Keywords are to SEO what seeds are to a garden. But, the only issue you would face is to find the right seeds for your garden as per your requirements.
However, with the help of keyword research tools, you will be able to find the right type of keywords.
In this blog post, you’ll learn about the top eleven keyword research tools. So, let’s begin!
What Makes a Keyword Research Tool the Best?
Some of the factors that make a keyword research tool one of the best ones that you can utilize are as follows:-
- The cornerstone of any good keyword research tool is to have dependable data for the keywords.
- Knowing about the search volume will help in identifying the best keywords that you can utilize.
- A great keyword research tool will help you in doing an impeccable competitor analysis.
- The more seamless the integration with other SEO tools, the more streamlined your workflow will be.
- Pricing is a huge factor which must be considered before zeroing in on the keyword research tool of your choice.
Top 10 Best Keyword Research Tools
1. SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool
The keyword magic tool provided by SEMrush will ensure that you can generate a great amount of traffic from different search engines. This tool will give you access to a big pool of the right keywords so as to up your SEO game. Its data is quite accurate. Moreover, it can be integrated with competitor analysis. It’s an ideal tool for the most seasoned SEO professionals.
Features:-
- You can research keywords by segmenting them under broad matches, phrase matches, exact matches, etc.
- You can even get the exact volume of the searches per month.
- The best part is that you’ll get to know about the KD%.
2. Ahrefs Keywords Explorer
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer tool will add to your SEO strength in terms of doing keyword research. With its help, you can carry out SERP’s analysis and even get insights regarding the ranking difficulty. It can prove to be a great choice for senior SEO professionals. The amount of in-depth information that you can get regarding keywords on this tool is unparalleled.
Features:-
- Generate keywords with the help of AI.
- Have a thorough keyword analysis.
- Target the right type of keywords.
3. Google Keyword Planner
With this tool, you’ll get a free access to Google search data. However, you need to understand that it has limited accuracy for organic SEO but it’s a great option for PPC. This tool shines in finding out the most appropriate keywords which doesn’t have the seed keywords. However, the Keyword Planner doesn’t provide exact volumes. You will only find the search volume ranges in this tool.
Features:-
- You can find the suggested keywords in this tool, along with the related terms.
- Getting the search volumes and cost estimates is an undistinguished feature of this tool.
- You can carry out keyword analysis and even have keyword forecasts with the help of this tool.
4. Ubersuggest
If there was a list of budget-friendly options in SEO tools, Ubersuggest would definitely find the top spot. By utilizing this tool, you can find several content ideas and carry out keyword difficulty analysis.
Features:-
- By using Ubersuggest, you can get to know about the domain overview.
- You can get several keyword suggestions for your project by opting for this tool.
- Generating several content ideas will become easier with the help of this tool.
5. Moz Keyword Explorer
With the help of Keyword Explorer, you can find out about the keyword difficulty and even carry out the SERP analysis. However, it has a very limited database compared to Ahrefs or SEMrush.
Features:-
- This tool will help you in finding out the keywords along with their difficulty.
- The opportunity analysis, along with the keyword analysis, can be carried out with ease by utilizing this tool.
- Find out the search volume and even track the keywords with the help of this tool.
6. KWFinder
The best thing about the KWFinder tool is that it has a user-friendly interface. It will prove to be an excellent option for long-tail keyword research. The most wonderful thing about this tool is that it’s quite easy to use and even intuitive as well. It even tells how difficult it’ll be to rank for a particular keyword. The KWFinder shows the keyword difficulty score next to the keywords.
Features:-
- This tool provides a score which will help you assess the difficulty of ranking for a particular keyword.
- You can even look at the monthly search volume data, which will be your aid in choosing appropriate keywords with high-volume.
- By using this tool, you can find out about the trends of the industry, along with getting the keyword suggestions and analysis of the SERP as well.
7. AnswerThePublic
Do you want to get unique question-based keyword insights? If yes, AnswerThePublic can prove to be your website’s content saviour. It’s a great option for content ideation. With the help of this tool, you can get autocomplete suggestions from different search engines so as to find questions that individuals are searching for. You can utilize these keywords and even incorporate them in your content so as to rank your content on the top positions of search engine results.
Features:-
- You will get the option of search listening regarding the topics that people are searching on Google.
- It can help you discover several content ideas by knowing about the search intent along with the search queries.
- The data you will find in this tool is present in a visual format.
