6 Free Keyword Research Tools for SEO (and How to Use Them)

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use 6 powerful free keyword research tools individually and together in your keyword research process. Plus Ahrefs' first YouTube contest.

A keyword research tool on its own is very limited. You might find that one tool offers search volumes, while the next SEO tool offers something completely different.

But when you combine them together in a systematic process, you can perform effective SEO without spending a penny.

The 6 tools that are covered in this video are:

1. Google Correlate
2. Keyword Sh*tter
3. Keywords Everywhere
4. Search engine auto suggest (not just Google)
5. Google Trends
6. Answer the Public

You’ll learn the pros and cons of each tool, how to use them, and we’ll finish off this section with a step-by-step tutorial on how to use them together.

You’ll then see how these tools and processes compare against Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer.

Here's a link to our full series on how to do keyword research with Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer:

Timestamps:

0:58 Google Correlate
1:44 Keyword Shitter
2:24 Keywords Everywhere
4:11 Search Engine Autosuggest
5:00 Google Trends
6:46 Answer the Public
7:54 Use a simple workflow for keyword research
10:07 Use Ahrefs Keywords Explorer for in-depth analysis

Be sure to subscribe for more actionable marketing and SEO tutorials.

STAY TUNED:

[AhrefsCom]

Hey marketers! Here are the full contest details.

We will be giving away Ahrefs’ Standard Accounts to 3 of our awesome subscribers for 30 days ($179 value per account).

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Subscribe to our channel and like this video.
2. Leave a comment and tell us which feature in Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer you love or would love to use the most.


We will stop taking entries on Sunday, August 5, 2018 and will select 3 winners on Monday, August 6, 2018 and reply to their comment with details to claim their prize.


Rules and Restrictions:
1. If you are already an Ahrefs customer and are selected as one of the winners, we will extend your Ahrefs account by one month.
2. Leaving multiple comments or using multiple accounts will not increase your chances of winning. Only one (1) qualifier or winner per family/household per Ahrefs’ Standard Account.
3. Winners will have 30 days to claim their prize from the time we announce it under your YouTube comment. Unclaimed prizes will be forfeited.
4. All prizes must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable, non-exchangeable and have no cash value.

Good luck to all!

[nileshvaghela]

Started searching for free keyword research tools a week ago.. using a shopping mall's free wifi saved your all videos for learning true keyword research😊.find rich snippets from keywords is best ever option i have ever seen, Sam, Now a days if you have no money you cannot give your best, hope this tools helps me in best practice of SEO. Please make more videos on free SEO tools. There are many people who has talent but no qualified for job, can freelance but not enough money to buy paid tools to give best result on SEO projects. I dropped this field because of money and started job for family😊. This kind of videos may solve 90% of problems that grop of people. Also thanks to GPL giving access to premium themes n Now your crazy keyword tools 😘. Hope lucky time of life started 🤗 Thanks.

[GrowthHackerNomad]

I love Keywords Explorer. My favorite feature in Keywords Explorer would be KD and Phrase match. I always find relevant content ideas using both features.

[JiteshPatil]

Howdy Sam! Loved the video. My favorite so far is the 10 step SEO one that you published a couple of weeks ago. Thank you so much for making such awesome videos.

The one thing that I absolutely love about the Keywords Explorer is the SERP overview. There's ton of awesome stuff here including - estimated monthly traffic, backlinks, referring domains and top keywords. But there's another gem in here - all the keywords that a page ranks for. This not only helps find new relevant keywords but also helps understand topics to cover in the content.

[arsalanahmed]

Informative video about free keyword research tools

[tomcrawford]

As someone just starting out with SEO, these videos have been INCREDIBLY EDUCATIONAL. I take notes and make sure I note the link(s) tot he videos for follow-up reference. THANK YOU !!!

[johnruddell]

I liked the fact that you take the time to explain the different uses for the different keyword platforms. It was also a good idea to show how you can use them in sync with one another.

[AkashPatiL-ncwi]

Hey Sam! Thanks for considering my request about google correlate as you had replied.
Also, my favourite feature of the keywords explorer is the number of clicks data, because knowing the number of clicks for a particular keyword can sort your life out as you may then know what amount of traffic to expect and if it is even worth targeting (as it takes a lot of time and effort to create content around a keyword and then do Off-page for that content).
I also love the phrase match filter I think it's amazing. With so many features I never feel the need to go to any other tool. :)

[davidstoeckl]

Thanks for your video. My main income in Social Security, so saving money at this point is super important. I'm trying to start a writing business, and SEO is BIG in the way to make it work. I cannot afford Semrush and others, so just checking for the best ways to do keyword research for as cheaply as possible without totally shooting myself in the foot businesswise. Thanks again and God's blessings be ever with you.

[prosenjitdey]

Hey Sam,
Good thing is that you have clearly taught us how easily we can use Ahrefs to find better keywords ideas. Even you give us keywords that help us to create blog post. I'm new on blogging watching your videos to get ideas even also learn something new that most of pro bloggers never told.

[cheebengjacobyeo]

I like video about the pro and cons of using different Keyword platforms . It is straightforward and easy to understand.

[MulyadiSubali]

I love the Keyword Ideas in the Keywords Explorer. Really easy to create content with it.

[jwmarketing]

Keyword Research video opened up so many possibilities that I feel like giving lessons myself. Best part is correlations and comparison to Google and Keywords Everywhere

[coolrupak]

Ahrefs is a must-have tool for SEO geeks. I really liked the features such as; site explorer, keyword explorer, and content explorer.

Thank you!

[bikashsb]

i'm in love with ahrefs. love it.

[hrmotivation]

I like watching those kind of videos, because by watching them my YouTube channel is growing

[manjurquadermithu]

I do like many of the features in ahrefs like organic search volume, suggested keywords, suggested questions, keywords difficulty scale, competitors ranked keywords and some other things as well. Each one contains values that that help me to optimize my site's. Hope ahrefs will continue to help us this ways.

[youtubetheory]

Hey Sam,
I am new to ahrefs and I am just loving your content. Just subscribed and liked the video. The best feature I love about keywords explorer is it's filter of low KD and high volume. It really helps me to find some high volume and low difficulty keywords.
Thanks

[jean-francoischarguerot]

I love the data update. Working with your tool on fresh data is a huge plus!

[LouiseAngelino]

Love the phrase match and question keyword search.