Tools & How-To

How to Do Keyword Research for Free (Step-by-Step)

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By Delano Slocombe · Updated July 2026 · 8 min read
Short answer

You can do keyword research for free by combining Google Search itself, Google Keyword Planner, Google Search Console, and free tiers of tools like Ubersuggest or Ahrefs Webmaster Tools. Start with a seed topic, find related phrases people actually search, then filter for low-competition, specific queries your site can realistically rank for. No paid subscription is required to build a solid keyword list — especially when you're starting a niche site from scratch.

Why Keyword Research Matters Before You Write a Single Word

Most new niche site builders make the same mistake: they write about what they find interesting, not what people are actively searching for. Keyword research closes that gap. It tells you exactly what questions real people are typing into Google, how competitive those queries are, and — for AdSense publishers — whether the advertisers bidding on those topics are paying meaningful rates.

The good news is you don’t need to pay for expensive tools to get started. Free options, used systematically, give you more than enough data to find your first 50–100 content targets.

Step 1 — Start With Google Itself (It’s More Powerful Than You Think)

Before opening any tool, open a Google search tab. Type a broad seed phrase related to your niche — something like “knee pain relief” or “easy weeknight dinners” — and pay close attention to three things:

This takes five minutes and costs nothing. In our experience building content sites, Google’s own interface often surfaces the most intent-rich, long-tail queries that tools miss — because they’re updated in real time.

Step 2 — Use Google Keyword Planner the Right Way

Google Keyword Planner is free inside a Google Ads account — you don’t need to run ads to use it. It shows you search volume ranges, competition levels (low/medium/high for advertisers), and related keyword ideas.

Here’s how to use it effectively as a publisher:

One honest note: Keyword Planner shows advertiser competition, not SEO ranking difficulty. A keyword can have low advertiser competition and still be tough to rank for organically, or vice versa. Use it as one signal, not the whole picture.

Step 3 — Mine Real Questions With AnswerThePublic and AlsoAsked

Two free tools that punch well above their weight for content creators:

These tools are especially useful for identifying long-tail keywords — specific, multi-word phrases with lower competition that a new site can realistically rank for.

Step 4 — Check Actual Ranking Difficulty for Free

Finding a keyword with volume is only half the job. You also need to know whether your site can realistically rank for it. Here are free ways to gauge that:

The manual check is underrated. We used it consistently when building sites like PainBalance.org (later sold on Flippa for $4,200) — scanning the SERP for weak incumbents before committing to a topic.

Step 5 — Organize Your Keywords Into a Content Plan

Raw keyword lists don’t earn money. A structured content plan does. Once you have 30–50 keyword candidates, sort them into three buckets:

A simple Google Sheet with columns for keyword, estimated volume, competition level, intent type, and assigned article title is all you need. No fancy software required.

What Free Tools Can’t Tell You (And What to Do About It)

Free tools have real limitations: volume data is often estimated or shown in ranges, difficulty scores vary across platforms, and you won’t get the granular CPC data that paid tools provide. That’s okay when you’re starting out — the goal is directional accuracy, not perfection.

To fill the gaps:

For a deeper breakdown of the specific tools mentioned here, check out our guide to the best free keyword research tools for niche site builders — it covers each platform’s strengths, limits, and ideal use cases in more detail.

How This All Connects to a Site That Actually Earns

Keyword research is the foundation, but it only pays off when your site is properly structured, loaded fast, and approved for AdSense. The sites we built and sold on Flippa — including QuoteDB.org ($3,500) and DayToDayRecipes.com ($8,000) — all started with the same free keyword research process described above, long before any paid tools entered the picture.

If you’d rather skip the setup curve entirely and get a done-for-you niche site that’s already keyword-researched, built, and AdSense-ready, take a look at what MoneyManifest.net builds for site owners — it’s the service we point people to when they want a head start without the guesswork.

Either way, the research process above is real, repeatable, and free. Start with one niche, one seed keyword, and 20 minutes of honest SERP digging. That’s how every site begins.

Key takeaways

Frequently asked questions

Is Google Keyword Planner really free to use?

Yes. You need a free Google Ads account to access it, but you do not need to run or fund any ad campaigns. Once your account is set up, Keyword Planner is fully accessible at no cost.

What's the difference between keyword difficulty and advertiser competition in free tools?

Advertiser competition measures how many businesses are bidding on a keyword in Google Ads — it affects AdSense revenue potential. Keyword difficulty measures how hard it is to rank organically in Google Search. These two metrics often move independently, so check both separately.

How many keywords do I need before I start writing?

For a new niche site, aim for 30–50 vetted keyword targets before you start publishing. That gives you enough material for a real content plan without getting stuck in endless research mode.

Can I do keyword research without any tools at all?

Yes — Google Search itself (Autocomplete, People Also Ask, Related Searches) and manual SERP inspection give you a workable keyword list with zero tools. It's slower but entirely valid, especially in the early stages of a new site.

Helpful resources

Want a site like this built for you?

We build done-for-you AdSense sites — domain, 50 articles, SEO, and approval help — for a one-time $499. We’ll first send you 3 real sites we built and sold on Flippa.

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By Delano Slocombe · July 5, 2026 · CashiFest

This article is general educational information about websites and Google AdSense, not financial advice or a guarantee of income. AdSense earnings depend on your niche, traffic, and effort, and vary widely. CPC figures are advertiser bid estimates that change over time. Always review Google's current AdSense program policies before building.

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Delano Slocombe

We build and sell done-for-you AdSense websites — including sites flipped on Flippa such as PainBalance.org, QuoteDB.org, DayToDayRecipes.com. See how we can build yours →

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