8. Serpstat
If there’s an all-in-one SEO tool which is a lot better alternative to Ahrefs at a far lower cost; it has to be Serpstat. This amazing tool has a robust keyword research features. It can be utilized to get suggestions regarding suggested keywords, distinct phrasing types and competitive keyword analysis. Alongside this, you’ll also get a report on keyword difficulty along with the seasonal keyword trends. The best part is that you will get a proper content plan so as to implement the high-performing keywords.
Features:-
- With the help of this tool, you can find out new keywords, know about the search volume, and even analyze the keywords used by the competitors.
- You can group the related keywords so as to improve content optimization.
- Getting a comprehensive overview of different types of keyword metrics like search volume and competition will be a cakewalk by using this tool.
9. KeywordTool.io
The most amazing aspect of KeywordTool.io is that it extracts keyword suggestions from Google, YouTube, and other search engines as well. It’s a great option that can be utilized for eCommerce SEO and YouTube SEO. It basically scraps the related searches and provides Google’s suggested options that people are searching for. This tool utilizes Google’s autocomplete features to generate a robust list of the right keywords for any topic related to your website’s niche.
Features:-
- You can find data for the keyword search volume along with the keyword difficulty.
- This tool generates a great amount of long-tail keywords for any type of search query.
- You can opt for a specific Google domain to get keyword suggestions.
10. SpyFu
By utilizing the SpyFu tool, you can carry out competitor keyword research along with getting several PPC insights and relevant historical data. This tool will help you a lot in uncovering opportunities by analyzing several competitor strategies.
Features:-
- You can carry out a thorough competitor analysis for the keywords by using this tool.
- Utilize the historical data on the keyword performance along with the rankings by opting for this tool.
- You can even track the competitors’ strategies with the help of this tool.
How Does AI Aid in Free Keyword Research?
ChatGPT:
It’s an excellent tool for brainstorming seed keywords, long-tail variations, and content ideas by understanding natural language queries. It is helpful in grouping keywords into thematic clusters and suggests question-based keywords for FAQs, acting as a powerful initial ideation tool. However, it doesn’t provide real-time search volume or difficulty data.
Gemini:
Gemini utilizes Google’s ecosystem and real-time data to recognize important trends and analyze user trends. It assists in generating smarter keywords, structuring content for better SEO, and performing competitor analysis by understanding the latest search trends and algorithm updates. It is also a great tool for creating keyword clusters to make keyword selection easier.
Perplexity:
Perplexity works as an “answer engine” by blending search engine capabilities with AI. It offers direct and well-cited answers. It is also helpful in keyword research by understanding complex queries, recognizing user intent, and suggesting relevant and fresh content ideas from authoritative sources. It is specifically useful for in-depth research and understanding contextual relevance.
How to Choose the Right Keyword Research Tool for Your Needs?
You can choose the right keyword research tool by analyzing the following factors:
1. Budget consideration
Your budget is one of the most important things that is going to dictate your choice. You can utilize the free tools, but they won’t provide you with the cutting-edge insights which will give you the edge as compared to your competitors. But using the paid tools will give you an opportunity to use advanced features and data as well. If you’re just starting out, a free tool will be more than sufficient. But, as your requirements increase, you must opt for a lot more dynamic paid tool as per your budget.
2. Features vs. ease of use
Did you know that the most important thing that you can do while choosing a keyword research tool is to balance its features and ease of use? A tool that has many features will be quite helpful, but if it isn’t easy to use, you won’t be able to utilize its full potential. However, on the other hand, a user-friendly tool that has limited features might not be that helpful in the long term. So, select a tool that has an intuitive interface and the exact features that you want.
3. Free vs. paid tools
Free tools such as Google Keyword Planner can prove to be quite beneficial initially. But they won’t have the advanced features that can provide you with business growth. So, choosing paid tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz Keyword Explorer, etc., will prove to be a wise choice.
4. Availability of AI-Powered Features:
Artificial intelligence is making many SEO tasks convenient, especially keyword research. It can help you analyze search intent, cluster keywords, suggest long-term keywords, and offer personalized insights into your domain. AI-driven keyword tools are also capable of conducting SERP analysis and ranking predictions, with a focus on deep intent insights.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Keyword Research
Some of the common mistakes that you must avoid while doing keyword research are as follows:-
1. Over-reliance on search volume
Search volume might look enticing, but it’s not the only thing that will determine the value of the keyword. So, focusing only on the search volume might lead you to target a lot more competitive terms, which will be difficult to rank for. That’s why you need to have a balance of search volume and keyword difficulty.
