Keyword research is the foundation of successful SEO, helping businesses optimize their content to match user intent, boost organic traffic, and improve visibility. Even the best content may struggle to reach its target audience without proper keyword research.
In this guide, I’ll share Keyword research tips for beginners to help you quickly find and analyze the best keywords. In just a few minutes, you’ll learn about essential tools and strategies to discover related terms for a stronger keyword strategy!
What is Keyword Research?
Keyword research is the process of finding the exact words and phrases people type into search engines and LLMs when looking for information.
These keywords help businesses and content creators understand what their audience is searching for. By following the keyword research tips for beginners, you can identify high-impact keywords that enhance your website’s visibility and improve search rankings.
For example, if you run a fitness blog, you might want to write about “weight loss exercises for beginners.” But how do you know if people are searching for this topic? By doing keyword research, you can find popular and relevant keywords like:
- Best beginner exercises for weight loss
- Easy home workouts for weight loss
- How to lose weight with exercise at home
Using the right keywords in your content increases your chances of ranking on LLMs and Search engines and attracts visitors interested in fitness and weight loss. Now, let’s dive into why keyword research is essential for SEO!
Why is Keyword Research Important?
Keyword research helps you find your SEO sweet spot, the balance between keywords that aren’t too difficult to rank for and those that align with what your audience is actively searching for.
It’s not just about choosing words randomly; it’s about understanding actual search behavior and using it to shape your content strategy and overall marketing approach.
By following keyword research tips for beginners and focusing on relevant keywords, you attract visitors who are genuinely interested in your offerings, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.
Adam Audette, a pioneer in digital marketing, aptly states,
Today it’s not about ‘get the traffic,’ it’s about ‘get the targeted and relevant traffic.
People use search engines and LLMs like ChatGPT to find solutions, and if your content matches what they are looking for, you gain more traffic and engagement. That’s why inbound marketing isn’t about creating content based on what you want to say. It’s about crafting content around what your audience wants to discover.
In short, keyword research is the starting point of effective SEO, helping you create content that answers real questions, ranks well, and attracts the right visitors.
Pillars of Keyword Research: Relevance, Authority, and Search Volume
When conducting keyword research, three essential factors determine how well your content can rank across multiple search platforms and drive organic traffic:
✅ Relevance: Does it align with the searcher’s intent?
✅ Authority: Does your content have credibility?
✅ Search Volume: Is there a demand for the keyword?
By following keyword research strategies beyond Google, you can ensure your content is optimized for search engines like Bing, DuckDuckGo, and AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity AI, and Claude.
By following keyword research tips for beginners, you can ensure that the keywords you choose align with user intent and help establish credibility.
Relevance: Aligning with Search Intent
Modern search engines, including Google, Bing, and AI-driven platforms,s prioritize content that accurately matches user intent. Your content won’t rank well unless it directly addresses the query and offers unique value compared to competing pages.
For example, if you want to target “weight loss exercises for beginners,” you might assume it’s the best keyword to use. However, keyword research might reveal that a broader term like “beginner weight loss workouts” has a higher search volume and better ranking potential.
To rank effectively, you must ensure your content is not only relevant but also the best resource available for that query. If your competitors have more comprehensive or higher-quality content, Google will favor them instead.
Authority: Establishing Credibility
Search engines favor content from credible sources. Whether it’s Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or AI-driven search models, websites with high domain authority and strong backlinks have a better chance of ranking for competitive keywords.
To build authority, you should:
✅ Publish expert-driven content: AI models and search engines prioritize E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).
✅ Earn backlinks: Quality backlinks from trusted sites boost authority on Google, Bing, and other search engines.
✅ Engage in AI Knowledge Graphs: Tools like Perplexity AI and ChatGPT pull content from high-authority sources like Wikipedia and government websites.
For instance, if your fitness blog is relatively new and you’re competing against established ones, ranking for high-competition keywords like “best weight loss exercises” will be tough. Instead, targeting less competitive long-tail keywords may yield better results.
Neil Patel advises focusing on less competitive, niche keywords to establish authority.
Focusing on low and zero-volume keywords is less competitive, making ranking easier and attracting targeted traffic.
Search Volume: Ensuring There’s Demand
Ranking for a keyword is pointless if no one is searching for it. Search volume is measured by monthly search volume (MSV) the number of times a keyword is searched per month across all users.
