In today’s digital world, where every search leads to a solution, one question drives growth: How do people find content online? The answer lies in keywords. Keywords guide users to what they want. If you’re writing a blog, running a business, or selling products online, you need to be found. And to be found, you need keywords.
But not just any keywords.
You need to choose the right keywords. Ones that match what people type into Google. Ones that help your site show up. That’s where keyword research steps in. It’s one of the most important parts of search engine optimization (SEO).
This article explains how to do keyword research in a way that’s easy, clear, and helpful. We’ll talk about what keyword research is, why it matters, how to do it step by step, and the best tools to use—many of which are free. Whether you’re just starting or already know SEO basics, this guide will help you get better at keyword research.
Let’s begin.
What Is Keyword Research?
Keyword research means finding the words and phrases people type into search engines. These are the terms your audience uses when they want answers, products, or services.
Let’s say you sell fitness shoes. Someone may search for “best running shoes under 3000” or “lightweight gym shoes.” If you write blog posts or product pages using these words, you’ll help people find your site. That’s the power of keyword research.
So, what is keyword research in SEO? It’s the process of figuring out which words to target so your content shows up in search engines like Google. It tells you what people care about. And when you use those keywords the right way, Google sees your content as useful.
Why Is Keyword Research Important?
Keyword research is the first step in every SEO strategy. Without it, you may target the wrong words or miss valuable search traffic.
Here’s why it matters:
- It helps your content rank: The right keywords increase your chance of showing up on page one.
- It brings the right people to your site: Good keywords attract visitors who are already looking for what you offer.
- It improves ROI: You get more out of your time, content, and ad money when you use targeted keywords.
- It reveals content ideas: Keywords tell you what people are searching for, which helps you create useful content.
Still wondering where do we use keywords? You use them in titles, meta descriptions, headings, product pages, blog posts, URLs, and even alt tags for images.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Do Keyword Research
Now, let’s go deeper. Below is a clear, step-by-step guide to help you do keyword research properly.
Step 1: Understand Your Niche and Goals
Start with clarity. Ask yourself:
- Who is your audience?
- What do they want?
- What problems are you solving?
- What words would they use?
Knowing your audience helps you guess the right keywords. For example, if you offer an SEO course, your audience may search for “learn SEO basics” or “best SEO course for beginners.”
At this point, brainstorm a few seed keywords—general terms that match your niche. These are your starting points.
Step 2: Use Keyword Research Tools (Free & Paid)
Once you have your seed keywords, use keyword tools to expand them. These tools show you keyword suggestions, search volume, and competition.
Here are some keyword research tools free to start with:
| Tool Name | Features | Free Plan Available? |
| Google Keyword Planner | Volume, trends, and CPC data | Yes |
| Ubersuggest | Keyword ideas, SEO difficulty, content analysis | Yes (limited) |
| AnswerThePublic | Question-based keyword suggestions | Yes (limited) |
| Keyword Tool.io | Auto-suggest keywords from Google, YouTube, etc. | Yes |
| WordStream Keyword Tool | Competitive keywords with search volume | Yes |
The keyword research tool Google offers—Google Keyword Planner—is especially useful for checking how often a keyword is searched and how competitive it is. It’s free and made for Google Ads, but works well for SEO, too.
Want more options? Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz provide deeper data but require paid plans.
Step 3: Analyze Keyword Metrics
Not all keywords are equal. Look at these key factors:
- Search Volume: How many people search for this keyword monthly?
- Keyword Difficulty: How hard is it to rank for this keyword?
- CPC (Cost Per Click): If you plan ads, this tells you the cost per click.
- Search Intent: What is the user trying to do—learn, buy, compare?
For example:
| Keyword | Volume | Difficulty | Intent |
| digital marketing course online | 9,000 | Medium | Learn |
| best keyword research tools | 3,000 | Low | Compare |
| seo course near me | 2,200 | Medium | Buy |
Focus on long-tail keywords—these are longer phrases with lower competition. They are more specific, and they convert better.
Step 4: Group and Organize Keywords
Once you’ve found many keywords, group them. For example:
- Informational keywords: “what is keyword research”
- Navigational keywords: “Ubersuggest login”
- Transactional keywords: “buy seo course online”
- Local keywords: “digital marketing course in Delhi”
Organize keywords by theme or intent. This helps you plan your content better. One group can lead to a blog post. Another can help you create a product page.
This is how keyword research for SEO becomes actionable.
Step 5: Check Out the Competition
Now, type your keywords into Google. Look at the top 10 results.
Ask:
- What kind of content ranks?
- Are they using exact keywords?
- Are they writing long guides or short posts?
- Can you write something better?
Also, use tools like MozBar or Ubersuggest to check domain authority and backlinks of top pages. This helps you judge if you can rank.
Step 6: Prioritize Keywords
You can’t use all keywords. Choose the ones that fit your goals.
Pick keywords that:
- Have good volume
- Are not too competitive
- Match what your audience wants
- Have strong intent (informational or transactional)
This step helps you avoid wasting time on poor keywords.
Step 7: Use Keywords in the Right Places
Now that you have your final list, you need to use them the right way.
Here’s where to place your keywords:
| Location | Why It Matters |
| Page Title | Google uses it to understand the topic |
| Meta Description | Helps increase click-through rate |
| Headings (H1, H2, H3) | Adds structure and improves relevance |
| URL | Makes it readable and SEO-friendly |
| First 100 words | Signals relevance to Google early |
| Image Alt Text | Helps in image SEO |
Don’t overuse. Place keywords naturally. If it sounds forced, revise it. A good practice is to use your main keyword 2–3 times per page and mix in related terms.
Tools for Keyword Research (Recap)
Here’s a quick summary of tools for keyword research you can explore:
- Google Keyword Planner – Best for volume and ad data
- Ubersuggest – Great for beginners
- AnswerThePublic – Best for content ideas
- Keyword Tool.io – Good for YouTube and Google
- WordStream – Simple and quick suggestions
Use more than one tool. Compare results. Each one offers something different.
Keyword Research Tips for Better SEO
To make your keyword research stronger, follow these tips:
- Focus on intent: Ask what the user wants to know or do.
- Go beyond volume: Choose quality over numbers.
- Use keywords in clusters: Don’t rely on one phrase—use variations.
- Watch trends: Use Google Trends to spot seasonal keywords.
- Update regularly: Keyword demand changes, so update your strategy.
Where Do We Use Keywords in a Strategy?
Earlier we asked where do we use keywords. Let’s answer in full.
You use them in:
- Website pages
- Blog posts
- YouTube descriptions
- Social media bios
- Email subject lines
- Product descriptions
- Ad campaigns
That’s why keywords are not just for blogs—they power your whole online strategy.
Learn with Sudhakar
Want to get better at SEO and keyword research with practical training? You should explore Learn with Sudhakar. It’s one of the best places for learning digital marketing course online, including how to do keyword research
Their expert-led training covers:
- How search engines work
- How to use keyword research tools free
- Real SEO examples
- Practical exercises
- Full SEO course coverage
Whether you’re a beginner or growing your business, their training helps you build skills the right way.
Final Thoughts
Keyword research is the backbone of SEO. If you learn it well you can drive traffic, gain leads, and grow your online presence. It starts with understanding your audience. Then you use the right tools. You pick the right words. And you place them where it matters
Doing it right means better rankings, more visitors, and stronger results.
And remember: keyword research isn’t a one-time task. It’s something you do again and again.
When in doubt, come back to this guide. Bookmark it. Share it. Practice with real tools. And don’t forget to check out Learn with Sudhakar to take your skills even further.