Free Keyword Research: A 3-Step Process Using Google Tools

A few years ago, I was struggling to get any traffic to my website. I knew I needed to do keyword research, but all the tools were super expensive, and I wasn't ready to shell out that kind of cash yet.

Then I discovered a simple hack using free Google tools.

Within weeks, I was ranking #1 for competitive keywords, and my traffic exploded. Now, I use this method all the time, even though I pay for Ahrefs, SEMrush, and a bunch of other SEO tools.

Want to know the secret? It's a three-step process that takes less than 30 minutes and doesn't cost a dime.

So, are you ready to supercharge your SEO for free and uncover insights that even paid tools might miss?

Let's take a look at how to leverage Google Search Console, Google Keyword Planner, and Google Sheets to find your best keyword opportunities.

Why Keyword Research Matters

Before we dive in, let's quickly cover why keyword research is so important:

It helps you understand what your target audience is searching for

It allows you to create content that matches search intent

It reveals opportunities to rank for valuable terms with less competition

It guides your overall content strategy and SEO efforts

Without proper keyword research, you're essentially operating in the dark.

You might create great content, but if it's not aligned with what people are actually searching for, it won't drive traffic.

The 3-Step Process for Free Keyword Research

Here's an overview of the process we'll cover:

Export keywords from Google Search Console

Analyze keywords in Google Keyword Planner

Prioritize keywords in Google Sheets

This entire process takes less than 30 minutes once you get the hang of it. Let's break down each step in detail.

Step 1: Export Keywords from Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a goldmine of data about how your site is performing in search results. Here's how to extract valuable keyword data:

Select your property

Go to Performance > Search Results

Set the date range (I recommend looking at the last 3 months)

Scroll down to the "Queries" tab to see if everything is correct

Click the "EXPORT" button in the top right and choose "Google Sheets"

This will give you a spreadsheet with all the queries your site is currently ranking for, along with impressions, clicks, and average position.

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Pro Tip: Don't worry if you're not getting many clicks yet. Even impressions can give you valuable insights into what Google thinks your site is relevant for.

Step 2: Analyze Keywords in Google Keyword Planner

Now that we have our initial keyword list, it's time to get more data using Google Keyword Planner. Here's how:

Go to Google Ads and create an account if you haven't already

Navigate to Tools > Keyword Planner

Choose "Get search volume and forecasts"

Paste in your keywords from Google Search Console

Click "Get Metrics"

You'll now see a wealth of data about your keywords, including:

Average monthly searches

Competition level

Top of page bid (low and high range)

But that's not all. Google Keyword Planner offers some powerful features that even paid tools don't have:

Breakdown by Platform

One unique feature is the ability to see search volume broken down by device type.

In our example, we see an example where 40% of searches were coming from mobile devices.

This highlights the importance of having a mobile-optimized website.

Geographic Data

You can also see which countries, states, or even cities are driving the most searches for your keywords.

This can be invaluable for local SEO or if you're targeting specific regions.

Related Keywords

Keyword Planner will suggest related terms that you might not have thought of. This can help you expand your keyword list and find new opportunities.

Historical Trends

You can see how search volume for keywords has changed over time. This helps you identify rising trends or seasonal fluctuations.

Once you've explored the data, export it to Google Sheets for the final step.

Step 3: Prioritize Keywords in Google Sheets

Now it's time to make sense of all this data and prioritize your keywords. Here's how to clean up and analyze your spreadsheet:

Remove unnecessary columns (like segmentation and competition)

Rename columns for clarity (e.g., "Avg. monthly searches" to "Volume")

Use conditional formatting to highlight high-volume or high-CPC keywords

Sort by volume or CPC to see your most valuable keywords

Add a column for relevance and manually rate each keyword

Here's a simple formula for prioritizing keywords:

This takes into account search volume, commercial intent (via CPC), and how relevant the keyword is to your business.

Pro Tip: Don't just focus on high-volume keywords. Long-tail keywords (3+ word phrases) often have less competition and can be easier to rank for.

Other Free Keyword Research Tools

While the Google tools are powerful, there are other free resources you can use to supplement your research:

Google Trends

Google Trends shows you how search interest in topics changes over time. It's great for:

Comparing multiple keywords

Identifying seasonal trends

Finding related topics and queries

Answer the Public

AnswerThePublic generates questions people are asking about a topic. It's excellent for:

Finding long-tail keywords

Understanding user intent

Generating content ideas

Keywords Everywhere Chrome Extension

Keywords Everywhere is not 100% free but extremely cheap. Just $12/year. I use it all the time and you can see it in all of my audits.

The browser extension shows search volume data right in Google search results.

It's useful for:

Quick keyword research while browsing

Finding related keywords

Estimating keyword difficulty

Tips for Effective Keyword Research

To get the most out of your keyword research, keep these tips in mind:

Focus on search intent: Make sure your content matches what the searcher is looking for (informational, navigational, or transactional).

Look for keyword gaps: Find keywords your competitors are ranking for that you're not targeting yet.

Consider keyword difficulty: Balance search volume with how hard it will be to rank for a term.

Think topically: Group related keywords together to create comprehensive content that covers a topic in-depth.

Track your rankings: Regularly check how you're performing for your target keywords and adjust your strategy as needed.

Update regularly: Search trends change over time, so revisit your keyword research periodically.

Common Keyword Research Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced SEOs can fall into these traps. Make sure you're not making these common mistakes:

Ignoring long-tail keywords: These might have lower volume, but they often convert better.

Focusing only on volume: High-volume keywords are often highly competitive. Balance volume with other factors.

Neglecting local SEO: If you have a local business, don't forget to include location-based keywords.

Keyword stuffing: Once you've found your keywords, use them naturally in your content. Overuse can lead to penalties.

Not considering user experience: Don't sacrifice readability or user experience just to include more keywords.

Conclusion

You don't need expensive tools to do effective keyword research.

With just Google Search Console, Google Keyword Planner, and Google Sheets, you have everything you need to uncover valuable keywords and inform your SEO strategy.

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