While APIs are powerful for automating keyword research, you can still find excellent SEO opportunities using manual methods. This guide walks you through proven steps to identify valuable keywords without touching the Google Ads API.
You can access Google Keyword Planner for free with a Google Ads account, even if you don’t run ads:
Google Trends helps you identify seasonal interest, compare keywords, and spot rising queries before they peak. This is particularly useful for content planning and PR campaigns.
AnswerThePublic visualises the questions and phrases people use around a topic. It’s excellent for finding long-tail keyword ideas and structuring blog content around search intent.
These insights come directly from Google’s own search data, making them highly relevant.
Search for your target keyword, open the top-ranking sites, and note the terms they use in headings, meta titles, and throughout the content. Tools like SEOquake or MozBar can help you extract this data quickly.
Place all keywords into a spreadsheet with columns for:
From there, choose keywords that balance decent search volume with lower competition, ensuring they align with your business goals.
Manual keyword research can be just as effective as automated methods when done systematically. By using these free tools and techniques, you can uncover valuable opportunities to improve your SEO performance without writing a single line of code.