How to Do Keyword Research for Free in 2024 & Beyond

Rank Math SEO

25 Jan 202328:12

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script by Jack from Rank Math dives into the evolving landscape of the blogging industry, emphasizing the importance of adapting keyword research strategies to stay relevant. It introduces cost-effective and efficient methods for keyword research, highlighting the use of ChatGPT as a novel and powerful tool for generating keyword ideas. The script outlines the different types of keywords: Navigational, Informational, Commercial, Transactional, and Local, and stresses the significance of a holistic approach to blogging that transcends mere revenue focus. It provides a step-by-step guide on keyword discovery, verification of search volume using Google Trends, and assessment of keyword competitiveness using tools like the Moz bar or Ubersuggest. The summary underscores the necessity of targeting a mix of competitive and less competitive keywords to build site authority and attract organic traffic, ultimately leading to growth and success in the blogging domain.

Takeaways

📈 The blogging industry is evolving rapidly, necessitating adaptability to new keyword research strategies to avoid being phased out.
🔍 Expensive keyword research tools may no longer be necessary as free strategies and tools like ChatGPT can be just as effective.
🆕 Introducing ChatGPT as a new, faster, and more efficient method for keyword research that can generate ideas and validate keywords.
📝 Understanding the basics and types of keywords is crucial for effective keyword research, including navigational, informational, commercial, transactional, and local keywords.
🎯 Writing content that targets one search intent can lead to ranking for a range of related keywords, which is more efficient than targeting single keywords.
🛒 Commercial and transactional keywords are important for driving sales, but a holistic approach that includes informational and navigational keywords helps build brand credibility.
🔑 Google provides several free tools for keyword research, including Google Auto Suggest, People Also Ask, Related Searches, Google Keyword Planner, and the Site Colon method.
🌐 Utilizing competitor's sitemaps and Answer the Public can offer additional insights into potential keywords and questions related to your niche.
💡 Ahrefs, despite being a paid tool, offers a free keyword generator that can provide valuable data on search volume and keyword difficulty.
❌ Using ChatGPT to write entire articles for publication goes against Google's guidelines; it should be used as a guide rather than an end solution.
✅ Prioritize keywords based on their search volume and competitiveness, focusing on less competitive keywords first to build site authority before targeting more competitive ones.

Q & A

What is the main challenge facing the blogging industry according to the video?
-The main challenge is the rapid and continuous change in the industry, which requires constant adaptation. What used to work in terms of keyword research may not work now or in the future, and failure to adapt can lead to being phased out.
Why might expensive keyword research tools become less relevant?
-They might become less relevant because new, free strategies are emerging that are still effective, and adapting to these changes can reduce expenses for bloggers.
What is the newest method mentioned for doing keyword research?
-The newest method mentioned is using ChatGPT, which is described as faster and more efficient than existing methods.
What are the two steps to finding good keywords for a blog or website?
-The two steps are keyword discovery, which involves finding highly relevant keywords, and verifying if those keywords have search volume and an acceptable level of competition.
Why is it important to understand the different types of keywords?
-Understanding the different types of keywords is crucial because it helps in crafting the right content to serve the right search intent, which is essential for effective SEO and attracting the right audience.
How does the 'People also ask' section on Google help with keyword research?
-The 'People also ask' section provides questions that people are asking on Google, which can reveal relevant keywords or topics for a blog. Expanding each question can yield more suggestions.
What is the purpose of using Google Keyword Planner for keyword research?
-Google Keyword Planner helps in discovering new keywords related to a seed keyword, providing information on search volume, which is useful for understanding the popularity of the keywords being targeted.
How can the 'Site Colon' method help in finding relevant keywords for a blog?
-The 'Site Colon' method allows you to see what topics your competitors are targeting by searching for their site's indexed pages. This can reveal useful topics that may apply to your blog.
What is the significance of using ChatGPT for keyword research?
-ChatGPT can generate a list of underserved blog topics, questions related to a topic, and even long-tail keywords. It can also group keywords into top-level categories, aiding in building a good site structure.
Why should you not solely focus on transactional, commercial, and local keywords?
-Focusing only on these types of keywords limits your reach. It's important to use a blog to build a brand, establish credibility, and serve informational needs, not just to drive sales.
How can Google Trends be used to verify the search volume of a keyword?
-Google Trends can show the search volume trends for a keyword over time. If there's no graph but there's data, it suggests about 100 searches per month. A graph with data indicates 500 or more searches per month.
What is the recommended approach to targeting competitive keywords?
-It's advised to first target low competition keywords to gain search visibility and build authority. Once the site is more established, then gradually target more competitive keywords.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 The Evolution of Blogging and Keyword Research

