5 Free Keyword Research Tools

Keywords are the words users enter when performing a search. Understanding how people search and what phrases they use to search is an important part of SEO. There are services that track search data and use the data to provide estimations of search volume. This information can be used to find keywords that are actually searched and to compare search volumes between two keywords.

Keyword research provides a more efficient way to write posts for your blog. If you randomly think of keywords, you have no idea how much the keyword is searched or how high the competition is for that keyword. The best approach is to research keywords and the competition for that keyword and make an informed choice on the keywords you’re going to target.

Must Read -> How to do Keyword Research

1. Google Adwords Keyword Tool

Use this Keyword Tool to get new keyword ideas. Enter a few descriptive words or phrases, or type in your website’s URL. This tool gives you approximate keyword search volume statistics for. Unlike other keyword tools, this tool uses bars to represent volume. This is good because it is difficult to be accurate with exact numbers. The best way to use volume information is to compare relative search volume.

This tool provides search volume and information about the CPC and competition if you use Adsense and Adwords.

Go to Google Adwords Keywords

2. WordTracker Keyword Tool

Wordtracker is a popular tool that provides related keywords and search volume. The numbers aren’t exact, but are estimations of search volume. They provide an idea of relative search volume. Each keyword is linked, which can be used to refine your search. When you click them, you can perform a search on that keyword.

Go to WordTracker

3. Keyword Discovery Keyword Tool

Keyword Discovery is a lot like Wordtracker. It provides similar information, but the numbers are different. Don’t worry so much about the numbers. Just use them to compare volumes. Clicking a link is similar to the Wordtracker function. You can refine your search.

Go to Keyword Discovery Keyword Tool

4. SEOBook Keyword Tool

This tool from SEOBook uses data from Wordtracker. The best thing about this tool is that it links out to various keyword tools. You can use this tool to pull in data from Wordtracker, and then easily link out to other sources. This is a great, free tool to speed up your research. The tool can be used to export the list to be used in Excel.

Go to SEOBook Keyword Tool

5. Google Trends

Google Trends is another tool provided by Google that can be used to track and compare search volume over time. Its a little like the stock market for search. You can compare up to 5 keywords. You can select different time frames and countries. This is a great tool to see how a keyword is changing. If it’s on the rise, you may consider getting in on that keyword.

Go to Google Trends

There is no one “best” tool. The best way to use these tools is to cross compare the information. The tools provide different results, so a lot of information can be gathered from comparing them. They help provide a basic idea and volume information.

Do let us know if you’ve used any of these tool to perform your keyword research?

Readers found this post using

free keyword research tool 2011
5 free keyword research tools
adwords keyword wordtracker keyword discovery
four tools used by a person who does research
free keyword research tool
free keyword research tools
keyword about a person
keyword tool little numbers

You Should Also Check Out

Tagged as: free, keyword research, tools

{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

Salman @ Tech Crates May 27, 2011 at 10:26

Great tools… Till now my fav is adwords keyword tool

Atulperx May 27, 2011 at 13:17

You can also try Google wonder wheel and Google related searches option to find some useful keywords for content and suggestions.

Sandy May 27, 2011 at 19:44: Hey Atul – Thanks for including google wonder wheel & google related searches in this list

Alfee@Best Carry On Luggage May 27, 2011 at 18:43

All the tools give different results and search numbers but I think in general, they do reflect on the search volume and competitiveness. No reason not to use free tools as part of your arsenal.

rocky @ travel to india May 28, 2011 at 13:00

Very nice tips to make a perfect blog. Because Keywords are the main thing in any blog if keywords will good and related to the blog then definitely traffic will be increase it self. Google Adwords Keyword Tool is could be very helpful in search to perfect keywords for your blog and along with that SEO tools would also helpful for create Backlinks.

Sandy May 28, 2011 at 18:36: HI Rocky – Thanks for your inputs on this one. It’s appreciated

TechGopal May 31, 2011 at 16:22

google adward toool is most common tools others are new for me ……..
going to try……..

Sandy May 31, 2011 at 19:52: Hi TechGopal – It’ll be great if you could provide your feedback once you’ve used them

Mukundan Srinivasan May 31, 2011 at 16:58

Google Adwords keywords and Keyword discovery are my favorite tools. Keyword country is also good. You can try. They offer free trial. My postlink from commentluv is not appearing. Check it.

Sandy May 31, 2011 at 19:54: Hi Mukundan – Need to check out keyword country.. thanks for this one.

KBharath @ HDBloggers June 11, 2011 at 12:13

Google Adwords Keyword Tool and WordTracker Keyword Tool are my best tools for tracking best keywords.

Sandy June 11, 2011 at 12:38: Hi Bharath – Thanks for your inputs

rakesh June 29, 2011 at 21:47

This is great article,But now Google Adwords tool does not show estimated traffic for may specific traffic along with it’s cost. Previously i was using this tool to get more targeted high value ads . Does any one of you know any such tool right now

Sandy June 29, 2011 at 22:04: Hi Rakesh – If you want cost details, i suggest you log into google adwords and use keyword module from there….

5 Free Keyword Research Tools