How to Find Keywords for Blog

Finding the right keywords for your blog is one of the most critical steps in building a successful content marketing strategy. Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or just starting out, understanding how to identify high-potential keywords can transform your traffic, engagement, and search engine rankings. Keywords are the bridge between what your audience is searching for and the content you create. When chosen strategically, they help your blog appear in front of the right people at the right time — driving organic growth without paid advertising.

Many bloggers make the mistake of targeting overly broad or highly competitive terms like “fitness” or “travel,” only to find themselves buried on page 10 of Google. Others focus too narrowly on low-volume phrases that never attract meaningful traffic. The key lies in finding the sweet spot: keywords with decent search volume, manageable competition, and strong relevance to your niche and audience intent.

This guide will walk you through a comprehensive, step-by-step process to uncover the best keywords for your blog. You’ll learn how to analyze search intent, leverage powerful tools, avoid common pitfalls, and apply real-world examples to refine your strategy. By the end, you’ll have a repeatable system to consistently find keywords that convert searchers into readers — and readers into loyal followers.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Define Your Blog’s Niche and Audience

Before you start searching for keywords, you must have a crystal-clear understanding of your blog’s purpose and who you’re writing for. Ask yourself: What problem am I solving? Who is my ideal reader? What questions do they ask daily?

For example, if your blog focuses on vegan cooking, your audience might include new vegans seeking easy recipes, fitness enthusiasts looking for protein-rich meals, or parents trying to feed plant-based meals to their kids. Each subgroup has different search behaviors. A new vegan might search “how to start a vegan diet,” while a parent might look for “vegan lunch ideas for toddlers.”

Creating detailed audience personas helps you align your keyword research with real-life language. Avoid generic terms. Instead, think in terms of problems, desires, frustrations, and goals. Write down five to ten phrases your audience might type into Google. These become your seed keywords — the foundation of your research.

2. Brainstorm Seed Keywords

Seed keywords are broad, foundational terms related to your niche. They’re not meant to be your final target keywords — they’re starting points. Use your audience personas to generate these.

For a blog about home gardening, seed keywords might include:

• home gardening
• grow vegetables
• indoor plants
• organic fertilizer
• gardening for beginners

Don’t limit yourself to one-word terms. Include phrases that reflect natural speech. Think about how real people talk. Instead of “fertilizer,” they might say “best organic fertilizer for tomatoes.”

Use mind-mapping techniques. Write your main topic in the center of a whiteboard or digital canvas and branch out with related concepts. Ask: What are the subtopics? What tools do they use? What mistakes do they make? What resources do they need?

Also, review competitor blogs in your niche. What keywords are they ranking for? What headings do they use? What questions do their articles answer? This gives you insight into what’s already working — and where gaps exist.

3. Use Keyword Research Tools to Expand Your List

Manual brainstorming is only the beginning. To uncover hundreds — even thousands — of potential keywords, you need tools. These platforms analyze search data and reveal related terms, search volume, competition levels, and trends.

Start by entering your seed keywords into tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest. Each will generate a list of keyword variations. Look for:

• Long-tail keywords (three or more words)
• Question-based phrases (“how to,” “why does,” “can I”)
• Location-based modifiers (“in Chicago,” “near me”)
• Seasonal or trending terms

For example, entering “indoor plants” might yield:

• best indoor plants for low light
• how to care for snake plant
• indoor plants that purify air
• indoor plants for bedroom
• do indoor plants need sunlight

These long-tail keywords are often easier to rank for and have higher conversion potential because they reflect specific user intent. A person searching “how to care for snake plant” is further along in their journey than someone just searching “plants.” They’re likely ready to read a detailed guide — perfect for a blog post.

4. Analyze Search Intent

Search intent is arguably the most important factor in keyword selection. Google doesn’t just match keywords — it matches intent. There are four primary types of search intent:

1. Informational: The user wants to learn something. (e.g., “how to compost in apartment”)
2. Navigational: The user wants to find a specific website. (e.g., “Pinterest login”)
3. Transactional: The user wants to buy something. (e.g., “buy organic potting soil online”)
4. Commercial Investigation: The user is comparing products or services before buying. (e.g., “best soil for indoor plants 2024”)

For blogs, focus primarily on informational and commercial investigation intent. These audiences are looking for value, not immediate purchases — making them ideal for content marketing.