Consider these two keyword options:
- Fat-burning cardio for beginners: 5,000 monthly searches
- Best cardio workout to burn 300 calories: 0 searches
Even though the second keyword is more specific, it has no search demand. If your goal is to reach more readers, you should prioritize keywords that strike a balance between search volume and competition.
However, a high search volume doesn’t always mean a keyword is the best choice.
Keyword Research Tips for Beginners: How to Dominate SEO in 5 Steps!
I’ll walk you through a simple yet powerful keyword research process to help you identify the best search terms to target. By following these steps, you can build a strong keyword strategy that boosts your visibility and ensures your content gets discovered by the right audience.
Follow these keyword research tips for beginners, and you can create a strong SEO strategy that attracts the right audience.
Step 1: Brainstorm & List Core Topics
Before diving into specific keywords, the first step in keyword research is identifying broad topic areas that are essential to your niche. These topics will act as the foundation for your content strategy and guide your keyword selection later in the process.
If you run a fitness blog, your goal is to rank for topics your target audience is actively searching for. To get started, think about the broad themes that define your content. Ask yourself:
- What fitness-related topics does my audience care about?
- What common questions do beginners have about fitness?
- Which aspects of fitness am I an expert in?
Create Topic Buckets for Your Content
Start by listing five to ten broad topic categories that are relevant to your blog. These should be high-level themes that your content frequently covers. For example:
💪 Weight Loss Workouts (2.9K MSV)
🏋️ Strength Training for Beginners (6.6K MSV)
🥗 Healthy Eating for Weight Loss (1.3K MSV)
🏃 Cardio Workouts at Home (5.4K MSV)
🔥 Best Exercises for Abs (49.5K MSV)
(MSV = Monthly Search Volume, based on KIVA estimates)
By analyzing search volume, you can determine which topics are most important to your audience and where to focus your keyword research. The higher the MSV, the more people are searching for that topic, making it a valuable area to target.
Think Like Your Audience
To refine your list, put yourself in the shoes of your ideal reader, someone searching for “Best Exercises for Abs.” Ask yourself:
🔍 What struggles might they have?
- I’ve been doing crunches, but I don’t see results.
- I don’t have access to a gym, so can I get abs at home?
🔍 What fitness goals are they trying to achieve?
- I want to tone my stomach and get visible abs.
- I need a quick ab workout I can do in 10 minutes.
🔍 What related search terms might they use?
- Best ab workouts for beginners
- How long does it take to get abs?
Step 2: Find Keywords for Your Topic Bucket
Now that you’ve identified “Best Exercises for Abs” as a core topic with 49,500 monthly searches (MSV) and a keyword difficulty (KD) of 25, it’s time to dig deeper and identify specific keywords within this keyword cluster to create well-structured content.
These keywords are what your target audience is searching for, and optimizing for them will improve your chances of ranking on Google’s search results.
Brainstorming Keyword Phrases
If you were searching for the best exercises for abs, what specific terms might you type into Google? Here are some potential keyword variations that people are actively searching for:
- best workout exercises for abs
- best machine exercises for abs
- top 10 best exercises for abs
- best lower abs exercises for men
I have used KIVA to find out potential keyword variations. Add a seed keyword, and it will generate a list of related keywords to help refine your content strategy.
These keywords reflect different aspects of the topic, including beginner-friendly workouts, time-efficient routines, and common fitness misconceptions.
💡Pro Tip 1: Prioritize Long-Tail Keywords for Faster Rankings
To increase your chances of ranking faster and more effectively, focus on long-tail keyword phrases that are more specific and typically have lower competition.
For example, instead of targeting “Best Exercises for Abs”, you might go for:
✅ Best lower ab exercises for beginners at home
According to SEO expert Neil Patel,
“Long-tail keywords may have lower search volume, but they often lead to higher conversion rates because they match specific user intent.”
When brainstorming keyword phrases, it’s beneficial to have a broad view of each keyword’s performance. Check out our free keyword overview tool instantly displays key metrics such as search volume and competition. This helps you quickly identify high-impact keywords that are aligned with your audience’s intent.
Step 3: Aligning Keywords with Search Intent for Better Rankings
Understanding search intent is a crucial part of keyword research. Google’s algorithm no longer just looks at matching keywords it prioritizes content that directly satisfies what the searcher wants.
If your fitness blog doesn’t align with search intent, even the best keywords won’t help you rank.
