Keyword Research for Beginners

What Keywords Are and Why They Matter

Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google when searching for information. When you optimise your blog posts around specific keywords, you're telling Google what your content is about and who should see it. The right keywords connect you with people actively looking for the information, products, or solutions you're writing about.

Free Keyword Research Tools

Google Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account — you don't need to run ads) shows search volumes and competition. Ubersuggest offers limited free searches with keyword ideas and difficulty scores. AnswerThePublic visualises questions people ask about any topic. Google's autocomplete and 'People Also Ask' boxes are goldmines for content ideas. Google Search Console shows which keywords your existing posts rank for.

Choosing Keywords You Can Rank For

As a new blog, target 'long-tail keywords' — longer, more specific phrases with lower competition. 'Best running shoes' has massive competition, but 'best running shoes for flat feet under £100' is much more achievable. Look for keywords with 100–1,000 monthly searches and low competition scores. These targeted keywords also convert better because they match specific user intent.