Check the top 10 results on Google for your target keyword. What kind of content dominates? If you see product pages, you’re dealing with transactional intent — harder to rank with a blog. If you see in-depth guides, comparison charts, or FAQs, you’re dealing with informational intent — perfect for blog content.

For example, if you target “best budget yoga mats,” the top results are likely comparison articles, reviews, and buying guides. That’s a great signal to create a similar piece. If you target “yoga,” the top results are videos, classes, and directories — not ideal for a blog unless you’re targeting a subtopic like “yoga for back pain.”

5. Evaluate Keyword Difficulty and Search Volume

Not all keywords are created equal. You need to balance two metrics: search volume and keyword difficulty.

Search volume tells you how many people search for a term each month. Higher volume usually means more traffic potential — but also more competition.

Keyword difficulty (KD) measures how hard it is to rank on the first page of Google for that term. It’s usually expressed as a percentage (0–100). A KD of 20–40 is ideal for new blogs. Above 60 is typically reserved for established sites with strong domain authority.

Use your keyword tool’s filters to narrow results. For example, in Ahrefs, set filters for:

• Search volume: 100–5,000
• Keyword difficulty: 10–40
• Intent: Informational or commercial investigation

Look for “low-hanging fruit” — keywords with decent volume and low difficulty. These are your golden opportunities. For instance, “how to revive a dying fiddle leaf fig” might have 800 monthly searches and a KD of 28. That’s a win for a new blog.

Avoid keywords with very low volume (under 10 searches/month) unless they’re hyper-specific and highly relevant to your audience. These rarely drive enough traffic to justify the effort.

6. Prioritize Keywords Based on Relevance and Opportunity

Now that you have a long list of keywords, it’s time to prioritize. Create a simple spreadsheet with these columns:

• Keyword
• Search Volume
• Keyword Difficulty
• Intent
• Relevance to Blog
(1–5 scale)
• Content Idea

Score each keyword for relevance. A keyword like “how to grow basil on windowsill” is highly relevant for a home gardening blog. “Best running shoes” is not — even if it has high volume.

Sort your list by relevance × search volume ÷ keyword difficulty. This gives you a prioritized ranking. Start with the top 10–20 keywords. These become your first blog topics.

Don’t try to cover everything at once. Focus on building authority in one area first. Once you’ve published 5–10 strong pieces, you’ll start gaining backlinks and domain authority — making it easier to rank for harder keywords later.

7. Map Keywords to Blog Post Structure

Once you’ve selected your keywords, map them to specific blog post structures. Don’t just write a generic article — structure it to match what Google rewards.

For informational keywords like “how to propagate pothos,” structure your post like this:

• Introduction: Why propagating pothos is easy and beneficial
• Materials needed
• Step-by-step instructions with photos
• Common mistakes to avoid
• FAQ section: “Can I propagate pothos in water?” “How long until roots form?”
• Conclusion with next steps

For commercial investigation keywords like “best soil for succulents,” structure it like this:

• Introduction: Why soil matters for succulents
• Comparison of top 5 soil mixes
• Pros and cons of each
• Price range and where to buy
• Expert recommendations
• Final verdict and recommendation

This structure mirrors the top-ranking pages. Google favors comprehensive, well-organized content that answers every possible sub-question. Use your keyword as the H1. Include variations in H2s and H3s. For example, if your keyword is “how to grow herbs indoors,” use H2s like “Best Herbs for Indoor Growing,” “Light Requirements for Indoor Herbs,” and “How Often to Water Indoor Herbs.”

8. Monitor and Update Your Keyword Strategy

Keyword research isn’t a one-time task. Search trends change. New competitors emerge. Your audience’s language evolves.

Set up monthly reviews. Use Google Search Console to see which queries are already bringing traffic to your site. Look for queries with high impressions but low clicks — these are opportunities to optimize existing posts.

