To find out what words or phrases people are searching for on Google, you can use several tools and strategies that provide insights into popular search terms and keywords relevant to your industry. Here’s a guide on how to uncover these keywords to optimize your content effectively:

1. Use Google’s Free Keyword Research Tools

• Google Keyword Planner: Google’s Keyword Planner is free and provides data on search volumes, competition, and keyword trends. To get started, enter terms related to your business, and the tool will suggest additional keywords along with their average monthly searches and level of competition.
• Google Trends: Google Trends helps you see the popularity of search terms over time. It’s useful for identifying trending keywords or seasonal topics. You can filter by location, timeframe, and compare multiple keywords to see which are gaining interest.

2. Analyze Your Competitors’ Keywords

• Competitor Analysis with SEO Tools: Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz allow you to analyze competitor websites and see which keywords they rank for. By understanding which keywords perform well for your competitors, you can identify relevant terms to target.
• Inspect Competitor Pages: Look at your competitors’ meta titles, descriptions, and content. This manual review can reveal keywords they’re focusing on and provide inspiration for your own content.

3. Leverage Google’s Autocomplete and Related Searches

• Autocomplete Suggestions: When you type a term into Google’s search bar, it automatically suggests popular searches related to your input. These suggestions reflect real user searches and can give you ideas for commonly used phrases.
• Related Searches: After you perform a Google search, scroll to the bottom of the page to see related searches. This section shows other search terms people frequently use that are similar to your original query.

4. Use SEO Tools for In-Depth Keyword Research

• Ahrefs: Ahrefs offers a robust Keywords Explorer tool that provides keyword suggestions, search volume, difficulty level, and click-through rates. It also shows questions people ask related to your target keyword, which can be great for blog or FAQ content.
• SEMrush: SEMrush offers a Keyword Magic Tool that provides thousands of keyword suggestions, including long-tail and question-based keywords. It also has a “Keyword Difficulty” metric, showing how competitive it is to rank for a term.
• Ubersuggest: Ubersuggest is a more affordable keyword research tool that gives insights into keyword ideas, search volume, and competition. It’s user-friendly and is a great option for beginners.

5. Check Your Website Analytics

• Google Search Console: Google Search Console is free and provides data on the keywords people are using to find your website. Check the “Performance” report to see which search queries are bringing in traffic, your average ranking position, and click-through rates.
• Google Analytics: If you’ve set up Google Analytics with Search Console, you can see organic search terms driving traffic to your site. Although Analytics doesn’t show all keywords, it gives useful insights into which pages perform well for search traffic.

6. Explore Questions with Q&A Platforms and Forums

• AnswerThePublic: AnswerThePublic visualizes search queries as questions, comparisons, and related terms, helping you find popular questions people are asking about a topic. It’s a great resource for discovering long-tail keywords and question-based content ideas.
• Quora and Reddit: Visit forums or platforms like Quora and Reddit to see what questions people are asking about your industry. Popular topics here are often reflective of real-world interest and can inspire keywords or content ideas that address these questions.

7. Use Long-Tail and Local Keywords

• Long-Tail Keywords: Long-tail keywords are longer phrases that are more specific, like “best digital marketing agency for small businesses.” They have lower search volume but often bring in more targeted traffic and are less competitive.
• Local Keywords: If your business serves a specific area, use location-based keywords like “plumber in Calgary” or “restaurant near me.” Local keywords are valuable for attracting customers from your immediate area and appear in Google’s local pack.

8. Observe Trends with Social Media and Content Platforms

• YouTube and Pinterest: Both platforms have search bars that suggest popular terms. These suggestions are great for identifying keywords with high visual or video content potential.
• Social Media Hashtags: Look at hashtags on Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn to see what’s trending in your industry. These terms often reflect popular topics and can inspire blog post ideas or targeted keywords.

Learn More

Understanding what people are searching for on Google is a powerful way to attract the right audience to your website. Mission Flow Marketing specializes in keyword research and SEO strategy to help businesses like yours rank higher and reach more potential customers. Contact us today for a free consultation and start optimizing your content with the right keywords for your business goals.