2. Ignoring keyword intent
Understanding the user’s intent behind the search queries is one of the most important things that can take your website to new heights. Targeting keywords without even considering why a person is searching for this term is a recipe for disaster. That’s why you need to tailor your content to the search intent behind the keywords. The types of search intent that you should consider are written below:-
- Informational
- Navigational
- Transactional
- Commercial
3. Not checking keyword difficulty
If you fail to assess the keyword difficulty, your hard work will amount to nothing. So, targeting highly competitive keywords without knowing about the level of competition is a big mistake. You can utilize the keyword difficulty metrics by using tools such as Ahrefs and SEMrush. It will help you know how challenging it is to rank your website for a specific keyword. You also need to consider the authority of your website along with other resources before choosing the keywords. An ideal scenario will be to have a mix of low, medium, and high-difficulty keywords so as to have a balanced strategy.
4. Failing to analyze competitors’ keyword strategies
In case you’re ignoring the keyword strategies that are followed by your competitors, you’re missing a huge opportunity. Analyzing the keywords that your competitors are ranking for will reveal several valuable insights for your website. You can even identify several gaps in their strategies and find distinct keyword opportunities. Tools such as SEMrush and Ahrefs will help you analyze the backlink profiles of your competitors along with their keyword rankings. It will definitely give you that competitive edge you were looking for. Understanding the types of keywords that will drive traffic to your competitive websites will help you better your own strategy. Alongside this, it will help you in targeting keywords that are relevant to your target audience.
5. Over-Reliance on AI Features:
Relying solely on AI for keyword research can potentially risk missing human nuance, emerging trends, and specific user intent. AI may end up generating generic or irrelevant keywords without understanding real-world context, local slang, or seasonal shifts. It also lacks the critical thinking to analyze competitor strategies or identify strategic opportunities that can only be spotted by a human. This may lead to ineffective SEO efforts.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you will be able to refine your keyword research mechanism and even drive a good amount of traffic and leads to your website.
Final Thoughts
An SEO tool can be the bridge between your website’s current status and the compounding business success in the future. However, with plenty of tools available in the market, it becomes difficult to choose the right type of tool as per your requirements. With the eleven keyword research tools listed above, along with their features and pricing, it will become a whole lot easier to opt for the best tool as per your needs. So, select the one you deem fit as per your business preferences and ensure your website’s success.
Are you looking to get the most impeccable performance for your website with the help of these amazing free keyword research tools? If yes, you should get in touch with SEO Toronto Experts. We’ll utilize the most cutting-edge SEO tools to take your website to the pinnacle of success. Call us now for the top-notch SEO services in Toronto.
FAQs
Q1. What is a Keyword Research Tool?
A1. A keyword research tool is a software or an online platform that helps you identify relevant keywords for a specific niche or topic. It offers insights into search volume, competition, and terms relevant to a topic, allowing you to craft content accordingly and rank for specific search terms that resonate with your niche.
Q2. Why is Keyword Research Important?
A2. Keyword research is the most important factor for SEO. It helps you target the right terms that people are actually searching for, further improving your website’s visibility and attracting relevant traffic. While doing so, you need to brainstorm, use suitable keyword research tools, analyze competitors, focus on long-tail keywords, and understand keyword intent.
Q3. What are the Key Metrics Offered by a Keyword Research Tool?
A3. Many keyword research tools are designed to offer important keyword metrics. These metrics include search volume, competitiveness, and cost-per-click. These metrics are helpful in businesses in getting the most important keywords for reaching their target audience with due effect. Most importantly, you can also get insights into the search volume of specific terms and uncover trending topics.
Q4. Are there Free Keyword Research Tools?
A4. Yes, there are several free keyword research tools available online. However, these free versions of Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, and Ubersuggest, come with limited features. Still, these free features can help you make a big difference in your SEO campaign when used strategically.
Q5. How Do I Choose the Right Keyword Research Tool for Free?
A5. While choosing a free keyword research tool, you need to consider factors like your budget, the features you need(such as local SEO and competitor analysis), your experience level, and the size of your projects. Furthermore, you also need to ensure that the tool you’re choosing has AI-powered features to make keyword segmentation and analysis easier.
