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Top Tools for Free or Budget-Friendly Keyword Research Ep. 591
Free and budget-friendly keyword research tools like Google Search Console, SEMrush, KW Finder, Ubersuggest, and Also Asked can replace or supplement Ahrefs after its recent pricing changes.
Key takeaways
- Google Search Console is free, accurate, and should be the first tool in any keyword research workflow.
- 75% of all keywords searched in Google are brand new to Google, making long tail phrases critical targets.
- Long tail keywords with lower volume and high intent typically convert better than high-volume core terms.
- SEMrush offers 10 analytic reports per day on its free plan, making it the strongest free option among the big tools.
75% of all keywords that are searched for in Google or search terms are brand new to Google
About this episode
Cover this podcast episode where we review some of the best keyword research tools currently available in the market. Discover the intricacies of each tool and gain valuable insights into optimizing your content and finding long-tail keywords for search engines. Unleash the power of effective keyword research and learn how to identify the best keywords that will significantly enhance your ability to drive traffic to…
Questions this episode answers
What free keyword research tools should I use after Ahrefs changed its pricing?
Matt Bertram recommends Google Search Console as the top free option because its data is factual. He also highlights SEMrush's free plan with 10 analytic reports per day, Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs' free keyword generator, and tools like Ubersuggest, KW Finder, and Also Asked as strong free or low-cost alternatives.
Why is Google Keyword Planner not enough on its own for keyword research?
Google Keyword Planner only shows keywords active in the paid search world. It misses keywords that nobody is bidding on but that can still be high converting. Matt Bertram calls these opportunities little honey holes and recommends supplementing with other tools to find them.
What is the difference between Google Search Console and Google Analytics data?
Search console data is factual and direct. Google Analytics relies on a pixel that may not fire if a page is slow or if users leave immediately. More data appearing in Search Console than in Analytics often signals slow page speed or poor core web vitals, according to Matt Bertram.
What are topic clusters and why do they matter for keyword research?
Topic clusters are groups of multiple pages that each discuss a different angle of one subject, linked together to build topical authority. Matt Bertram explains that tools like Also Asked help map these clusters and visualize how people ask questions, making it easier to rank for head terms.
In their words
75% of all keywords that are searched for in Google or search terms are brand new to Google and so really qualifying for the long tail key phrases and then focusing in on those long tail key phrases is how you are going to compete ranking against the big boys
Matt Bertram
Google search console, I just want you to know is really what you should be using because the data is factual.
Matt Bertram
none of them are a hundred percent accurate, but it helps you triangulate whatever you're trying to do
Matt Bertram
Terms defined in this episode
- Long tail key phrases
- Longer, more specific search queries with lower search volume but higher intent that typically convert better and face less competition than short core keywords.
- Topic cluster
- Multiple pages that talk about a topic in length from different perspectives, linked together to signal topical authority and help rank for head or core terms.
- Oscillation theory
- The pattern where keyword rankings go up and down as Google tests a page with different keywords and measures user interaction, with the general trend expected to move upward over time.
- QSR (Quoted Search Results)
- A metric cited in the Jaaxy tool description, noted as one of Brian Dean's favorite search features for evaluating keyword competition.
Full transcript is being added.
This episode answers
Matthew Bertram
AI keynote speaker · Owner & CEO, EWR Digital · President, ModalPoint
Matthew Bertram is an AI keynote speaker, creator of DIG™ (Digital Information Governance), and owner and CEO of EWR Digital. He helps energy and industrial leaders win visibility in AI search (GEO and AEO), is President of ModalPoint and CMO of the Oil & Gas Global Network, hosts The Best SEO Podcast, and has authored eight books including LLM Visibility. More about Matthew Bertram.
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