If you are new to SEO or content writing, keyword research can feel confusing. Don’t worry — there are many free tools that help beginners find good keyword ideas, check how many people search for those words, and see how hard it would be to rank. In this guide I’ll explain the best free options, how to use them in simple steps, and how to mix them together so you get useful keywords without paying for expensive software. I’ll keep language simple and use more paragraphs than lists so it’s easy to read.
Why keyword research matters (short and simple)
Keywords are the words and phrases people type into search engines when they look for something. If you write content using the right keywords, search engines understand your page and show it to the right people. Good keyword research helps you choose words that have enough searches and low enough competition so your content can actually be found. For beginners, the goal is to find clear, realistic opportunities — not the highest-volume phrases that big sites already own.
The best free tools to start with
There are a few tools I recommend every beginner tries. Each one does something a little different, so using two or three together gives the best results.
Google Keyword Planner is a free tool inside Google Ads and is a solid place to begin. It gives search volume estimates, historical trends, and keyword suggestions straight from Google — the search engine everyone uses. You don’t need to run an active ad to use it, but you must access it via a Google Ads account. For PPC-focused metrics it is excellent; for pure SEO you will need to interpret the results carefully. (Google Business)
Keyword Surfer is a free Chrome extension that shows search volumes and related keywords right on the Google results page. This is great for beginners because you can research while you search, without switching tools. It surfaces quick ideas and gives simple numbers that help you decide if a topic is worth pursuing. (Surfer SEO)
Ahrefs offers a free Keyword Generator that returns hundreds of keyword ideas with volume and an estimated difficulty score. You can use it to get long-tail suggestions and see if a phrase might be easy to rank for. It is a pared-down version of Ahrefs’ paid product, but for free research it is surprisingly useful. (Ahrefs)
AnswerThePublic collects question-style searches and groups them by “who/what/when/how/why” patterns. It’s perfect for finding content ideas and the exact questions your audience types into search engines. The free version gives quick snapshots and many creative prompts you might not think of. (answerthepublic.com)
Ubersuggest by Neil Patel gives keyword suggestions, search volume estimates and content ideas. It has a free tier that is beginner-friendly and provides a useful set of suggestions without a subscription. For many writers it’s a comfortable step between simple browser tools and full platforms. (Neil Patel)
(There are other free options — Moz’s free Keyword Explorer, KeywordTool.io free autocomplete scrapes, and various Chrome extensions like Wordtracker Scout — but the five above cover a wide beginner use-case set. Use them together rather than trying to master one paid tool right away.) (Moz)
How to use these tools together — an easy workflow
Start with a topic idea in your head. For example: “organic lawn care tips” or “budget smartphone advice.”
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Open Google and search that idea with the Keyword Surfer extension active. You’ll see immediate related terms and volume hints inside the search results. This quick step gives you a sense of what people actually search for, and which related phrases are common. (Surfer SEO)
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Take the best-looking phrases into Ahrefs’ free Keyword Generator to get more long-tail suggestions and a rough difficulty estimate. This helps you pick phrases that have searches but are not dominated by huge sites. (Ahrefs)
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Use AnswerThePublic to find real question forms and “how” or “why” phrases people ask. These often make excellent subheadings or blog sections because they match search intent closely. (answerthepublic.com)
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Put a small list of candidate keywords into Google Keyword Planner to check monthly search trends and seasonality. Planner will also suggest related keywords and give you a different angle because its data is ad-focused and comes directly from Google. This is especially useful if you plan to mix organic content with occasional paid promotion. (Google Business)
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Use Ubersuggest or Moz free tools for additional suggestions and to peek at competitors’ top pages. These tools often show which pages rank for a keyword and give quick ideas about the type of content that works. (Neil Patel)
This workflow is fast and beginner-friendly: Surfer (quick scanning), Ahrefs (ideas + difficulty), AnswerThePublic (questions), Google Planner (volumes + trends), and Ubersuggest/Moz (competitor ideas). Mix and match based on which interface you like best.
Picking keywords the smart way (simple checks)
When you evaluate a keyword, ask three simple things:
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Does it match what my audience wants? If people searching that term want a short answer but you plan a long tutorial, the fit might be poor.
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Is the search volume realistic? Tiny volume means few visitors; very high volume means heavy competition.
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Can I create better content than what already ranks? If top results are big brands with long, detailed resources, go after related long-tail phrases or question formats instead.
These checks help beginners avoid wasting time on impossible-to-rank phrases while still capturing real search demand.
Writing content from keywords (a clear approach)
After you select 2–4 primary keywords (one main, one secondary, and 1–2 question-style phrases), map them to a simple outline. Use the question phrases you found in AnswerThePublic as H2 or H3 headings. Write naturally — don’t stuff keywords — and answer the searcher’s intent fully. Short paragraphs, clear headings, and adding practical examples or screenshots will help both readers and search engines.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often chase the highest-volume keywords or copy competitors instead of finding a unique angle. Another mistake is relying on a single tool. Free tools each have limits and different data sources — using two or three together balances those gaps. Finally, don’t treat keyword metrics as gospel numbers; they are estimates. Use them as guides, not absolute truths.
When to consider upgrading to paid tools
If you work on many projects, manage larger sites, or need bulk keyword exports and precise difficulty scores, paid plans may make sense. But for most beginners, the free combo described here is enough to create strong, discoverable content and learn how keyword research works.
Final tips for beginners
Practice regularly. Keyword research gets easier with time. Try a small project: pick a niche topic, run the five-step workflow above, write one strong article, and track how it performs. Use free analytics (Google Search Console) to see which keywords actually bring traffic and refine your approach. Over weeks you’ll learn which tools you prefer and how to read the numbers.