Trying to improve your website’s visibility but not sure where to begin? You’re not alone. Many business owners want better Google rankings but get stuck when it comes to keyword research. Good news: you don’t need a degree in data science or hours of free time to make meaningful progress.
10 Beginner Keyword Research Tips will Help You Build a Smarter SEO Strategy
1. Start with What You Know
Before diving into tools or trends, think about what your customers actually search for. Write down basic questions they might ask about your product or service. These questions often contain valuable keywords hiding in plain sight.
2. Use Google’s Autocomplete and “People Also Ask”
Type a few words into Google’s search bar and see what it suggests. These autocomplete results show real searches by real people. Scroll down further, and you’ll find the “People Also Ask” section—another goldmine for relevant keyword ideas.
3. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
Instead of targeting broad terms like “marketing,” go for more specific phrases like “email marketing for small businesses.” Long-tail keywords have less competition and attract users who know exactly what they want.
4. Spy on Your Competitors (In a Friendly Way)
Search for your main keywords and see who ranks on the first page. Look at their titles, meta descriptions, and content structure. This gives you clues about what works—and how you can do it better.
5. Check Keyword Difficulty Before Committing
Not all keywords play fair. Some have high competition, which makes ranking harder without a big budget or strong domain authority. Use free tools like Ubersuggest or AnswerThePublic to check keyword difficulty before investing time.
6. Don’t Ignore Search Intent
Ask yourself: What is the person searching this keyword really looking for? Are they trying to buy something, learn something, or compare options? Align your content with that intent to keep users engaged—and reduce bounce rates.
7. Mix in Local Keywords When Relevant
One of the best beginner keyword research tips is to include local terms if you serve a specific area (e.g., ‘plumber in Austin’ instead of just ‘plumber’). Local keywords help you appear in nearby searches and attract customers who are ready to take action.
8. Use Tools That Save Time and Show Results
When you’re juggling multiple roles, you need tools that give quick insights without a steep learning curve. Tools like Squirrly’s User-Friendly Google SERP Checker let you track Google rankings by country, monitor international performance, and even see how your content performs on social media—all in one place.
This kind of clarity helps answer the big question: Is my SEO actually working?
👉 Start tracking your Google Rank and get the feedback you need to keep improving.
9. Revisit and Refresh Old Content
Already have blog posts or pages on your site? Great! Go back and update them with stronger keywords based on what you’ve learned so far. This boosts relevance without starting from scratch.
10. Track What’s Working—and What Isn’t
Keyword research isn’t a one-time task; it’s ongoing detective work. Regularly check which pages rank well and which ones don’t get much traction. With tools that combine SEO performance and social media insights, you’ll know exactly where to focus next.
Squirrly’s SERP Checker helps here too—it shows both search engine results and how your content is doing across platforms, giving you a full picture without needing multiple dashboards.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Smart
These beginner keyword research tips aren’t about chasing trends or stuffing content with buzzwords—they’re about understanding what people search for and giving them useful answers. SEO doesn’t have to be complicated when you focus on clear steps that bring real results.
So grab a notebook (or spreadsheet), pick one tip from this list, and start building an SEO strategy that actually works—for both search engines and humans.
And remember: tracking your progress is just as important as making changes. Don’t guess—get data-backed insights by tracking your Google Rank today.
Beginner keyword research tips don’t have to be intimidating—just practical, strategic, and smart (like you).
Want the complete guide? Read our complete keyword research guide to learn how everything fits together.
