Keyword research has been the backbone of SEO for over two decades, and that‘s not going to change in 2024. In fact, with Google getting smarter and more discerning every year, targeting the right keywords is more important than ever.
Consider this stat: 49% of marketers report that organic search has the best ROI of any marketing channel (Search Engine Journal). But to get that organic search traffic, you first need to know what keywords to target.
That‘s where keyword research tools come in. These tools help you uncover valuable keyword opportunities, analyze the competition, and craft content that both searchers and search engines will love.
But with so many tools out there, how do you choose the best ones for your needs and budget? As a blogging expert who‘s tested dozens of these tools over the years, I‘ve put together this ultimate guide to the top keyword research tools for 2024.
What to Look for in a Keyword Research Tool
Before we dive into the tools, let‘s cover the key features and data points you should evaluate when choosing a keyword research tool:
-
Keyword suggestions: How many relevant keyword ideas does the tool generate based on a seed keyword? The more the better, as long as they‘re actually related to your niche.
-
Search volume: Does the tool provide accurate, up-to-date data on monthly search volume? This is critical for gauging a keyword‘s popularity and traffic potential.
-
Keyword difficulty: How does the tool evaluate the ranking difficulty of a keyword? Look for tools that consider factors like domain authority, backlinks, and on-page optimization of the top ranking pages.
-
SERP analysis: Does the tool provide detailed insights on the current top 10 search results for a keyword, such as domain authority, number of backlinks, word count, etc.? This is key for sizing up the competition.
-
Search intent insights: The best tools now offer search intent classification for keywords, so you can tell if a keyword is informational, commercial, transactional, or navigational. Matching search intent is a must for ranking in 2024.
-
Competitive intelligence: Can you use the tool to analyze your competitors‘ keyword rankings and find "content gaps" that you can fill? This is a great way to find untapped keyword opportunities.
-
Price and value: Keyword research tools range from free to hundreds of dollars per month. Weigh the features and data quality you get against the price to determine the best value for your specific needs.
Now, let‘s get into my top picks for the best keyword research tools, based on my extensive experience as a blogging and SEO expert.
1. Semrush
Semrush is my go-to all-in-one SEO tool, and its Keyword Magic Tool is hands-down the best for keyword research. Here‘s why:
- Massive database of over 20 billion keywords
- Provides the most comprehensive data including search volume, keyword difficulty, CPC, search intent, SERP features, and more
- Powerful filtering options to find high-value long-tail keywords
- Keyword Gap tool for competitive analysis
- Organic Traffic Insights for super-accurate search volume data based on clickstream data
In my experience, Semrush consistently uncovers keyword gems that other tools miss. For example, I recently used it to find the keyword "best AI writing software", which has a search volume of 1,600 and a keyword difficulty of only 54%. That‘s a perfect low-competition, high-value keyword to target.
Semrush plans start at $119.95/month. It‘s pricey, but you get what you pay for. If you‘re serious about blogging and SEO, it‘s worth the investment.
2. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is neck-and-neck with Semrush in terms of features and data quality. Its Keywords Explorer tool boasts a database of over 10 billion keywords and provides super-useful metrics like Clicks and Traffic Potential.
What I love about Ahrefs for keyword research is:
- "Clicks" metric shows how many actual clicks a keyword gets, since many searches don‘t result in a click
- "Traffic Potential" shows the total search traffic you could get by ranking #1 for a keyword
- Filters for keyword difficulty, word count, CPC, search volume, and more
- SERP overview with top content and key SEO metrics for the top 10 results
- Content Gap tool to find keywords your competitors rank for but you don‘t
Ahrefs‘ data is always spot-on in my experience. For instance, its Clicks data showed me that the keyword "email marketing tips" gets 8,600 clicks per month, even though it has a search volume of 12,100. That insight helped me prioritize that keyword, since I knew it would drive actual traffic.
Ahrefs plans start at $99/month, slightly more affordable than Semrush. It‘s best for bloggers and marketers who are already somewhat comfortable with SEO.
3. KWFinder
KWFinder, part of the Mangools suite, is my top pick for beginner bloggers on a budget. While it lacks some of the advanced features of Semrush and Ahrefs, it covers all the keyword research essentials at a much lower price point.
What makes KWFinder great is:
- Over 2.5 billion keywords in database
- Highly accurate keyword difficulty score that considers on-page SEO and off-page factors
- Super easy to use interface
- Keyword suggestions grouped by topics and questions
- "Autocomplete" and "Questions" features to find valuable long-tail keywords
In a recent search for "content marketing strategy", KWFinder showed me several awesome long-tail keywords like "SaaS content marketing strategy" and "B2C content marketing strategies". These each had search volumes over 100 and keyword difficulty scores under 40, making them perfect to weave into my next blog post.
