Keywords are essential to any SEO strategy — it’s not anything new. There is a lot more that applies to keyword research. And the important question is, are you using the keyword research tools?
Let’s first quickly understand what keywords are.
Essentially, keywords are what people type into a search engine. For example, you are searching for the best wine in Barossa. You can either look for:
- • Best Wineries in Barossa Valley • Best Wine in Barossa • Best Wine Stores Barossa
And so on…
Don’t let ‘Keyword’ misguide you and think it is just a single word. It is actually not. The longer keywords help you get better answers.
Now, if you are winery owner in Barossa and want your website to be at the top of the search engine results page (SERP), then you would want these keywords to be a part of your strategy.
According to Sistrix reports, the first organic result in Google search has an average click-through rate (CTR) of almost 30%. The second time CTR is just 15.7%, and the third one only has 11%. And when you actually get to the 10th, merely 2.5% of people click through.
Even though you will need extensive data for keyword research tools, they are a boon in:
- • Creating better SEO strategies • PR campaigns • Content ideation — video, text, social, etc. • Audience research • Paid advertising • Local search campaigns • Competitive research • Keywords and phrases to ignore • Brainstorming sessions
Let’s take a look at the top keyword research tools:
1. Google AdWords & Google Keyword Planner
You probably think that Google AdWords is for advertising? Yes, you are not wrong there. But there are a few hidden features this tool offers you.
As a result, you will revenue-generating keywords in a matter of seconds. You should start with the Google Keyword Planner, which gives you volume and competition feedback for different keywords.
But the hiccup here is that the data is pretty unreliable. However, it gives great results for competitive analysis. You can check a URL to see what keywords they’re targeting. When used with AdWords, you can:
- • Get recommended keywords • Organise them into Ad Groups • Identify the “money” keywords • Get new keywords that were not on the radar before
2. Moz Keyword Explorer
Using this tool, you need to input a keyword in Keyword Explorer. This will give you access to monthly search volume and SERP features. It will also give you accurate search volume data via live clickstream data.
#TIP: This keyword research tool has a feature called Keyword Explorer’s “Difficulty” score. With this score, you can narrow down your keyword options to the phrases with which you have the best chance. If a particular has a higher keyword score, it means it is difficult for the website to rank for that term.
3. Soovle
This tool helps in scraping suggested keywords from multiple sources. Additionally, it also gives you suggested keyword ideas from:
- • Google • YouTube • Bing • Yahoo • Amazon
It’s a great way to access untapped keywords that your competition doesn’t know about.
4. Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a keyword research tool, which has multiple features. Usually, we go straight for the traffic data or conversions. Instead, let us focus on Google Search Console (which was formerly called the Webmaster Tools) integration.
Click on “Acquisition.” Under this, you will get “Search Console” and eventually “Queries”.
It’s an everyday keyword research tool to help you find new content on specific topics.
Use this with Google Analytics to find out what exactly are people looking for. Here’s what you should do:
- • Enable “Behavior.” • Look for “Site Search” drop-down. • Click on “Search Terms” under that • View list of common words • Get data on the same.
Finally, use this for maximising your keywords.
5. Jaaxy
With this keyword research tool, you can get thousands of related keyword ideas within seconds. A simple yet powerful tool Jaaxy helps you get:
- • LOTS of different keyword ideas • Helpful data on every keyword generated • The data includes competition, search volume and potential traffic
You also get QSR stands for “Quoted Search Result”. It basically gives you a gist of other websites that are trying to rank for this exact term. The lower this number, the higher your chances of ranking #1.
6. Ahrefs Keywords Explorer
Want smarter keyword decisions? With the new and improved “Keywords Explorer” from Ahrefs, it is possible. The keyword research tool helps you get:
- • In-depth information for every keyword • Breakdown of first-page competition • Number of searched • Clicked on the results
While other similar keyword research tools give you vague answers like easy or difficult, this one tells you precisely the number of backlinks required for ranking on the first page of Google.
7. Google Trends
A great free Google product is Google Trends. While other keyword research tools use historical data — it also means that information can be stale. Few months or a few years old!
As a result, ranking on the top is tough. And it’s here that Google Trends comes into the picture. This tool helps you:
- • Identify recently-trending topics • Be the first to catch the wave • Get your timing right
For example, a few years back influencer marketing was unheard of. But now it’s everting!
Another example is the Emmy Awards. It happens once a year — so you can time your keywords around the weeks leading to the event. You can time your new content, ads, or campaigns.
8. SEMrush
This is another keyword research tool that is known for its advertising data. But as mentioned with other tools, this is rather handy for keyword searches.
The idea is that you get profitable keywords rather than popular ones. With SEMrush can:
- • Breakdown profitable keywords in competitive niches • Get overlapping data, like volume or competition • Access a massive database of 800+ million terms • Get “Organic Keywords” data • Along with the top 5 keywords, you get a full report • View competitor keywords alongside • “Phrase match report” for long-tail keywords
#Bonus tip: SEMrush gives you the keywords a competitor is paying for. It will also show you ads the competitors are using for each of those keywords. This impacts your search engine result page (SERP) CTR.
Let’s explain this a little further. You use keyword research tools or conduct research to get more site visitors rather than focus on ranking, right?
When you rewrite title tags to mimic competitor ads, it means more visitors and more clicks.
Even though you are a few spots lower, you still get more visitors!
9. SECockpit
SECockpit is the Swiss Army Knife of keyword research tools. It will give you a seed keyword from which a list of results is generated.
Alongside it has:
- • Plenty of built-in features to access in-depth search trends • Get data on organic competition and traffic estimates • Tool largely designed for SEO professionals
SECockpit is ideal for individuals or companies that sleep, eat and breathe SEO. Though this tool can be overwhelming for newbies — it sure gives you your money’s worth.
Logging into the website, one goes to the Dashboard. It is possible to create projects around sets of keywords here. Alternatively, you can do a single keyword search.
There about 100 filters to find the keywords of your choice. You can also filter them on the basis of search ranking or numerical.
10. KeywordTool.io
Plentiful of targeted keyword ideas are available with their keyword research tool. What makes this tool unique is…
- • You get A LOT of keyword suggestions • And also analyse competitors
Most other keyword research tools lack this feature. Here, you just have to enter your competitor’s site. The tool then generates a list of keyword ideas as per the site’s content.
11. Keywords Everywhere
If you want to get the best search volume, then Keywords Everywhere is the go-to keyword research tool. This paid tool that displays keyword data on top of 10 websites like:
- • eBay • Amazon • Answer The Public
There is no need for copy-pasting keywords into the Google Keyword Planner. You get all the required data in the Chrome browser.
You also get a list of keywords related to to the search in the Google search results. One can access keywords for target customer searches even when they are not searching for what you sell.
Even if you are searching for say “SEO Tools”, you will get results like “Google Keyword Planner SEO” or even” Free SEO analysis”.
12. Serpstat
With this keyword research tool, you can analyse the first-page competition.This SEO software suite has tools for:
- • Link building • Content • And more
It doesn’t specialise in keyword research but lets you visualise sites that are competing for a given keyword.
Now you know what keyword research tools provide information about and the kind of metrics they use. It’s best to find one or more that helps in your nature of business. For example, a professional service firm oriented keyword would be different from that of an e-commerce company.
EWhile some tools are paid, some are free. But it’s important to do your research so you can generate higher revenues.
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