When someone starts a tech or online earning blog, they usually jump straight into writing articles. They publish posts like “How to make money online” or “Best smartphones in 2025,” and then wonder why their traffic does not grow. The problem is not their writing. The problem is that they are writing about topics no one asked them to write about, or they are competing against websites ten times bigger.
Keyword research solves this problem. It helps you find topics that real users search for, topics where you have a realistic chance of ranking. Think of it as the foundation of your content strategy. Without it, you are building on sand.
This guide is for absolute beginners. Whether you are starting a tech review website, a blog on online earning, or a niche about AI tools, the steps below will tell you how to approach keyword research the right way.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Is Keyword Research
Keyword research is the process of understanding what users type into search engines and why they search for it. These words and phrases are called keywords. When you know what people search for, you can create content that answers their questions.
If users are searching for “best ai tools for students,” Google is literally telling you that there is an audience interested in this topic. If you write a detailed guide around it, you have a much better chance of ranking than writing a generic post simply titled “AI tools.”
In simple terms, keyword research is about listening to the market instead of shouting into the void.
Understanding Search Intent
The same keyword can attract different types of readers depending on what they are trying to achieve. Google has become much more intelligent about this, and it ranks pages based on search intent rather than just keyword match.
There are four types of intent you should know.
Informational Intent
These users want knowledge. They are not trying to buy anything immediately. Examples:
- how to earn money online
- what is affiliate marketing
- how to root android phone
Blog posts, tutorials, and guides work best for these.
Navigational Intent
Users already know where they want to go.
- amazon login
- udemy homepage
- chatgpt website
These are rarely useful for content creators.
Commercial Investigation
The audience is researching before buying.
- best ai writing tools
- freelancing platforms comparison
- laptops under 70000 for coding
These bring strong affiliate potential.
Transactional Intent
These users are ready to spend money.
- buy cheapest hosting
- hire android developer
- purchase keyword tool subscription
If you want to make income through blogging, these are extremely valuable.
Someone searching “best smartphone under 20000 in India” is much closer to buying than a person searching “smartphone history.” Understanding that difference is the key to choosing profitable keywords.
Short Tail vs Long Tail Keywords
This is where most beginners fail. They target keywords that are too big.
Short Tail
One or two words. Vague, broad, and highly competitive.
- blogging
- laptop
- make money online
Ranking on page one for these terms is nearly impossible unless your site is already established.
Long Tail
Three to seven words, very specific, lower competition, and closer to actual needs.
- best laptops for programming students
- how to earn money online without investment
- best ai tools for content writing
Long tail keywords might bring less traffic individually, but they are far easier to rank. And many small wins together create big traffic over time.
Free Keyword Research Tools You Should Start With
You do not need paid tools in the beginning. Here are the free tools that every beginner should learn to use.
Google Autosuggest
Type your topic into Google and note the autocomplete suggestions. These are based on real user search behaviors. If you type “best smartphones under,” Google will finish the sentence with “15000,” “20000,” and “25000.” Those suggestions are your starting points.
People Also Ask
Scroll down Google search results and you will find expansions such as “Is freelancing profitable?” or “Which phone is best under 15000 for gaming?” These questions are excellent subheadings or separate blog posts.
Google Trends
This is useful for comparing interest levels. If “freelancing” is declining but “ai tools” is rising, your content should adjust accordingly.
AnswerThePublic
Type a general keyword and it will generate hundreds of related questions. If you search “affiliate marketing,” you will get variations like “how to start affiliate marketing,” “affiliate marketing without website,” “affiliate marketing in India.” These are article titles waiting to be written.
Ubersuggest (free version available)
It will give you search volume numbers, competition scores, and more keyword suggestions. Not perfect, but extremely useful for beginners.
Paid Tools That Save Time Later
Eventually, you will want accurate search volume and competitive metrics.
- Ahrefs
- SEMrush
- KWFinder (Mangools)
- LowFruits
- Keyword Chef
These tools reveal which keywords your competitors rank for, their backlinks, and content gaps. They are often worth the investment once you start earning from your blog.
How to Do Keyword Research Step by Step
This method works for any niche, but let’s apply it to tech and online earning.
Step 1: Start From a Broad Topic
Examples:
- “AI tools”
- “best smartphone”
- “earn money online”
- “freelancing”
Step 2: Expand
Use autosuggest, PAA, Ubersuggest, and other tools.
From “AI Tools,” you get:
- ai tools for bloggers
- ai tools for writing content
- ai tools for coding beginners
- ai tools for social media
Each of these is its own article.
Step 3: Evaluate the Competition
Search your keyword on Google.
If the first page is full of TechCrunch, Forbes, NDTV Gadgets, Amazon, or YouTube, you are competing against giants. Choose something more specific.
Instead of “best ai tools,” write:
- best ai tools for beginner bloggers
- best ai tools for scriptwriting
- best ai tools for YouTube automation
You will get better chances of ranking.