For example, if your post “how to grow tomatoes” gets 5,000 impressions but only 100 clicks, it might be ranking for “how to grow tomatoes in pots” — a keyword you didn’t target. Update your content to include that phrase, add a section on container gardening, and re-publish.

Also, track your rankings with tools like Ahrefs or RankMath. If a post starts climbing, double down on related keywords. If it stalls, investigate why — is the content outdated? Is the competition stronger now? Adjust accordingly.

Best Practices

Focus on User Intent Over Keyword Density

Stop stuffing keywords into your content. Google’s algorithms have evolved beyond simple keyword matching. Today, they analyze context, semantic relationships, and user satisfaction.

Instead of repeating your target keyword five times, write naturally. Use synonyms, related terms, and latent semantic indexing (LSI) keywords. For example, if your keyword is “vegan protein sources,” also include “plant-based protein,” “high-protein vegan foods,” “tofu vs tempeh,” and “vegan protein powder.”

Write for humans first. If your content reads like a robot wrote it, users will bounce — and Google will notice. High bounce rates signal poor quality, hurting your rankings.

Target Long-Tail Keywords Early

New blogs rarely have the authority to rank for competitive head terms like “weight loss.” But you can rank for “best weight loss diet for women over 40” or “how to lose belly fat without exercise.”

Long-tail keywords are more specific, less competitive, and often have higher conversion rates. They represent users who are further along in their decision-making process. A person searching “how to fix leaky faucet with tools” is ready to take action — and more likely to engage with your content than someone searching “plumbing.”

Build a content cluster around a core topic. For example:

• Core topic: “indoor gardening”
• Cluster posts: “best plants for low light,” “how to water indoor plants,” “signs your plant is overwatered,” “indoor gardening for beginners”

Link these posts together. This creates topical authority — a signal Google uses to rank pages higher for related queries.

Use Question-Based Keywords

People ask questions. Google Answers, Featured Snippets, and voice search are all fueled by question-based queries. Target phrases starting with:

• What is…
• How to…
• Why does…
• When should…
• Can I…
• Is it safe to…

These are goldmines for blog content. For example, “can you grow mushrooms indoors?” has 1,200 monthly searches and low competition. A detailed guide answering this question with photos and step-by-step instructions can rank quickly and attract consistent traffic.

Use tools like AnswerThePublic or AlsoAsked to find question-based keywords. These platforms aggregate real questions people ask around a topic — giving you a direct line into audience curiosity.

Avoid Keyword Cannibalization

Keyword cannibalization happens when multiple blog posts target the same keyword. This confuses Google about which page to rank — and splits your ranking power.

Before publishing a new post, search your blog for your target keyword. If you already have a post targeting it, merge the content or redirect the older post. For example, if you have two posts titled “best indoor plants for bedrooms” and “top plants for sleep,” combine them into one comprehensive guide.

Use unique keywords for each post. Even if topics are similar, make sure the focus is distinct. “Best indoor plants for bedrooms” vs. “how to care for indoor plants in low light” — different intent, different content.

Update Old Content Regularly

Google favors fresh, updated content. A blog post from 2020 may have ranked well, but if it hasn’t been touched since, it’s likely losing ground.

Set a schedule to review and refresh your top 10 performing posts every 6–12 months. Update statistics, add new examples, improve images, expand sections, and optimize for new keywords.

For example, if you wrote “best coffee makers in 2022,” update it to “best coffee makers in 2024” and include new models, price changes, and user reviews. Then, re-publish with a “Last Updated” note. This signals to Google that your content is current — often triggering a ranking boost.

Optimize for Voice Search

Voice search is growing rapidly. People speak differently than they type. Voice queries are longer, more conversational, and often phrased as full questions.

To optimize for voice search:

• Use natural language in your content
• Answer questions directly in the first paragraph
• Structure content with clear H2s and H3s
• Include FAQ schema markup

For example, instead of writing “Many people use basil in cooking,” write: “Can you use basil in cooking? Yes, basil is one of the most popular herbs used in cooking, especially in Italian dishes like pasta and pesto.”

Google often pulls voice answers from featured snippets — so aim to answer questions concisely in a paragraph right after your H2.

