Rising Creators Forum

I keep hearing about keyword research but I don't really understand how to do it effectively. I've tried using free tools but i'm not sure what keywords i should target

Can someone explain keyword research in simple terms? what process do you follow?

Keyword research is easier than people make it sound. Here's my exact process:

step 1: brainstorm seed keywords

• what topics does your blog cover?
• what questions do people in your niche ask?
• write down 10-20 broad topics

step 2: expand with keyword tools
free tools:

• google autocomplete (start typing in google, see what it suggests)
• google "people also ask" section
• answerthepublic.com
• ubersuggest (free tier)

step 3: evaluate keywords
look for keywords with:

• search volume: 100-5,000 searches per month (sweet spot for new blogs)
• low competition: check if top results are from authority sites or smaller blogs
• clear intent: you understand what the searcher wants

step 4: check competition

1. google the keyword
2. look at top 10 results
3. can you write something better than what's ranking?
4. if all results are from huge sites (forbes, nytimes, etc) - skip it

example:

• bad keyword: "weight loss" (way too competitive)
• good keyword: "how to lose weight after 40 without exercise" (specific, answerable, less competitive)

target long-tail keywords (3-5 words) when starting out. they're easier to rank for

Free keyword research tools are limiting you. Invest in proper tools if you're serious

I used free tools for 6 months and struggled. got ahrefs ($99/month) and my traffic tripled in 4 months

what paid tools show you that free tools don't:

• keyword difficulty score - instantly see if you can rank
• accurate search volume - free tools give rough estimates
• parent topic analysis - see what the top page actually ranks for
• content gap analysis - find keywords competitors rank for that you don't

tool recommendations:

• ahrefs ($99/month) - best overall, what i use
• semrush ($120/month) - great for competitive analysis
• keysearch ($17/month) - budget option that's still good

"but i can't afford $99/month" - then you're not serious about blogging as a business. this is your research tool, it pays for itself

my process with ahrefs:

1. enter seed keyword
2. filter for keyword difficulty under 20
3. filter for search volume 500-5000
4. export list of 50-100 potential keywords
5. analyze top 10 for each
6. choose winners

takes me 30 minutes to find 10 great keyword opportunities. used to take me hours with free tools and the keywords weren't as good