Keyword research is finding the exact words people type into Google when they want what your post offers, and checking that you can realistically rank for them. Do it before you write and the post has a target, a structure, and a reason to exist; skip it and even a great post can sit at position 40 forever. This guide walks through the 5 steps I use for every post on this blog, with free and paid tools, updated October 2026 for how Google now treats search intent and AI Overviews.
Step 1: Confirm People Actually Search for It
Start with the idea in plain words and type it into Google slowly. If autocomplete finishes the phrase, people search for it. Scroll to the bottom for the Related searches block and look for the People also ask box; both are Google telling you the exact phrasing and the questions behind the topic. For example, typing “adsense a” suggests “adsense alternatives”, which told me years ago that post was worth writing.
If nothing suggests, the phrase may be too new or too narrow; try different wording, or go to step 3 and see what competitors rank for.
Step 2: Check Search Volume and Difficulty
Two numbers decide whether a keyword is worth targeting: how many people search it per month (volume) and how hard the current top results are to beat (difficulty). Any keyword tool shows both; I use Semrush. Enter the keyword in Keyword Overview:
Volume of a few hundred a month is plenty for a new blog; the long tail adds up. For difficulty, Semrush’s KD score runs 0 to 100. Under 30 is realistic for a new site, 30 to 50 for an established one, above 60 needs real authority. Then click through to the SERP and look at who ranks: if the top ten are all major brands, the number understates the difficulty; if small blogs and forum threads rank, it overstates it.
Also note the intent label (informational, commercial, transactional, navigational) and whether the SERP shows an AI Overview, videos, or shopping results. A how-to keyword with an AI Overview and three videos on top will send fewer clicks than its volume suggests.
Free alternatives: Google Keyword Planner (volume ranges, no difficulty), Ahrefs’ free Keyword Generator, and Ubersuggest’s limited free searches.
Step 3: See What Competitors Rank For
Your first guess at the keyword is rarely the best one. The pages already ranking tell you the phrasing that works. In Semrush’s Keyword Overview, scroll to the SERP analysis, click a top result, and open its organic keywords to see every term that page ranks for. Repeat for two or three results and a pattern appears: the main keyword, its variations, and the related questions that one page can cover.
If a keyword has no data, paste a competing URL into Semrush (or Ahrefs Site Explorer) directly; the page’s keyword list often reveals the real search demand under a different wording.
Step 4: Pick a Focus Keyword, Then Long-Tail and Related Terms
Choose one focus keyword for the post, the phrase with the best balance of volume, difficulty, and intent. For a new blog that is often a long-tail version rather than the head term:
- Head term: AdSense alternatives (high volume, hard)
- Long tail: best AdSense alternatives for small blogs, AdSense alternatives that pay more, Google AdSense alternatives for bloggers (lower volume, easier, more specific intent)
One post can target the head term and several long-tail versions at once; combine them into a title such as “Best High Paying AdSense Alternatives for Bloggers”. Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool lists long-tail variations with volume and difficulty; filter by questions to find subheadings.
Then collect related terms: the words Google expects to see in a thorough page on the topic (once called LSI keywords; Google does not use LSI, but the idea of covering related concepts still matters). The fastest sources are the bolded words in the top results, the Related searches block, and People also ask questions. Use them naturally as subheadings and in the body; do not stuff them.
Step 5: Find Questions and Angles People Ask Elsewhere
Search tools only see Google. The questions people ask in communities reveal angles and long-tail phrasing that tools miss, and they are often the exact questions AI assistants now answer.
Reddit and Quora
Search the topic on Reddit (Google “adsense alternatives site:reddit.com”) and Quora. The recurring questions and complaints become your subheadings and FAQ. Reddit threads now rank on Google themselves, which is a signal that the question has demand.
Amazon and Udemy
For product and skill topics, Amazon’s search suggestions and the chapter lists inside book previews show how buyers phrase things, and the section titles of popular Udemy courses give you a ready-made outline of what a complete guide should cover.
AnswerThePublic and AlsoAsked
AnswerThePublic maps the questions, prepositions, and comparisons searched around a keyword; AlsoAsked does the same from People also ask data. Both have free limits that are enough for one post a day.
Putting It Together
By the end you should have: one focus keyword, three to five long-tail variations, a list of related terms and questions, and a clear picture of the intent and the pages you have to beat. Put the focus keyword in the title, URL, first paragraph, and one subheading; use the variations and questions as H2s and FAQ entries; and follow the rest of the on-page SEO checklist. After publishing, track the keyword with a rank checker, build a few links (see backlink tools), and tune the title for clicks with our CTR guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many keywords should one blog post target?
One focus keyword plus its close variations and the related questions. A single well-written page on a topic usually ranks for hundreds of related terms without targeting each one separately.
What is a good keyword difficulty for a new blog?
Under 30 on the Semrush or Ahrefs scale, and always confirm by looking at who ranks. Forums, small blogs, and thin pages in the top ten mean a chance regardless of the score.
Do LSI keywords still matter?
Google has said it does not use LSI, but covering the related concepts and questions a searcher expects still matters for ranking and for being cited in AI answers. Think topic coverage, not a list of synonyms to insert.
Can I do keyword research for free?
Yes: Google autocomplete, People also ask, Related searches, Keyword Planner, Search Console, Reddit, and the free tiers of Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, and AnswerThePublic. Paid tools mainly add accurate volume, difficulty scores, and competitor keyword lists.
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