Why Search Intent Matters in Keyword Research
Let’s say you’re targeting the keyword “best exercises for abs” for a blog post. At face value, it seems like a great keyword to rank for. But ask yourself:
Is the searcher looking for a step-by-step workout routine? Are they searching for scientific explanations for core engagement? Or Do they want a list of gym machine exercises or bodyweight workouts?
How to Analyze Search Intent Before Choosing Keywords
The intent behind the search will determine what type of content you should create. If your article doesn’t align with what people are looking for, Google won’t rank it highly, no matter how well-optimized.
1️⃣ Check Google’s Search Results
A quick way to determine search intent is to Google the keyword yourself and analyze the top-ranking pages. For example, searching “best exercises for abs” showed this on SERP:
If most results are list-style workout guides, then your content should follow that format rather than an in-depth article on the anatomy of core muscles.
2️⃣ Consider the Four Types of Search Intent
Understanding which intent your keyword falls under helps you optimize your content for the right audience.
KIVA simplifies keyword research by categorizing search queries based on intent. When you input a seed keyword, KIVA analyzes and classifies it into one of four key categories:
| Search Intent Type | Description | Example |
| 💡 Informational | The searcher wants to learn something. | “How to get six-pack abs fast” → A blog post explaining ab workouts and diet tips. |
| 🛠 Navigational | The searcher is looking for a specific website or resource. | “Nike training app for core workouts” → The official Nike website or app download page. |
| 🛒 Transactional | The searcher intends to make a purchase. | “Best ab roller for home workouts” → A product review or buying guide. |
| 📌 Commercial Investigation | The searcher is comparing options before deciding. | “Best gym vs. home workouts for abs” → A comparison article weighing the pros and cons. |
3️⃣ Use KIVA to Determine User Search Intent
I have used KIVA to find user search intent behind keywords. Enter a seed keyword, and select your relevant keyword from the generated list. KIVA will analyze what type of content ranks for that keyword, helping you match your content strategy with search intent.
For instance, if “best exercises for abs” primarily returns list-based workout guides, KIVA will highlight this pattern, ensuring your content is structured for maximum ranking potential.
Once you’ve identified what searchers actually want, make sure your content format matches.
For example, if most top-ranking results for “best exercises for abs” are list-based guides, your content should follow a similar format rather than an in-depth scientific breakdown of core muscle engagement.
Step 4: Discovering Related Search Terms for a Stronger Keyword Strategy
Finding related search terms is a powerful way to expand your keyword list and uncover additional ranking opportunities. If you’ve identified a strong core keyword, this step helps you broaden your reach by capturing related queries your audience is actively searching for.
If you’re struggling to come up with more keywords, Google itself can guide you. Here’s how:
1️⃣ Use Google’s “Related Searches” at the Bottom of SERPs
When you enter a search term like “Best Exercises for Abs”, scroll to the bottom of Google’s first page. You’ll find related search terms, which represent real queries people also use.
For example, when searching “Best Exercises for Abs,” Google suggests:
These related searches provide valuable keyword variations to incorporate into your content strategy.
2️⃣ Explore Google’s “People Also Ask” (PAA) Box
Another goldmine for keyword ideas is the People Also Ask (PAA) section on Google. These are questions that users frequently search for, providing insight into their concerns and interests.
For example, searching for “Best Exercises for Abs” reveals:
These questions not only help shape your keyword list but also guide your content structure, ensuring you answer the exact questions users are asking.
3️⃣Google Auto-Suggestion Box for Instant Keyword Ideas
Google’s auto-suggestion box is another free and instant way to find related keyword variations.
🛠 How to use it:
- Start typing your seed keyword (e.g., “Best Exercises for Abs”) in Google’s search bar.
- Google will automatically suggest variations based on real user searches.
- These suggestions are updated in real time, meaning they reflect current search trends.
💡 Pro Tip 2:
Type your keyword and go through the alphabet (e.g., “Best Exercises for Abs a…”, “Best Exercises for Abs b…”). This will give you even more long-tail keyword ideas you might not have thought of!
4️⃣ Use YouTube & Reddit for Real User Queries
🔹 YouTube Auto-Suggest: Search “Best Exercises for Abs” on YouTube, and you’ll find video title suggestions that often include popular keywords.
🔹 Reddit & Fitness Forums: Look at fitness subreddits and Q&A threads to see what questions people are asking about ab workouts.