Tools and Resources

Google Keyword Planner

Free and integrated with Google Ads, Keyword Planner provides search volume and competition data. While it’s designed for advertisers, it’s still useful for bloggers. Enter your seed keywords to see monthly search volumes and related terms. Note: Volume data is often rounded, so treat it as a relative indicator rather than an exact number.

Ahrefs

Ahrefs is one of the most powerful SEO tools available. Its Keyword Explorer provides detailed metrics: search volume, keyword difficulty, click-through rate estimates, and SERP analysis. You can also see “parent topics” and “related keywords,” helping you uncover hidden opportunities. Ahrefs also includes a Content Gap tool to compare your site with competitors.

SEMrush

SEMrush offers comprehensive keyword research, competitor analysis, and trend tracking. Its Keyword Magic Tool generates hundreds of keyword ideas based on a seed term. You can filter by intent, volume, and difficulty. SEMrush also shows “keyword trends” over time — useful for seasonal content planning.

Ubersuggest

Created by Neil Patel, Ubersuggest is a budget-friendly option with a free tier. It provides keyword suggestions, search volume, SEO difficulty, and content ideas. Its “Content Ideas” tab generates blog post titles based on keywords — great for overcoming writer’s block.

AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic visualizes search questions as a word cloud. Enter a keyword and see hundreds of questions people ask around it — grouped by “what,” “how,” “why,” “when,” etc. It’s invaluable for uncovering long-tail, question-based keywords that competitors overlook.

AlsoAsked

AlsoAsked shows the “People Also Ask” questions from Google’s SERPs in a hierarchical tree. It reveals nested questions users ask after their initial search. For example, after “how to grow tomatoes,” people ask “how often to water them?” and “why are my tomatoes not turning red?” This helps you build comprehensive content that covers every sub-question.

Google Trends

Google Trends shows how interest in a keyword changes over time. Use it to spot rising trends (e.g., “air fryer recipes” spiked in 2020) or declining ones. You can also compare multiple keywords and filter by region. Great for timing your content around seasonal demand.

Google Search Console

Free and essential. Search Console shows exactly which queries are bringing traffic to your site. Look for queries with high impressions but low CTR — these are keywords you’re ranking for but not optimizing well. Add them to your content. Also, check for indexing errors and mobile usability issues.

Surfer SEO / Frase

These AI-powered tools analyze top-ranking pages and generate content outlines based on word count, headings, keyword density, and semantic terms. They help you write content that matches what Google considers “high quality.” Ideal for scaling content production without sacrificing quality.

Browser Extensions: Keywords Everywhere, Soovle

Keywords Everywhere shows search volume and CPC data directly in your browser — on Google, YouTube, Amazon, and more. Soovle pulls autocomplete suggestions from Google, YouTube, Amazon, and Bing. Both are great for quick keyword discovery while browsing.

Real Examples

Example 1: Blog Focused on Sustainable Living

Seed Keyword: sustainable living

Keyword Research Process:

• Used AnswerThePublic → found “how to start sustainable living,” “sustainable living tips for beginners,” “eco friendly products for home”
• Used Ubersuggest → found “zero waste kitchen” (volume: 1,900, KD: 32)
• Used Google Trends → saw rising interest in “reusable menstrual products” over 2 years
• Reviewed top 10 results for “zero waste kitchen” → found all were comprehensive guides with product lists and step-by-step photos

Final Keyword Chosen: “zero waste kitchen: 15 easy swaps for beginners”

Content Strategy: Created a detailed guide with 15 product swaps, links to affordable options, cost comparisons, and a printable checklist. Included FAQs like “Is zero waste expensive?” and “Can I start small?”

Result: Ranked

1 in 8 weeks. Now gets 3,500+ monthly visitors and generates affiliate revenue from product links.

Example 2: Blog About Remote Work

Seed Keyword: remote work

Keyword Research Process:

• Used SEMrush → found “best ergonomic chairs for remote workers” (volume: 4,100, KD: 48)
• Used AlsoAsked → discovered “how to stay productive working from home” and “how to set up a home office on a budget”
• Compared top 10 results → found most were product reviews, not guides
• Identified gap: no comprehensive guide combining setup tips, budget hacks, and productivity routines

Final Keyword Chosen: “how to set up a home office on a budget (without sacrificing comfort)”

Content Strategy: Created a step-by-step guide with 5 budget-friendly setups under $200, DIY desk ideas, lighting tips, and focus techniques. Embedded video walkthroughs and downloadable checklist.