KWFinder plans start at just $29.90/month, an incredible value for the features you get. Highly recommended for solo bloggers and small businesses.
4. AnswerThePublic
If you want to find question-based keywords that your audience is searching for, AnswerThePublic is a must-have. It visualizes search queries and questions from Google autocomplete data, making it easy to find content ideas.
I love using AnswerThePublic for:
- Finding untapped long-tail question keywords
- Understanding what questions people have about a topic
- Generating ideas for blog posts, FAQs, and knowledge base content
- Optimizing for Featured Snippets and "People Also Ask" boxes
Fun fact: The average Google search session contains at least one question, and 8% of search queries are phrased as questions (Ahrefs). So if you‘re not optimizing for question keywords, you‘re missing out on valuable traffic.
For example, when I plugged "email subject lines" into AnswerThePublic, it revealed awesome question keywords like "What are the best email subject lines for sales?" and "How to write catchy email subject lines". These are perfect for creating helpful, optimized content.
AnswerThePublic offers a limited free plan, and paid plans start at $99/month. It‘s an excellent companion tool to have in your keyword research toolkit.
5. Google Keyword Planner
No list of the best keyword research tools would be complete without mentioning the OG: Google Keyword Planner. While it‘s designed for Google Ads campaigns, it can still provide useful data for SEO.
The main advantages of Google Keyword Planner are:
- Data comes straight from the world‘s biggest search engine
- Can see search volumes for specific locations and languages
- Generates relevant keyword ideas based on a seed keyword or URL
- Provides search volume ranges and competitive data
However, there are some significant drawbacks. The search volume ranges are often too broad to be useful, and the competitive data is based on paid search, not organic. Plus, you have to jump through some hoops like setting up a Google Ads account to access it.
Still, as a free tool, Google Keyword Planner is worth having in your back pocket. I find it‘s most helpful as a starting point to generate initial keyword ideas, which I then further analyze with more robust tools.
Mistakes to Avoid in Keyword Research
Now that you know the best tools for uncovering keyword opportunities, let‘s cover some common pitfalls to avoid:
-
Focusing only on short-tail keywords: While head terms like "weight loss" or "make money online" get tons of searches, they‘re extremely competitive. Long-tail keywords, while lower volume, are often much easier to rank for and still drive valuable traffic.
-
Ignoring search intent: You can rank #1 for a keyword and still get no traffic if your content doesn‘t match what searchers are actually looking for. Make sure you understand the intent behind a keyword before targeting it.
-
Not considering business value: Traffic is great, but if it‘s not relevant to your products, services, or monetization strategies, it won‘t do you much good. Prioritize keywords that will attract your target audience and customers.
-
Choosing keywords that are too difficult: Ranking on the first page for a keyword with a difficulty score of 90+ will be an uphill battle, especially for newer sites. Be realistic and choose keywords you have a shot at ranking for based on your site‘s authority.
-
Not tracking your rankings: Keyword research doesn‘t end once you‘ve chosen your targets. Use rank tracking tools to monitor your progress and adjust your strategy as needed.
The Future of Keyword Research
As we move into 2024 and beyond, keyword research will remain a critical piece of the SEO puzzle. However, I predict we‘ll see some shifts in best practices:
- Greater emphasis on search intent and content quality over pure keyword optimization
- More focus on long-tail question keywords to target Featured Snippets and voice search
- Increased use of AI and machine learning tools for keyword discovery and analysis
- Tighter integration of keyword research with content planning and creation
The blogging experts who stay on top of these trends and leverage the right tools will have a major advantage in the SERPs. By following the tips and tools laid out in this guide, you‘ll be well-equipped to find the most valuable, winnable keyword opportunities in 2024 and beyond.
Putting It All Together
Effective keyword research is equal parts art and science. It requires a combination of data-driven analysis and human insight into your audience and industry.
The best approach is to use multiple keyword research tools to get a comprehensive view of the landscape. Start with a broad tool like Semrush or Ahrefs to uncover keyword opportunities, analyze the competition, and get search volume and difficulty data.
Then, use more specialized tools like AnswerThePublic to find unique long-tail and question keywords that your competitors may be overlooking. Validate your chosen keywords with actual SERP analysis to ensure you can realistically rank for them.
Finally, create content that aligns with search intent, provides real value to your audience, and intelligently weaves in your targeted keywords. Monitor your rankings over time and continually refine your keyword strategy based on performance.
By following this process and staying on the cutting edge of keyword research best practices, you‘ll be able to drive more organic search traffic, build authority in your niche, and grow your blogging business in 2024 and beyond.