This paragraph discusses the rapid changes in the blogging industry and the need to adapt keyword research strategies. It emphasizes the shift from expensive tools to free methods that remain effective. The introduction of ChatGPT as a new, faster, and more efficient method for keyword research is highlighted. The paragraph also outlines the importance of validating keywords to ensure a strong start for blog traffic growth. Jack from Rank Math introduces himself and the channel's focus on providing up-to-date SEO knowledge, before delving into the basics of keyword research and the different types of keywords, including Navigational, Informational, Commercial, and Transactional.

05:01

📈 Understanding Keyword Types and Search Intent

The second paragraph focuses on the importance of understanding the different types of keywords and their relevance to search intent. It explains that articles optimized for a single keyword can rank for a range of related keywords, emphasizing the need to target one search intent rather than multiple keywords. The paragraph also discusses how to identify and categorize keywords for a BBQ retailer blog, including Navigational, Informational, Commercial, and Transactional keywords. It stresses the importance of crafting content that serves the right search intent and the potential for using internal links to direct readers from informational content to commercial or transactional content.

10:06

🚀 Leveraging Google Tools for Keyword Discovery

This paragraph introduces various Google tools that can be used for keyword research. It starts with Google Auto Suggest, also known as Google Alphabet soup, which provides keyword suggestions as you type. The 'People also ask' section on Google search results is highlighted as a source of question-based keyword ideas. The paragraph also mentions the 'Related Searches' section for additional keyword inspiration. Google Keyword Planner is introduced as a tool for discovering new keywords and assessing search volume, and the 'Site Colon' method is explained for identifying competitors' targeted topics. The paragraph concludes with a note on the usefulness of Google tools and the Ahrefs keyword generator in keyword research.

15:06

🤖 Utilizing ChatGPT for Advanced Keyword Research

The fourth paragraph explores the use of ChatGPT for keyword research. It clarifies that ChatGPT should be used as a guide rather than an end solution for content creation, adhering to Google's Guidelines. ChatGPT is described as a highly qualified assistant for keyword research, capable of generating lists of underserved blog topics, questions related to a topic, and keywords with buying intent. The paragraph demonstrates how to interact with ChatGPT to generate keyword ideas, including long-tail keywords, and how to group keywords into top-level categories for building a good site structure.

20:11

📊 Verifying Keyword Search Volume and Competitiveness

This paragraph discusses the process of verifying keyword search volume and competitiveness. It suggests using Google Trends as a reliable method for assessing worldwide search volume, as opposed to relying solely on country-specific data from tools like Ahrefs. The importance of adjusting keywords to generic terms on Google Trends for a more accurate gauge of search volume is emphasized. The paragraph also covers the use of Chrome extensions like Moz bar and Ubersuggest to determine the domain and page authority of search results, which helps in assessing keyword competitiveness. It advises prioritizing low competition keywords initially to gain visibility and traffic before targeting more competitive keywords as the site grows in authority.

25:12

🎯 Formulating a Keyword Research Strategy for SEO Success

The final paragraph summarizes the key points for formulating a keyword research strategy. It encourages the use of keyword discovery tools, with a special mention of ChatGPT as a game-changer for saving time. Verifying keyword search volume using Google Trends and determining competitiveness to prioritize keywords are highlighted as crucial steps. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to show appreciation by liking the video and subscribing to the channel for the latest SEO insights.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Keyword Research

Keyword research is the process of identifying and analyzing search terms that people enter into search engines. It is crucial for search engine optimization (SEO) and content creation. In the video, it is emphasized that traditional keyword research methods may not be as effective as they once were, and the presenter introduces new strategies, including the use of AI like ChatGPT, to discover keywords that are both free and effective.

💡Adaptation in Blogging

Adaptation in blogging refers to the need for content creators to adjust their strategies in response to the evolving landscape of the blogging industry and search engine algorithms. The video script highlights the importance of adapting to changes to avoid being 'phased out', suggesting a shift towards more efficient and cost-effective methods like using AI for keyword research.

