What Is Keyword Research in Blogging? (Beginner’s Guide)
What Is Keyword Research in Blogging? (Beginner’s Guide)
If you’re a blogger, keyword research is one of the most powerful tools you can use to grow your audience. It helps you understand what people are searching for online so you can create content that ranks in search engines like Google and drives traffic to your blog.
But what exactly is keyword research, and how can you use it effectively for blogging? This guide breaks it down step by step so you can start creating content that people are actively searching for.
What Is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of finding and analyzing the words and phrases that people type into Google, Pinterest, YouTube, and other search engines.
For bloggers, this means identifying which topics your audience is searching for and what words (keywords) they use to find answers.
Why Is Keyword Research Important for Bloggers?
✔️ Increases Blog Traffic – Writing about high-search-volume keywords can attract more readers to your site.
✔️ Improves SEO (Search Engine Optimization) – Helps your content rank higher on Google.
✔️ Creates Relevant Content – Ensures you’re writing about topics people actually care about.
✔️ Boosts Monetization – More traffic = more opportunities for ads, affiliate sales, and sponsorships.
Bottom Line: Without keyword research, you’re guessing what to write about instead of strategically choosing content that drives real traffic.
How to Do Keyword Research for Blogging (Step-by-Step Guide)
If you want your blog posts to rank on Google, follow these six simple steps to find the best keywords.
Step 1: Brainstorm Topics Your Audience Cares About
Start by thinking about your niche and the topics your audience is interested in.
📌 Example Blog Niches & Topic Ideas:
- Travel Blog: Budget travel tips, best destinations for solo travelers, packing guides.
- Food Blog: Easy dinner recipes, gluten-free desserts, meal prep ideas.
- Lifestyle Blog: Productivity hacks, self-care routines, home organization tips.
- Personal Finance Blog: How to save money, beginner investing, side hustles.
Pro Tip: If you’re unsure what your audience wants, look at:
✔️ Your existing blog traffic – What posts perform well?
✔️ Comments & questions – What do people ask about?
✔️ Competitor blogs – What topics are popular in your niche?
Step 2: Find Keyword Ideas with Free Research Tools
Now, use free keyword research tools to find the exact words and phrases people are searching for.
Best Free Keyword Research Tools for Bloggers:
✔️ Google Autocomplete – Type a word into Google, and see what it suggests.
✔️ Google “People Also Ask” – Shows related questions searchers ask.
✔️ Pinterest Search Bar – Pinterest is a search engine too!
✔️ Ubersuggest (ubersuggest.com) – Gives keyword search volume and competition.
✔️ AnswerThePublic (answerthepublic.com) – Finds common questions related to your keyword.
📌 Example:
If you run a food blog and type “easy dinner recipes” into Google, you might see autocomplete suggestions like:
✔️ “easy dinner recipes for beginners”
✔️ “easy dinner recipes healthy”
✔️ “easy dinner recipes for two”
Pro Tip: Write down ALL relevant keyword ideas for your blog post.
Step 3: Check Keyword Search Volume & Competition
Not all keywords are equal! Some get thousands of searches per month, while others are too competitive for a new blogger.
✅ What to Look for in a Good Keyword:
✔️ Search Volume – How many people search for this keyword each month? (Ideal: 1K-10K searches/month for beginners).
✔️ Low to Medium Competition – Easier to rank for compared to highly competitive keywords.
Best Free Keyword Tools to Check Search Volume:
✔️ Ubersuggest – Shows keyword volume & competition.
✔️ Google Keyword Planner – Free tool inside Google Ads.
✔️ Keywords Everywhere – A browser extension that shows search volume directly on Google.
📌 Example:
- “Easy chicken recipes” (high competition, harder to rank).
- “Quick and easy chicken dinner recipes” (longer keyword, easier to rank).
Pro Tip: Target “long-tail keywords” (4+ words) because they have less competition and higher conversion rates.
Step 4: Analyze the Top-Ranking Posts on Google
Once you find a good keyword, search for it on Google and check the first 5-10 results.
✅ What to Look For:
✔️ What type of content ranks? (Listicles, guides, how-to posts?)
✔️ What do top-ranking posts include? (Headings, images, step-by-step guides?)
✔️ Can you write something better or more detailed?
Pro Tip: If the top results are weak, outdated, or missing important details, you have a better chance to rank by creating a high-quality, in-depth post.
Step 5: Write SEO-Optimized Blog Content
Now that you have a target keyword, use it strategically in your blog post.
📌 Where to Include Your Keyword for SEO:
✔️ Title – Include the exact keyword (e.g., “How to Meal Prep for Beginners”).
✔️ URL/Slug – Example: yourblog.com/meal-prep-for-beginners
✔️ First 100 Words – Use your keyword naturally in the introduction.
✔️ Headings (H2, H3, H4) – Break up your content and add related keywords.
✔️ Image Alt Text – Helps Google understand your images.
Pro Tip: Don’t overuse keywords! Use them naturally, and focus on writing high-quality, valuable content.
Step 6: Track Your Keyword Rankings
After publishing your post, monitor your keyword rankings to see if your blog is showing up in search results.
✅ Best Free SEO Tracking Tools:
✔️ Google Search Console – Tracks your ranking for specific keywords.
✔️ Ubersuggest – Shows where your blog ranks for different terms.
✔️ Google Analytics – Tracks which posts drive the most search traffic.
Pro Tip: If your post isn’t ranking after a few months, update it with more details, images, and internal links to boost SEO.
Final Thoughts: Why Keyword Research Matters for Bloggers
If you want to get more traffic, rank on Google, and grow your audience, keyword research is essential.
✔️ It helps you create content people are actively searching for.
✔️ It improves your SEO, helping you rank higher in search results.
✔️ It makes your blog posts more valuable and targeted.
Now it’s your turn! Have you tried keyword research for your blog? Drop your questions in the comments!
Katie
Read Next: How to Get More Blog Traffic with Pinterest
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