Result: Ranked

2 within 10 weeks. Gained 12 backlinks from productivity blogs. Email list grew by 800 subscribers in 3 months.

Example 3: Blog on Mental Health for Students

Seed Keyword: student mental health

Keyword Research Process:

• Used Google Trends → saw spikes during exam season
• Used AnswerThePublic → found “how to deal with exam stress,” “is it normal to feel anxious in college?”
• Used Google Search Console → found existing post on “signs of burnout” was getting impressions for “how to take a mental health day”

Final Keyword Chosen: “how to take a mental health day as a student (and why you deserve it)”

Content Strategy: Wrote a compassionate, personal post combining research, student testimonials, and actionable steps. Used H2s like “What counts as a mental health day?” and “How to tell your professor without sounding lazy.”

Result: Went viral on Reddit and Twitter. Ranked

1 for 3 related keywords. Received messages from students thanking the author — and was cited by a university counseling center.

FAQs

How do I know if a keyword is too competitive?

Check the keyword difficulty score in tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush. If it’s above 60, it’s generally too hard for a new blog unless you have strong backlinks or domain authority. Also, look at the top 10 results — if they’re all from Forbes, Harvard, or major brands, you’ll struggle to compete without significant resources.

Should I target keywords with zero search volume?

No — unless they’re hyper-specific and part of a long-tail cluster. A keyword with zero volume won’t drive traffic. However, some tools show zero volume due to rounding. If a keyword has under 10 searches/month but high relevance and low competition, it might still be worth targeting as a supporting term in a broader post.

Can I use the same keyword in multiple blog posts?

Not if they’re targeting the same intent. This causes keyword cannibalization. Instead, create unique angles. For example, instead of two posts on “best running shoes,” write one on “best running shoes for flat feet” and another on “best running shoes for trail running.”

How long does it take to rank for a keyword?

It varies. For low-competition keywords (KD under 30), you can rank in 4–12 weeks. For medium competition (KD 30–50), expect 3–6 months. High-competition keywords may take 6–12 months or more. Consistency, content quality, and internal linking accelerate the process.

Do I need to use exact-match keywords in my content?

No. Google understands synonyms and context. Focus on writing naturally and covering all aspects of the topic. Use your keyword in the H1, first paragraph, and a few H2s — but don’t force it. Semantic keywords (related terms) matter more than exact repetition.

How often should I do keyword research?

Do a full audit every 3–6 months. Update your keyword list based on new trends, competitor moves, and performance data. Also, research keywords for each new blog post — don’t rely on old lists.

Can I find keywords without paying for tools?

Yes. Use Google Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account), Google Trends, AnswerThePublic (free limited use), Google Search Console, and manual research via Google Autocomplete and “People Also Ask.” It’s slower, but effective for beginners.

Conclusion

Finding the right keywords for your blog isn’t about chasing traffic — it’s about connecting with the right people at the right time. The most successful bloggers don’t write for algorithms; they write for humans. They listen to their audience’s questions, understand their struggles, and create content that truly helps.

This guide has given you a complete, actionable system to uncover high-potential keywords — from defining your niche and brainstorming seed terms, to analyzing search intent, evaluating difficulty, and mapping keywords to content structure. You’ve seen real examples of how small, targeted blog posts can generate massive organic growth. You’ve learned which tools to use — and which to avoid.

Remember: keyword research is not a one-time task. It’s an ongoing process. As your blog grows, your audience evolves, and search trends shift, your keyword strategy must evolve too. Stay curious. Stay data-driven. Stay focused on value.

Start small. Pick one keyword from this guide. Write one comprehensive post. Optimize it for structure, intent, and user experience. Publish it. Then repeat. Over time, these small wins compound into a powerful, self-sustaining traffic engine.

The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is now. Find your first keyword. Write your first post. And begin your journey toward lasting, organic growth — one well-researched blog post at a time.