These are some of the best keyword research tools for solopreneurs. Check out some of my other posts and pages if you don’t know what keyword research is.
Here’s one post about content marketing, which depends on keyword research. Here’s one about using Amazon for conducting keyword research, and one on the tool that was built to make that process so much easier for you: Publisher Rocket. Publisher Rocket is a tool I use with every client’s book that I help to position and publish.
Keyword research is a very important part of helping your content be found online. Conducted and used well, it may be the most important factor in your SEO, in fact.
Do search engines reward keyword research?
Search engines do make shifts from time to time, emphasizing one factor over another, and then penalizing sites for focusing on the very factor that the search engines rewarded for so long. Here is one example. Years ago, keyword stuffing was rewarded by the search engines. Now, it’s penalized—and thank heaven for that! Who wants to read a tennis article about tennis that has the word tennis every other tennis word? Don’t stuff. Serve.
Historically, the search engines have not been very helpful when it comes to telling us what they want. So for some of those trying to rank well, it’s been a guessing game to some extent. I’ve always encouraged people to serve their readers, follow the rules, and things will work out just fine.
Despite the changes that come, one thing remains constant: search engines want to deliver content that serves the reader. Write for readers first, search engines second. Follow the rules and do what you can, but don’t put thousands of hours into it, and never try to rank for the most competitive keywords. The more specific the keyword you’re using, the better.
If you try to rank for “cars,” you’re going to need millions of dollars to do that. But for “candy apple red 64 1/2 Mustang rag top,” it will be so much easier.
Simply think of what your reader would be typing into a search engine to find what you’re creating.
The free tools in this list are labeled. The Site Build It tool, which is called the Brainstormer, (#1) is my favorite because it is user friendly and has a profitability score. That helps me find the “sweet spot” between search volume (demand) and competitors (supply). Note: As with most pages on this site, this post has some affiliate links.
The best keyword research tools for solopreneurs
Site Build It! For regular websites
Site Build it! For WordPress sites
Google Keyword Planner (Free but requires a Google Ads account)
SERPStat Keyword Research Tool
SEOBook Keyword Suggestion Tool
It can be easy to get overwhelmed when investigating a lot of new tools. I hope you take it easy and are gentle with yourself. Just check out one or two free and one or two paid from the list of the best keyword research tools above.
Then, after you’ve conducted some keyword research and you have a list of words and phrases that your readers are looking for, make a list of things you might write about. Start with topics that are in “the sweet spot.” That means there’s enough demand but not too much competition.
Think about your reader, and deliver what people are looking for. Create content in a way that will be accessible to your visitors. This means breaking up large blocks of text, using bullet points or other lists, inserting images when it is appropriate to do so, and creating useful content. Have fun!