How to Do Keyword Research for Your Blog

When I first started blogging, I had no clue what keyword research even was. I thought I could just write whatever came to mind, hit publish, and people would magically show up. Spoiler: they didn’t. My blog posts were basically sitting there collecting digital dust.

That’s when I discovered keyword research. Honestly, at first, it sounded like some boring technical thing for SEO geeks. But once I learned how to actually use it, everything changed. My posts started getting traffic, people were leaving comments, and I wasn’t just writing into the void anymore.

So in this post, I want to share exactly how I do keyword research for my blog. I’m not going to make it complicated or throw in a ton of jargon. This is just my real-life, step-by-step process that works for me—and it’ll work for you too.

What Is Keyword Research (and Why It Matters for Bloggers)?

Keyword research is basically figuring out what people are typing into Google so you can create content that answers those questions. Instead of guessing what your audience wants, you know exactly what they’re looking for.

For bloggers, keyword research is huge because:

• It helps your posts get discovered on search engines.
• It brings in targeted readers (people who actually care about your topic).
• It gives you endless blog post ideas.

Once I realised that writing without keyword research was like shouting into a crowded room, I stopped winging it and started being intentional.

Step 1: Start With Topics You Actually Care About

Before I touch any keyword tool, I always start with a list of topics I’m genuinely excited about. If you only chase “profitable” keywords, your writing will feel forced—and readers can tell.

For example, if I run a personal finance blog, I might jot down:

• Saving money tips
• Beginner budgeting hacks
• Side hustles I’ve tried
• Paying off debt faster

These aren’t keywords yet—they’re just broad themes. But they give me a starting point that keeps me motivated.

Step 2: Think Like Your Readers

Now, I put myself in my readers’ shoes. What would I type into Google if I had a problem related to one of those topics?

If I take “side hustles,” I might brainstorm:

• “easy side hustles from home”
• “best side hustles for students”
• “how to make extra money online in 2025”

This step helps me create keyword ideas that sound natural and match real search intent.

Step 3: Use Free Keyword Research Tools

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to pay for expensive SEO software when you’re just starting out. Some of my favorite free tools are:

Google Autocomplete

I type my topic into Google and see what pops up. For example, typing “budgeting” might show:

• “budgeting apps for beginners”
• “budgeting tips for couples”
• “budgeting when you live paycheck to paycheck”

Each of those could be its own blog post.

People Also Ask

That little “People also ask” box in Google search results is pure gold. If people are asking “What is the best budgeting method?”—boom, that’s a blog idea.

AnswerThePublic

This tool pulls together all the questions people are asking online about a topic. If I type “side hustles,” I might get things like “Are side hustles worth it?” or “Which side hustles make the most money?”

Ubersuggest

I love Ubersuggest because it gives you search volume (how many people search each month) and keyword difficulty (how hard it is to rank). It’s beginner-friendly and super useful.

Step 4: Check Search Volume and Competition

Once I have some keyword ideas, I want to know: is anyone actually searching for this, and can I realistically rank for it?

Let’s say I find these two options:

• “Side hustles” – 100,000+ searches/month, but insanely competitive.
• “Side hustles for students” – 22,000 searches/month, medium competition.

Guess which one I’d go for? The second one. It’s still popular, but I have a much better shot at ranking for it.

Step 5: Focus on Long-Tail Keywords

This is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned: long-tail keywords are where the magic happens.

Instead of trying to rank for broad terms like “budgeting” or “side hustles,” I go after longer, more specific phrases like:

• “easy budgeting tips for college students”
• “side hustles for moms with toddlers”

Long-tail keywords usually have less competition, and they attract readers who are closer to taking action (like signing up for your newsletter or trying your recommendations).

Step 6: Check Out What Other Bloggers Are Doing

I’ll admit it—I peek at what other bloggers in my niche are writing about. If their posts are ranking, that means the keyword has potential.

But I don’t copy. Instead, I look for ways to make my post better:

• Can I make it more up-to-date?
• Can I add more detail or personal experience?
• Can I take a unique angle?

For example, if someone has a post called “15 Side Hustles for Students,” I might write:

• “25 Side Hustles for Students in 2025 (My Personal Favourites)”
• or “I Tried 10 Popular Student Side Hustles—Here’s What Actually Worked”

Step 7: Organise Your Keywords in a Simple Spreadsheet

Once I’ve got a good list of keywords, I throw them into a spreadsheet. I track things like:

• The keyword itself
• Monthly search volume
• Competition level
• Notes (like my blog angle or target audience)

This helps me stay organized and makes it easy to plan my content calendar.

Step 8: Use Keywords Naturally in Your Blog Posts

Here’s the part where a lot of people mess up: keyword stuffing. I used to think I had to jam my keyword into every sentence, but that just makes posts painful to read.

Now, I just make sure my main keyword shows up in key places:

• Blog post title (H1)
• A few subheadings (H2 or H3)
• The first 100–150 words
• Sprinkled naturally throughout the text

If it fits, I include it. If it feels forced, I leave it out. Google’s smart enough to understand context now.

Step 9: Keep Updating Your Keyword List

Keyword research isn’t a one-and-done thing. New trends pop up all the time, and old topics fade away.

Every couple of months, I go back and refresh my list. Sometimes a keyword I ignored last year is suddenly hot. Other times, I notice one of my posts is ranking for a keyword I hadn’t even thought about—so I optimize the post to make the most of it.

Final Thoughts on Keyword Research for Bloggers

When I first heard about keyword research, it sounded intimidating. But now it feels like a treasure hunt. It’s all about finding out what people are already searching for—and then showing up with the answer.

Here’s a quick recap of how I do keyword research for my blog:

1. Start with topics I care about.
2. Brainstorm like my readers.
3. Use free keyword research tools.
4. Check search volume and competition.
5. Go after long-tail keywords.
6. Learn from other bloggers (and improve on their content).
7. Keep everything organised in a spreadsheet.
8. Use keywords naturally in posts.
9. Keep refreshing my keyword list.

That’s it! No fancy formulas, no expensive tools required. Just a repeatable system that helps me write blog posts people are actually searching for—and that Google actually wants to show.

If you’ve been struggling with what to write next, try this process. Open Google, start typing, and see where it takes you. You’ll be surprised at how quickly the ideas (and the traffic) start flowing.

I hope you enjoyed this post on How to Do Keyword Research for Your Blog. For similar posts, see my Blogging category.