Blog Post Keyword Research: How to Find the Right Keywords for Your Blog Posts
If you have ever written a blog post that barely got views, chances are you skipped one crucial step: blog post keyword research.
In this lesson, you will learn exactly how to find keywords that people are actively searching for, analyze what type of content ranks for them, and choose the ones that can bring consistent traffic to your blog.
You will see how to use Google Search (not only paid tools) to uncover high-quality keyword opportunities, evaluate search intent, and organize your findings into a clear content plan.
Key Takeaways
- Always analyze the top-ranking pages for a keyword before choosing that keyword.
- Use “People also ask” as question keyword for your blog FAQs and snippet opportunities.
- Choose one primary keyword and 2–3 related secondary keywords.
- Keep a spreadsheet for all your keyword ideas after a blog post keyword research process.
- Focus on the searches intent, not just search volume.
What Is Blog Post Keyword Research?
Blog post keyword research is the process of finding and selecting the right search terms that people use when looking for information online. It helps you understand what your audience is searching for and ensures that your blog post appears for those queries on Google.
Instead of guessing topics, you base your content plan on real search data, which improves your chances of ranking high and attracting relevant readers.
How to identify keyword opportunities using Google search.
Step 1: Start with a Broad Topic search
Let’s say you want to write about “types of electric kettles.”
You can start by typing something like “types of electric” into Google Search.
Look at what Google suggests, as autocomplete and the “People also ask” section. These show what users are actively searching for. Take note of these related questions because they can help you find subtopics and FAQs to include in your blog post.
Tip: Avoid targeting a keyword if the top results are mostly category or product pages. For blog posts, you want to focus on keywords that show article-type results (e.g., listicles, how-tos, or reviews).
How to analyze what type of content ranks for each keyword.
Step 1: Analyze Search Results
When you search for your topic, review the first page of Google.
Ask yourself:
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Are the top-ranking results blog posts or product pages?
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Do they look like guides, lists, or product review?
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Which headlines are performing best?
For example:
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If you search “best electric kettle”, you will likely find blog articles in form of listicles ranking high.
That’s a sign that this keyword fits a blog post format, not just a product page. So, “best electric kettle” becomes a good keyword to write a listicle about.
Step 2: Find Keyword Variations
The next step during this blog post keyword research is to expand your keyword list, try variations like:
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“top 10 best electric kettle”
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“best electric kettle in Nigeria”
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“best quality electric kettle”
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“best electric kettle for office use”
Each variation gives you insights into what specific user intent exists(what the user is looking for), and what type blog post they want. Some may want a product comparison, others might want local recommendations (e.g., best electric kettles in Nigeria).
How to select the best primary and secondary keywords for your article.
Step 1: Choose Your Primary Keyword
From your current blog post keyword research list, upload all the keywords into the bulk analysis section of ubersuggest. Now analyze the keywords in terms of search volume, search difficulty, and search intent. Pick the one with the closest search intent, comparatively low SEO difficulty, and high search volume as your primary keyword.
Your blog post primary keyword, is the main focus of your blog post. In our example for this lesson, your primary keyword might be “best electric kettle.”
This is because:
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It has reasonable high search volume.
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It matches your content intent (blog post, not category page).
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It’s achievable in terms of SEO competition.
Step 2: Add Supporting and Secondary Keywords
The next step in your blog post keyword research is, identifying 2–3 secondary keywords or related phrases to support your main keyword. These help your post rank for multiple variations and improve topic relevance.
Pick the 2 highest keywords in terms of exact match search intent, low SEO difficulty, and high search volume as secondary keywords.
Examples:
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“top 10 electric kettles”
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“best electric kettle in Nigeria”
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“best quality electric kettle”
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“best electric kettle brands”
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“electric kettle buying guide”
These can be used naturally in subheadings and within your paragraphs.
How to use People Also Ask and FAQ snippets to appear in AI and search results.
Step 1: Include People Also Ask Questions
Google’s “People Also Ask” section is a goldmine for keyword-rich questions. Add them to your article as FAQs at the end of your post.
For example:
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How much is an electric kettle in Nigeria?
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What is the best electric kettle brand?
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Which electric kettle lasts the longest?
Answer each question in one concise sentence with your knowledge as an expert, this increases your chances of appearing in featured snippets or AI-generated summaries.
Validate your blog post keyword research with search data
You can use keyword tools (like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest) to check:
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Month by month search volume
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historical keyword difficulty
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Trends by season (e.g., more searches during colder months)
To use ubersuggest go to keyword overview, input each of your selected keywords and analyze their historical data, you can also see the Google’s search results, and analyze their exact search intent.
Tip: Even if a keyword has low search volume, it might still be valuable if it’s highly relevant to your audience or specific to your location (like Nigeria).
Step 8: Organize Your Keyword List
Immediately you finish your blog post keyword research and have selected your keywords:
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Add them to a keyword spreadsheet (or your content plan document).
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Label them as Primary or Secondary.
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Add notes about intent (e.g., informational, commercial, local).
This organization makes it easier when you move on to content planning and writing your blog posts.
Summary
Doing blog post keyword research the right way helps you:
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Avoid wasting time on unrankable topics.
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Create blog content that aligns with user intent.
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Build a data-driven content strategy that brings consistent traffic.
Before writing any article, always:
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Research keywords.
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Analyze the search intent.
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Pick the most relevant and achievable keyword for your goal.
That’s how you choose winning blog post keywords that help your articles rank and bring in readers who actually convert.
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