How do I do keyword research for free?

How do I find keyword ideas for free?

1. 1
   Write a seed list

   List what you sell or explain, in the words a customer would use, plus the problems you solve. Ten to twenty plain phrases are enough to start.

2. 2
   Mine Google autocomplete

   Type each seed into Google and add a word or letter after it: for, near, cost, vs, or a to z. Google says autocomplete predictions are based on real searches, so these are phrases people actually type.

3. 3
   Open People also ask and Related searches

   Click the questions in the People also ask box, because each click loads more. Scroll to Related searches for close variations. Write down questions that keep repeating.

4. 4
   Check Google Search Console

   It is free. In the Performance report, open Queries to see searches that already show your site. Phrases with many impressions but few clicks, or an average position at the bottom of page one or on page two, are your quickest wins.

5. 5
   Compare in Google Trends

   Enter two or three phrases to see which wording people use more, where, and when interest peaks. Trends shows relative interest on a scale of 0 to 100, not search counts.

6. 6
   Read competitors and forums

   Note the headings of pages that already rank. Search Reddit and Quora for your topic and copy questions in the exact words people use.

7. 7
   Collect your customers' own words

   Support emails, chat logs, sales-call notes, reviews and your site's search box show how customers describe a problem before they know your terms.

How do I judge a keyword without search volume?

Volume says how many people search, not whether they would buy from you. Four free checks work better for a small site:

• Intent fit. Could one page of yours fully satisfy the searcher? If they want a price list and you have none, skip the phrase.
• Specificity. Longer, narrower phrases bring fewer visitors but more ready ones. See long-tail keywords.
• Who ranks. Search the phrase. If forums, small sites and thin pages fill page one, you have a chance. If only big brands and marketplaces appear, choose a narrower phrase.
• Evidence it is real. The phrase shows up in autocomplete, in your Search Console queries or in your customers' emails.

How do I map one phrase to one page?

Give each page one main phrase plus a few close variations, and never aim two pages at the same phrase, because they compete with each other. Match the page type to what the searcher wants, as explained in search intent. A local bakery might map like this:

Then place the main phrase naturally in the title, the main heading and the opening paragraph. Write for the person, not the phrase.

Which keyword research mistakes should I avoid?

• Chasing the biggest numbers, which usually means the toughest competition and the vaguest intent.
• Making a thin page for every small variation of the same phrase.
• Judging autocomplete from your own logged-in browser. Use a private window and your target country, because predictions can vary by place and history.
• Stuffing the phrase into the text. Google's spam policies name keyword stuffing, and it reads badly.
• Doing it once. Check Search Console every month, because customers' wording changes.

Does Arcline do any of this for me?

In part. On every plan, including Free, Arcline researches keyword ideas weekly, starting from what search engines suggest as people type, and shows which of your pages already cover them. Its “interest” figure is an estimate, never a search count. Premium adds checks against real search results. See the keyword features for details.