11 Best Keyword Research Tools for SEO
Everyone has their own method to their madness of keyword research. Whether you’re just getting your feet wet in SEO or you’re looking for new tools to try, below we’ve rounded up the top keyword research tools for SEO in 2021:
#1: Google Keyword Planner
Cost: Free
Overview: Keyword Planner is a great tool to discover new keywords while also giving reliable search volume straight from the source- Google. To use you can go to the “keyword Ideas” section, put in a seed keyword and then see all related keyword ideas and their search volume. You can even get as specific as the location, language, and timeframe if needed. A newer feature that’s currently in BETA is the ability to refine keywords based on brand/non-brand, keyword themes and other filters depending on your seed term.
#2: Keywords Everywhere
Cost: $10+ (pricing plans are available)
Overview: Keywords Everywhere is a browser add-on tool to help provide related keywords, People Also Ask questions, long-tail keywords, and search volume on your search. This tool may not be free, but it’s pretty inexpensive and comes in handy.
#3: Ahrefs
Cost: $99+ (pricing plans are available)
Overview: Ahrefs has endless useful SEO tools within it’s suite from keyword rankings and traffic to referring domains and backlinks. When it comes to keyword research, one unique feature is that Keywords Explorer allows you to research based on a variety of platforms (ie Google, Youtube, Amazon, Bing) to receive relevant keyword ideas, search volume, and more.
#4: AlsoAsked.com
Cost: Free
Overview: Also Asked is a very simple tool to see what questions people are searching for related to a seed term. The tool allows you to adjust based on language and region. Whether trying to identify pain points or better understand audiences’ needs, this is a great tool to start with.
#5: People Also Ask SERP Features
Cost: Free
Overview: Sometimes the best keyword research lies within Google’s actual search results, which bring us to People Also Ask. This SERP Feature typically appears in search results and shows the most commonly asked questions related to the searched term. Studying these can give you instant knowledge of the questions people have and how to easily gain visibility. The best part? People Also Ask are typically endless and continue to generate more PAA’s as you open and close the dropdowns.
#6: SEMRush
Cost: $99+ (pricing plans are available)
Overview: Semrush is possibly one of my personal favs for SEO tools since there are so many features and uses with the tool- domain research, competitor traffic estimations, keyword gap research, keyword research, rank tracking and more. For keyword research specifically, their “Keyword Magic Tool” is excellent for getting keyword ideas and having the option to slice terms by broad or exact match, search volume, SERP Feature, CPC and category grouping.
#7: Google Suggest
Cost: Free
Overview: One of the easiest (and often forgotten about) keyword research tools is Google Suggest. As the name implies, simply start typing a search term into Google and see the most commonly searched phrases related to that seed term!
#8: Paid Search Data
Cost: Free
Overview: Something we’ve leaned into in recent years is using a site’s very own SEO + PPC data to help inform SEO strategy and know what content will lead to conversions. What better way to know what works for YOU?! Doing so will allow you to see which terms already convert for your brand so you can optimize your content with keywords that will drive conversions.
Even a term that has 0 MSV can be a high-converting term for your brand. Contact us if you're interested in learning more about how we can help you integrate your data and enable quicker, smarter decisions that maximize your search marketing ROI.
#9: Google Search Console
Cost: Free
Overview: Google Search Console is an excellent free tool to leverage for keyword research and optimization. GSC allows you to to see the exact terms that have driven clicks and impressions to your pages, where you currently rank, and how those trends have changed up to 16 months.
Use Search Console to see what terms have successfully driven traffic to your page as well as what terms are within striking distance (ie ranking ~5-20) that you can easily optimize for.
#10: Google Trends
Cost: Free
Overview: Google Trends allows you to do exactly as the name implies- see how search terms or topics have trended over time from 2004 up to a few hours ago. You can refine data by country, region, industry, search type, and even compare searches. You can get information on related topics and related queries that really help with keyword ideation.
#11: Answer The Public
Cost: Free
Overview: When you need to discover what people are asking, Answer The Public is just the tool for you. Input a seed keyword and this tool spits out as many questions as possible that people are searching for related to the query. The tool’s visualizations allow you to easily digest, export and group questions for research.
What are Your Favorite Keyword Research Tools for SEO?
Do you have other tools or strategies you use often for keyword research? Share them with us in the comments section! We’re always looking for innovative ways to improve research.
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