Beginner’s Guide to Keyword Research for SEO and Google Ads

Digital Marketing, SEO

How to Know What Keywords to Use for SEO and Ads: A Beginner’s Guide

Are you building a website, starting a blog, or running online ads and wondering how to find the right keywords? Knowing what keywords to use is essential for reaching the right audience, boosting traffic, and increasing visibility in search engines. This beginner’s guide will show you how to do free keyword research using Google suggestions, Google Keyword Planner, and other free tools. We’ll also cover essential SEO terms so you understand what keywords are, how to interpret them, and how to use them effectively.

1. Start with Simple Google Searches

The easiest way to find keywords is to start by typing into Google itself. When you search for something, Google automatically shows you related searches and suggestions, giving you insights into what other people are searching for.

How to Use Google for Keyword Ideas:

  1. Type Your Main Idea: Enter your primary topic or keyword into Google’s search bar. For example, if you’re writing about “plant care,” just type that phrase in.
  2. Look at Google’s Suggestions: As you type, Google will suggest related terms, like “plant care for beginners” or “indoor plant care tips.” These suggestions are popular search terms others are using.
  3. Scroll Down to the Bottom: Once you hit enter and see the search results, scroll down to the “Related searches” section at the bottom. Here, you’ll find more keyword ideas, such as “plant care guide” or “plant care in winter.”

These suggestions and related searches are valuable keyword ideas that are completely free to find!

2. Essential Keyword Terms to Know

Before we dive deeper, let’s cover a few key terms you’ll often see in keyword research:

  • Search Volume: The number of times a keyword is searched per month. A high search volume means more people are looking for that keyword.
  • Keyword Difficulty (KD): This tells you how competitive a keyword is. A higher KD often means there are many websites already ranking for that keyword.
  • Long-Tail Keywords: These are longer, more specific phrases (e.g., “how to care for succulents indoors”). They often have lower search volumes but less competition.
  • CPC (Cost-Per-Click): This shows the average cost of running ads for that keyword if you’re using Google Ads. Higher CPC means companies are willing to pay more, often indicating that keyword is valuable.

Understanding these terms helps you pick keywords that balance search volume and difficulty, making it easier for you to rank.

3. Using Google Keyword Planner (Step-by-Step)

Google Keyword Planner is a free tool designed for advertisers, but it’s great for SEO research too. Here’s how to use it step-by-step:

Step 1: Set Up a Google Ads Account

You’ll need to set up a free Google Ads account to access Keyword Planner, but you don’t have to pay for anything.

  1. Go to Google Ads and create an account.
  2. Follow the setup prompts (you can skip creating a campaign).
  3. Once your account is ready, go to the “Tools & Settings” menu at the top and select Keyword Planner.

Step 2: Start Your Keyword Research

  1. Click on Discover new keywords to start fresh.
  2. Enter a few topics related to your business or website, like “plant care” or “gardening tips.”
  3. Click Get Results to see a list of keyword ideas.

Step 3: Review Your Results

In the results, you’ll see:

  • Average Monthly Searches: Shows how many times people search for this keyword.
  • Competition: Indicates how competitive the keyword is.
  • Top of Page Bid: The range for ad costs if you decide to run Google Ads for this keyword.

Use these metrics to choose keywords that match your goals. If you’re focusing on SEO, look for keywords with good search volume but lower competition. For example, instead of “plant care,” try something more specific like “plant care for beginners” or “indoor plant watering schedule.”

Step 4: Save Your Keywords

You can save keywords directly in Keyword Planner by adding them to a plan. This helps keep track of the terms you want to target on your site or in your ad campaigns.

4. Free Keyword Research Tools

There are several websites that provide keyword data for free or offer free trials. Here are a few that can help expand your keyword list:

  • Ubersuggest: Great for finding related keywords, seeing search volume, and checking keyword difficulty.
  • AnswerThePublic: A tool that shows questions people ask about your topic, which can inspire long-tail keywords.
  • Keyword Surfer (Chrome Extension): This free extension gives search volume and CPC data directly on Google’s search page.
  • Google Trends: Lets you explore trending topics and seasonal trends for your keywords, showing how interest fluctuates over time.

Using these tools together helps you create a strong list of keywords that target different types of searches, including specific questions or popular trends.

5. Putting Keywords into Action: Tips for SEO and Ads

Now that you have your keyword list, it’s time to use it! Here’s how to get the most out of your keywords:

SEO Tips

  1. Use Keywords Naturally: Add your keywords to titles, headers, and body text in a way that sounds natural.
  2. Write Content Around Long-Tail Keywords: These keywords often capture people looking for specific information, so creating blog posts or guides around them can attract more visitors.
  3. Optimize Meta Descriptions: This short description appears on search engine results pages. Including keywords here can help improve click-through rates.

Google Ads Tips

  1. Create Ad Groups Around Similar Keywords: This helps Google match your ads to the right searches and makes it easier to measure ad performance.
  2. Test Different Keywords: Try variations of your keywords to see which ones attract clicks at a reasonable cost.

6. Keyword Strategy Tips

To wrap it up, here are a few key strategies for using keywords effectively:

  • Mix Broad and Specific Terms: Broad keywords (like “gardening”) can attract general traffic, while specific keywords (like “herb gardening for beginners”) help reach targeted audiences.
  • Track Your Keyword Performance: Keep an eye on search rankings and ad performance to see which keywords work best for your audience.
  • Adjust for Trends and Seasons: Keywords related to certain times of the year (like “winter plant care”) can boost traffic during those periods.

With these steps, you now have the tools to find the right keywords for your website or ads. Keep experimenting with new keywords, refine your list based on performance, and stay flexible. Over time, you’ll develop an SEO and keyword strategy that helps drive quality traffic to your site.