7 Keyword Research Tools for Content Marketing [Updated]

Online traffic is the Holy Grail for almost every online business, which also compels them to compete against each other, drive more traffic towards their website, and rank on the top Google SERP. But how to improve the traction driven to your site?

The process is pretty straightforward. You have to write content based on the users’ search queries and provide them with appropriate solutions. However, the keywords (or search queries) that you optimize for can either make or break your attempts to drive more traffic to your website. 

Therefore, your first order of business is to find the right set of keywords in your niche. And then, move on to create relevant content around those keywords and resolve users’ queries.

So, to help you optimize your site’s content with optimum keywords, here’s a list of the top 7 best free keyword research tools available on the internet. 

1. Google Keyword Planner

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Since Google dominates the search engine vertical, it goes without saying that its search trend statistics and keyword data are the most comprehensive and accurate available. Therefore, you should be using Google Keyword Planner for keyword research. Unfortunately, this free keyword tool by Google is restricted to those that have at least one active campaign.

Here’s what you can do with Google Keyword Planner:

1. You can search for new keywords using a category, website, or phrase.
2. You can customize your search based on location, language, and average monthly searches.
3. Also, you can determine the level of competition and keyword difficulty that exists for your preferred search terms.

2. Ubersuggest Keyword Research

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Ubersuggest is a free keyword research tool that you should consider using when collecting keyword ideas for your content.

Using an online keyword research tool comes in handy when you know the keywords you want to incorporate in your content and seek more variations for higher rankings.

Now, when you input a phrase in Ubersuggest, it creates a list of multiple keyword combinations commonly used by searchers. You can refer to the list and choose appropriate keywords related to your content and optimize it to drive more organic traffic.

Ubersuggest has several filters that will stand you in good stead. You can use the online keyword research tool to find keyword combinations in multiple languages. You can also use the research tool to determine the best keywords used for different categories such as news, general web surfing, and YouTube, among others.

3. WordStream Keyword Research Tool

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The WordStream Keyword Research Tool is an additional free tool that allows you to identify and create a comprehensive keyword list of popular search terms in your niche.

WordStream’s keyword generator uses multiple sources of information when listing keywords. These include search engines, browser toolbars, and internet service providers. It’s worth noting that the WordStream online research tool for keywords has over 1 billion keywords, making it one of the most comprehensive analytics tools available.

You should use WordStream when looking for long tail keywords. The free version of the keyword research tool will provide you with multiple combinations of keyword phrase along with their search volume -the higher the search volume, the more popular is the keyword phrase.

Additionally, paid WordStream account has multiple keyword research tools. You can use them to find out the basic keywords to use, negative keywords to avoid, keyword suggestions, keyword groups, and keyword niche categories, among other things.

4. Keyword Research Tool

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This is a very simple yet excellent keyword research tool. All you have to do is enter the keyword of which you want the suggestions, press Get Suggestions, and voila! You’ll have a comprehensive list of short-tail and long tail keywords with which you can optimize your content.

Apart from this, you can take a RankWatch subscription and track:

1. Rankings of every keyword that you target.
2. Identify your competitors’ keywords.
3. Find out the keywords for which you are already ranking in the top SERPs for but aren’t tracking them.

5. InstaKeywords

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All it takes to start using InstaKeywords is a free user account. Once you log in, you can begin researching the best keyword combinations to use for your niche.

To use the online keyword research tool, you need a seed keyword. This is the primary keyword or phrase related to the content you want to create. Once you enter it in the internal keyword tool search engine, it will generate multiple combinations of that word or phrase. These word combinations are long tail keywords, which makes it easier to generate high rankings.

In addition to long tail keyword suggestions, InstaKeywords will also provide you with local and global search volume numbers, the number of the previous month’s searches, competition analysis score as well as the Cost per Click (CPC).

You can export all these details to a file that is usable offline. After doing that, you can start creating the right content for your audience, based on the words that people use the most to search for information online.

6. Answer The Public

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Answer The Public is the perfect tool if you want to extend the number of query-based long tail keywords in your database. Apart from that, this free keyword research tool provides you with search queries that start with prepositions: for, is, can, near, with, to, etc.

Furthermore, you can get comparison long tail keyword like ‘protein powder _____ meat [Blanks: versus, like, vs, etc.]. Also, the keywords are listed alphabetically as well. To use the tool, you have to enter the seed keyword you want to conduct keyword research on and find various query-based long tail keyword suggestions and collaborations.

7. Wordtracker

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So how does Wordtracker work?

This software requires you to use a Scout browser that is available as an extension. It’s available for Chrome. When active, it will give you access to your competitors’ keywords and keywords from its extensive database of search terms. You will also be able to track keyword performance metrics at a glance.

Wordtracker is not a free keyword research tool, but it is affordable. You do, however, get a head start with a 7-day free trial during which time you will be able to access at least 1000 SEO keyword data from 200+ territories.

CONCLUSION

This brief keyword research guide on several free SEO tools is not the only one in existence. However, they are some of the best and most affordable tools you can use to boost your rankings and traffic. But remember, if you want higher session rates and more conversions, the content you create around your target keywords has to be user-intent based, resolve their query, and should provide value to the visitor.