a topic is growing, seasonal or fading. It’s handy for timing posts (for example, home office content often picks up in January).
4. Get rough search volumes
Google’s Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account, no ad spend needed) gives volume ranges. Treat them as rough guides, not exact numbers.
5. Size up the competition
Search the keyword and study the top 5 results. Ask:
- Are there forums (Reddit, Quora) or small blogs ranking? That’s a good sign for you.
- Can you make something clearly more helpful, more specific or more up to date?
6. Map one main keyword per post
Give each article one main keyword plus a few close variations. Two posts targeting the same keyword compete with each other.
Once your site is live: Google Search Console is the best free keyword tool you have. The Performance report shows the actual searches your pages appear for. Update posts to better answer queries where you’re on page 2.
Turn keywords into a content plan
| Keyword type | Example | Post format |
|---|---|---|
| “How to…” | how to become a virtual assistant | Step-by-step guide |
| “Best…” | best AI tools for bloggers | Comparison/roundup |
| “[Product] review” | AI Media Machine review | Honest review |
| “X vs Y” | ClickBank vs Digistore24 | Comparison |
“Best”, “review” and “vs” keywords tend to bring readers who are ready to buy, which makes them your best affiliate opportunities.
Next: How to write a blog post that ranks: a 10-step checklist. New to blogging? Start with how to choose web hosting.
Also read: How to get blog traffic from Pinterest: a beginner’s guide.
Also read: AI Invisible review: can a GEO guide get ChatGPT to recommend you?.
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