💡SEO Tools

SEO tools are utilities that help in optimizing a website or blog for better visibility on search engines. The video discusses both free and paid SEO tools, emphasizing the potential cost savings from transitioning away from expensive keyword research tools. It also mentions specific tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and the use of the 'Site:' search operator for competitor analysis.

💡Search Volume

Search volume refers to the number of times a particular keyword is searched for on a search engine in a given period. It is a critical metric for keyword research as it indicates the demand for a topic. The video explains how to verify search volume using tools like Google Trends and Ahrefs to ensure that the keywords have a sufficient number of searches to be worth targeting.

💡Competition Level

Competition level is the intensity of competition for a particular keyword in a search engine's results page. The video script advises on using tools like the Moz bar or Ubersuggest to assess domain authority of top search results to determine keyword competitiveness. It suggests prioritizing less competitive keywords initially to build site authority before targeting more competitive ones.

💡ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an AI language model that can generate human-like text based on prompts. In the context of the video, it is presented as a powerful tool for keyword research, capable of suggesting a wide range of keywords and topics relevant to a niche. It is portrayed as a time-saving alternative to traditional keyword research methods, providing both broad categories and specific long-tail keywords.

💡Google Trends

Google Trends is a tool that allows users to see the popularity of search queries in Google Search over time. It is used in the video to verify the search volume of keywords, offering a global perspective on search trends. The presenter prefers Google Trends for its comprehensive data and suggests using it to gauge search volume, especially for keywords targeting worldwide traffic.

💡Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific keyword phrases that are less competitive than shorter, more generic keywords. They are highlighted in the video as a valuable source of keywords that can drive targeted traffic to a blog. The presenter demonstrates how to use ChatGPT to generate long-tail keywords and suggests grouping them into categories for a well-structured website.

💡Domain Authority

Domain authority is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). In the video, the presenter uses domain authority as a metric to assess the competition level for specific keywords, noting that high domain authority sites in the top search results indicate a highly competitive keyword.

💡Content Structure

Content structure refers to the organization and layout of the content on a website or blog. The video emphasizes the importance of a good content structure for SEO and higher rankings. It demonstrates how to use keyword research, including long-tail keywords and top-level categories, to build a well-organized and semantically relevant site structure.

💡Search Intent

Search intent is the reason or purpose behind a person's use of a search engine. Understanding search intent is vital for creating content that meets the needs of searchers. The video script discusses how writing an article targeting one search intent can lead to ranking for a range of related keywords that all share the same underlying intent.

Highlights

The blogging industry is rapidly changing, necessitating adaptation to new keyword research strategies.

Traditional keyword research methods may no longer be effective, and there is a suggestion to reduce expenses on expensive keyword research tools.

Introducing free keyword research strategies that remain effective in the changing landscape.

The newest method for keyword research is faster and more efficient than existing methods, leveraging ChatGPT technology.

Jack from Rank Math introduces the WordPress SEO plugin and its commitment to providing cutting-edge SEO tools.

Two steps to finding good keywords for a blog or website: keyword discovery and verification of search volume and competition level.

Understanding the basics and different types of keywords is crucial for beginners in SEO.

An article optimized for one targeted keyword can rank for a range of related keywords.

Identifying the search intent of keywords is vital for effective keyword research and content creation.

Differentiating between 'Navigational', 'Informational', 'Commercial', 'Transactional', and 'Local' keywords for targeted content creation.

The importance of not solely focusing on revenue-generating keywords but also building a brand and credibility.

Using Google Auto Suggest, 'People also ask', and 'Related Searches' for keyword discovery.

Utilizing the Google Keyword Planner for discovering new keywords and assessing search volume.

The 'Site Colon' method for identifying competitors' keywords and understanding their content strategy.

Exploring publicly available sitemaps for additional keyword insights.

Answers.com and Answer the Public as resources for discovering informational and related keywords.

Ahrefs' keyword generator as a free tool for suggesting keywords with search volume and keyword difficulty.

ChatGPT as a powerful tool for keyword research, providing lists of underserved blog topics and questions with buying intent.

Using Google Trends to verify keyword search volume, especially for worldwide traffic targeting.

Assessing keyword competitiveness using tools like the Moz bar or Ubersuggest to determine domain authority of search results.

Prioritizing low competition keywords initially to gain search visibility and build authority before targeting more competitive keywords.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Keyword Research SEO Strategies Blogging Tips Google Trends Ahrefs Tool Content Marketing Search Volume Competition Analysis Rank Math SEO Tools Traffic Growth