Step 4: Check Numbers
Ideal beginner-friendly metrics:
- Volume: 300 to 5000 monthly searches
- Keyword Difficulty: under 20-30
- CPC: above $0.50 (higher commercial intent)
This range is not a strict rule, but it works as a general guideline.
Step 5: Turn Topics into Articles
Focus on practical needs.
- how
- what
- best
- vs
- review
- guide
- under 15000
- as a student
- without investment
Instead of “earn money online,” aim for:
- how to earn money online as a student
- best earning apps in India
- earn money online using AI tools
Keyword Examples for Tech Blogs
Gadget and Device Keywords
- best smartphones under 15000
- best earbuds under 3000
- gaming laptops under 70000
- battery life comparison phones
Practical Tutorials
- how to install android 14 beta
- how to optimize laptop performance
- how to reset router settings
Comparisons
- iphone 13 vs iphone 14
- upwork vs fiverr
- wordpress vs blogger
Problem Solving
- laptop battery draining fast
- phone overheating fix
- wifi speed slow solutions
These topics combine user intent, evergreen value, and monetization opportunities.
Keyword Examples for Online Earning Blogs
Beginner Categories
- how to earn money online as a teenager
- freelancing platforms for beginners
- affiliate marketing explained simply
Skill and Method Focused
- best niches for YouTube beginners
- best remote jobs for students
- content writing rates in India
Tool Oriented
- best earning apps without investment
- websites that pay you for work
- best ai tools for blogging beginners
Passive Income
- how to start dropshipping
- online business using ai
- earn money with blogging
These keywords attract people actively searching for solutions.
Keyword Clustering
Google rewards sites that demonstrate topical depth rather than random coverage. Keyword clustering is grouping related keywords into content pillars. This is how authority sites dominate.
Example cluster for “AI tools for blogging”:
- best ai tools for writers
- ai tools to generate blog ideas
- ai tools to rewrite content
- ai seo optimization tools
- ai tools for editing and proofreading
Publishing multiple articles around a single theme signals expertise to search engines. Over time, Google trusts your site more.
Reverse Engineering Competitors
You do not need to reinvent everything. Look at who ranks in your niche. Study their articles and headings. Then ask yourself what they missed.
Are they quoting outdated prices? Are they using old versions of tools? Are they missing examples? Google values freshness and completeness. Your job is to write content that is more useful and more up to date.
If you use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush, you can even see which pages bring them most traffic. Those pages can become inspiration for your strategy.
Keyword Placement in Your Article
Keyword placement matters, but stuffing keywords will hurt your ranking. Use them naturally.
Place your main keyword in:
- Title (H1)
- URL slug
- First paragraph
- Some subheadings (H2, H3)
- Meta description
- Alt text for images
- Conclusion
Do not repeat keywords excessively. Google understands synonyms and meaning.
How Many Keywords Should You Target in One Blog Post
Focus on one main keyword and a handful of supporting keywords. Something like:
- Primary keyword: 1
- Secondary keywords: 3–6
- Supporting keywords: 6–12
Write like a human, not like a search engine. If your writing is helpful and covers the topic fully, your keywords will naturally integrate themselves.
Example
Suppose you want to rank for “earn money online.”
That keyword is too broad. When you run it through Ubersuggest or Google Ads Keyword Planner, you will find long-tail variations:
- earn money online without investment
- online earning apps for students
- earn money online using ai
Pick the variation with lower competition. Write a detailed guide and include a few related sub-topics.
Your outline may look like this:
- Why online earning works differently today
- Best methods depending on skill level
- Step by step walkthrough of each method
- Tools to use
- Mistakes beginners make
- FAQ at the bottom
Instead of competing with every site in the world, you focus on a narrow slice of the audience.
Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid
Do not copy other blogs. Google recognizes duplicate content instantly.
Do not target one-word keywords. They are too competitive.
Do not write 500 word articles and expect traffic. Depth matters.
Do not chase random trends without strategy.
Do not ignore intent. If someone wants to buy a laptop, do not give them the history of processors.
Become a Topic Based Site, Not a Random One
Google rewards specialization. If you publish 30 unrelated posts, you confuse the algorithm. Build around pillars.
Technology niche example:
- Smartphones under different budgets
- Battery and camera comparisons
- Tips, tricks, common problems
Online earning niche example:
- Freelancing platforms
- Affiliate marketing
- AI tools for productivity
- Case studies
- Beginner earning methods
Once you cover 20 to 30 posts around your pillars, you will notice that Google starts ranking your content faster.
Closing Thoughts
Keyword research is not a trick or a hack. It is a mindset. It teaches you to write for real people, not just for yourself. If you take the time to understand what users search for, what their intent is, and how competitive the field is, your tech or online earning blog will grow steadily.
Write content that answers real questions. Choose long-tail keywords. Analyze competitors. Build topic clusters. Do this consistently and Google will treat your site with respect.
If you want, I can generate a list of low-competition keywords specifically for your blog or even create a one-month content plan. Just tell me your niche.