💡 Pro Tip 3:
Sorting through Reddit threads and fitness forums manually can be time-consuming. To save time and improve relevance, you can use ChatGPT for automation.
Copy the Conversation into ChatGPT & Ask:
- Extract all the user questions related to ab workouts from this thread.
- Summarize the top fitness concerns mentioned in this chat.
5️⃣Use Google Trends
Google Trends is a powerful tool for keyword research, helping you discover related search terms, seasonal trends, and rising queries that can enhance your content strategy. Here’s how to use it effectively:
1. Find Trending Keywords
- Enter a broad keyword (e.g., “best exercises for abs”) into Google Trends to see how interest has changed over time.
- Scroll down to “Related Queries”, where Google suggests keywords people are also searching for.
- Sort by “Rising” to find new trends or “Top” to identify the most popular searches.
- Use the location filter to see where a keyword is trending most.
6️⃣Use Google Keyword Planner
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that helps you discover new keyword ideas, analyze search volume, and assess competition levels. Here’s how to use it effectively in keyword research:
- Enter a seed keyword (e.g., “fitness tracker”) into Google Keyword Planner.
- The tool will generate related keywords that people are actively searching for.
- For each keyword, check the average monthly search volume (MSV) to gauge its demand.
- Use the “Broaden Your Search” option to find closely related terms that align with user intent.
- Look for question-based keywords (e.g., “What are the best ab exercises?”) to optimize for People Also Ask (PAA) results.
💡Pro Tip 4: Automate Keyword Research with KIVA for Maximum Efficiency
If you’re looking to automate your keyword research and save time, use KIVA. With a single click, you get:
✅ LSI Keyword lists from Google & Bing: Ensuring you cover a broad range of search engines.
✅ People Also Ask (PAA) from Google & Yahoo: Capturing real user questions that help shape your content.
✅ ChatGPT-Powered Queries: Extracting AI-driven insights for long-tail and conversational search terms.
With AI-powered search evolving rapidly, search engines like Google, Bing, and ChatGPT are shifting towards understanding topics holistically rather than just ranking by keywords.
This is why KIVA prioritizes optimizing for LLMs by integrating ChatGPT-powered keyword research.
Step 5: Perform Competitor Keyword Analysis to Helps Your Strategy
If a competitor is ranking for keywords that are also on your list, it’s a sign that those terms are valuable in your niche. Work on improving your ranking for these high-impact keywords.
If competitors aren’t ranking for certain keywords, it could mean lower competition and an opportunity for you to dominate that space.
🛠 Method 1 to Check Competitor Keyword Rankings: Manual Search (Quick Check)
- Open an incognito browser to remove personalized search influences.
- Search for your target keywords (e.g., “Best Exercises for Abs”).
- Note which competitors appear on Page 1 of Google and analyze their content format (blogs, videos, guides).
🛠 Method 2 to Check Competitor Keyword Rankings: Use SEO Tools for In-Depth Analysis
- ✅ Ahrefs: Check which keywords your competitors rank for.
- ✅ SEMrush: Compare their top-ranking keywords against yours.
- ✅ Ubersuggest: Identify keyword gaps and ranking difficulties.
Additional Keyword Research Tips
Effective keyword research goes beyond just finding high-volume terms it’s about understanding user intent, competition, and monetization potential.
Now, let’s explore how you can optimize for SERP features and understand how CPC influences your keyword strategy.
Optimize for SERP Features
Google’s Search Engine Results Page (SERP) features can dramatically increase your visibility and click-through rates if you optimize your content correctly. Incorporating keyword research tips for beginners into your strategy ensures that your content is optimized to appear in these features.
The easiest way to identify which SERP features appear for your target keywords is to Google them and analyze the top results. However, here’s a breakdown of the most relevant SERP features for fitness-related keywords:
📸 Image Packs
🔹 What it is: A horizontal row of images appearing in search results.
🔹 How to rank here: If an image pack appears for your keyword, your content should include high-quality, optimized images with descriptive alt text.
✅ Tip: Create image-heavy posts, use descriptive file names, and add alt text with keywords like “best lower ab exercises”.
🤖 AI Overviews
🔹 What it is: A Google AI-generated summary that provides an instant answer to a query.
🔹 How to rank here: Write concise, fact-based content that directly answers common fitness questions.
✅ Tip: Use structured answers and bullet points to increase the likelihood of your content appearing in AI-generated overviews.
