What Are Keywords and How to Find Them?
Alright, let’s be real for a sec.
If you have been hanging around the blogging, marketing, or online business world for even five minutes, you have probably heard people screaming about “keywords” like it’s the secret key to life itself.
And honestly?
They are kinda right.
But — and this is a BIG but — nobody tells you in simple words what keywords actually are, how to find them, or why you should even care.
Don’t worry, I got ya.
We are gonna break this down like we’re sitting in a coffee shop, sipping some delicious mocha, and laughing at all the jargon people make way more complicated than it needs to be.
So let’s gooo. 🚀
So, What Even Are Keywords?
let’s think of keywords as the words people type into Google when they are searching for something.
That is it.
Not rocket science. Not secret spy language.
Literally just the stuff people search for online.
For example:
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“Best pizza near me”
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“How to lose belly fat fast”
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“Cute outfits for fall”
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“How to get Adsense approval” 👀 (if you read our article, you know!)
Those little phrases?
Those are keywords.
When you create content around what people are already searching for, you make it WAY easier for your blog or website to show up in search engines.
In other words:
Keywords help people find you on the massive, crazy thing called the internet.
And if nobody can find you?
Welp, all your amazing blog posts are just shouting into the void. Sad times.
Why Do Keywords Even Matter, Though?
Here’s the deal:
If you pick the right keywords and use them smartly in your blog posts or website pages, you:
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Get more visitors (aka traffic)
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Rank higher on Google
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Build authority in your niche
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Make more money (if you’re into that)
Basically, it’s like putting up a giant flashing sign that says,
“Hey! I’m what you’re looking for!”
Without keywords?
It’s like trying to sell cookies in the middle of the desert.
No one knows you’re there.
The Two Types of Keywords (Because Yes, There’s More Than One)
1. Short-Tail Keywords
These are super short, super broad, and usually super competitive.
Example:
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“Shoes”
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“Blogging”
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“Recipes”
The problem?
They’re so broad that it’s crazy hard to rank for them unless you’re already a mega-huge website.
(Like, good luck beating Nike if you try to rank for “shoes.”)
2. Long-Tail Keywords
These are longer, more specific, and WAY easier to rank for.
Example:
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“Best running shoes for flat feet women”
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“How to start a lifestyle blog in 2026”
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“Quick healthy recipes for busy mums”
Notice how those are like real sentences?
That’s what people actually type into Google.
Pro tip:
Long-tail keywords = your BFF if you’re just starting out.
How to Actually Find Keywords (Without Crying)
Alright, now the juicy part — how the heck do you find these magical words?
Buckle up. 🏎️
1. Think Like Your Audience
Start simple.
Ask yourself:
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What would I type into Google if I was looking for this info?
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What questions do people in my niche have?
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What problems are they trying to solve?
Example:
If you have a fitness blog, your readers might be searching for:
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“Workouts for beginners”
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“Meal prep ideas for weight loss”
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“How to stay motivated to exercise”
Just brainstorm. Dump it all out. No judgment.
2. Use Google Itself
Google is honestly the biggest free keyword tool on Earth.
Here’s how:
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Start typing something into the search bar and see what Google suggests (those autocomplete options? GOLD.)
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Look at the “People also ask” section under search results.
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Scroll to the bottom of the page and peep the “related searches.”
It’s like Google is literally handing you a list of what people want to know.
(And it’s free, which is my favorite price.)
3. Use Free Keyword Tools
If you wanna get fancy, here are some cool tools that don’t cost a penny:
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Ubersuggest (by Neil Patel — gives lots of ideas + difficulty score)
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AnswerThePublic (shows what questions people ask)
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Keyword Surfer (a free Chrome extension — shows search volume right on Google)
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Google Keyword Planner (technically for ads, but still useful)
You just type in a topic and boom — a million keyword ideas rain down on you.
4. Spy on Your Competitors
Listen, it’s not creepy — it’s smart. 😎
Find bloggers or websites in your niche and see what kinds of posts they’re writing. Look at their titles, their headers, their tags (sometimes).
If everyone’s writing about “Best vegan snacks for kids,” guess what?
That’s probably something people search for.
No need to copy — just use it as inspo for your OWN content.
5. Look at Forums, Reddit, and Facebook Groups
Wherever people are chatting, they’re dropping keyword gold without even realizing it.
Example:
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Reddit’s “r/fitness” subreddit = people constantly asking fitness questions
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Facebook groups about blogging = people posting, “Hey how do I get more traffic??”
Those questions?
They’re literally keyword ideas handed to you on a silver platter.
6. Bonus Tip: Use “Seed Keywords” First
Pick a super simple word related to your niche (like “gardening” or “keto recipes”)
Then dig deeper into it using tools, Google suggestions, or your own brain.
Seed keywords are like planting a tiny seed that grows into a whole forest of keyword ideas.
🌱➡️🌳
How to Know if a Keyword is Good (Or a Hot Mess)
Not every keyword is worth chasing, honestly.
Here’s how to tell if you’ve struck gold:
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Search Volume: Are enough people actually searching for it?
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Competition: Is it super competitive? (Tough for newbies.)
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Relevance: Is it 100% related to what you’re offering or writing about?
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Search Intent: Are people looking to learn, buy, or solve something?
If a keyword checks all those boxes? Winner winner chicken dinner.
If it’s way too hard to rank for right now? Maybe save it for later.
Where to Use Keywords on Your Site (Without Being a Weirdo)
Now that you have some keywords, what do you do with them?
Sprinkle them (naturally!) into:
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Your blog post title
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Your headings (H1, H2, etc.)
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Your URL (like yourblog.com/how-to-lose-belly-fat)
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Your first paragraph
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Your meta description (the little blurb under your post on Google)
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A few times throughout your article
Important:
DON’T overdo it.
Keyword stuffing = yikes.
Just write naturally, like you’re chatting with a friend (because you are, right? 😉)
Quick Real-Talk FAQ
Q: Can I just make up keywords?
A: Nope. Keywords are based on what real people are already searching for. You gotta meet them where they’re at.
Q: How many keywords should I use per post?
A: Focus on 1 main keyword, maybe sprinkle on a few related ones next.
Q: How long will it take to rank for any keywords?
A: It depends. (Annoying answer, I know.)
Could be weeks, could be months. Blogging = patience game.
Final Wrap-Up
Look — keywords are important, yeah.
But they’re not scary once you get the hang of it.
Here’s the real tea:
👉 Think about what your people are searching for
👉 Find those juicy keyword phrases
👉 Create awesome content around them
👉 Repeat.
Done and done.
Seriously, don’t stress too much.
You’ll get better at it the more you practice.
And remember:
The internet needs your voice.
(Yes, YOURS.)
Now go out there and start keyword hunting, my friend. 🎯✨