📜 Featured Snippets
🔹 What it is: A short, direct text snippet appearing at the top of Google results.
🔹 How to rank here: Answer common fitness questions in a clear and concise way.
✅ Tip: Structure your content with short, informative answers and detailed explanations below.
🎥 Video Snippets
🔹 What it is: A carousel of YouTube videos appearing at the top of search results.
🔹 How to rank here: Create fitness tutorial videos and upload them to YouTube with keyword-rich titles and descriptions.
✅ Tip: Post your videos on YouTube and embed them in your blog posts, ensuring titles and captions include keywords.
How CPC Impacts Your Keyword Strategy and SEO?
Cost Per Click (CPC) reflects how much advertisers are willing to pay for a single ad click on a specific keyword. While primarily a PPC metric, it serves as a useful indicator of keyword value and intent in SEO.
For instance, “best protein powder for muscle gain” has a high CPC of $25, indicating strong commercial intent; users searching for it are likely looking to make a purchase. Meanwhile, “benefits of protein powder” has a lower CPC of $3, as it’s an informational query with lower conversion potential.
Unlike search volume, which remains relatively stable, CPC fluctuates frequently based on advertiser demand and competition. Since most SEO tools only provide snapshot CPC values, real-time data from Google Ads (AdWords) is recommended for accurate insights.
By analyzing CPC, businesses can better prioritize high-value keywords, align content with search intent, and balance organic vs. paid strategies for maximum impact.
💡 Pro Tip 5 : Try KIVA for free
Want to check CPC data without paying upfront? KIVA lets you analyze CPC for 10 keywords for free before requiring a paid subscription. Try it out and discover high-value keywords for your niche today!
The Evolution of Keyword Research: From Exact Matches to Search Intent
Keyword research has come a long way from its early days of keyword stuffing and exact-match optimization. Over the years, Google has refined its algorithms to prioritize user intent and content relevance rather than just keyword density.
How Keyword Research Has Evolved Over Time
In the early 2000s, SEO was mainly about stuffing high-volume keywords into website content to rank higher. Marketers would rely on Google Keyword Planner to find the most searched terms and insert them excessively across web pages, often at the cost of readability.
However, this approach led to manipulative SEO tactics, such as thin content, keyword stuffing, and low-quality pages ranking over genuinely valuable content. Google responded with major algorithm updates designed to prioritize high-quality, relevant, and intent-based content.
Key Google Algorithm Updates That Changed Keyword Research
- Google Panda (2011): Penalized websites with thin, low-quality, and duplicate content, pushing for more valuable and original material.
- Google Penguin (2012): Targeted unnatural keyword stuffing and spammy backlink strategies, making organic content optimization crucial.
- Google Hummingbird (2013): Shifted focus from exact-match keywords to semantic search, emphasizing search intent and contextual meaning over isolated keywords.
With these updates, keyword research became more topic-centric rather than just about finding individual high-volume keywords.
The Role of AI and RankBrain in Modern Keyword Research
In 2015, Google introduced RankBrain, a machine learning component of its algorithm that helps Google interpret search queries more intelligently.
How does RankBrain impact keyword research?
✅ It analyzes user behavior to determine the most relevant results.
✅ It understands search intent rather than just matching keywords.
✅ It ranks content holistically, meaning well-structured and in-depth content can rank for keywords that aren’t explicitly used in the text.
Modern SEO is no longer about targeting one “perfect keyword.” Instead, it’s about understanding the audience, creating topic-driven content, and providing real value.
- Search intent is king: Before choosing a keyword, ask: Is the user looking for information, making a purchase, or seeking a specific product?
- Topical depth matters: Covering a subject with supporting keywords (rather than focusing on one keyword) improves ranking potential.
- Google understands synonyms & context: You don’t need to repeat the exact phrase excessively; instead, use related terms, questions, and concepts.
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FAQs
How to Find and Choose Keywords for Your Website?
What Are the 5 Steps to Be Followed During Keyword Research??
What Is the Tripod Rule of Keyword Research?
Conclusion
This guide offers keyword research tips for beginners to help you build a strong SEO strategy and improve your website’s visibility. By brainstorming core topics and exploring related search terms, you can target the right audience effectively.
A balance of head terms and long-tail keywords ensures both quick wins and long-term success. Leveraging tools like KIVA simplifies the process, making keyword research faster and more efficient for better search engine and LLMs rankings.
