What keyword research is (in plain English)
Keyword research means finding out what people type into Google about your topic — and choosing which of those searches your blog should answer.
Without it, it is easy to write posts that nobody searches for, or to target topics where huge websites already fill every result on page one. With a simple workflow, you can find topics that are both useful to readers and realistic for a new blog.
This guide uses Mangools, a set of SEO tools that includes keyword research. Paid plans start at $49 per month (monthly billing), and you can create a free account to try the workflow first.
The 4-step workflow
1. Start with your reader's problems
Before opening any tool, write down 10–20 questions your reader might have. If your blog is about online courses, for example:
- "how to price an online course"
- "how long should an online course be"
- "how to record a course at home"
These are your seed ideas. They come from your knowledge of the reader, not from a tool — which is exactly why they are valuable.
2. Look up search volume and difficulty
Now take each seed idea into KWFinder, the keyword research tool in the Mangools package.
For each keyword, KWFinder shows you two important numbers:
- Search volume — roughly how many times per month people search for it.
- Keyword difficulty — an estimate of how hard it is to reach page one.
It also suggests related keywords. Save the promising ones to a list.
3. Pick keywords you can realistically rank for
For a new blog, the sweet spot is usually:
- lower difficulty (KWFinder color-codes difficulty; start with keywords in the easiest, green range),
- some search volume, even if small,
- clear intent — you can tell exactly what the searcher wants.
Long, specific phrases ("how to price your first online course") are often easier than short, broad ones ("online course"). They also tend to bring readers who know what they want.
4. Turn a keyword into an article outline
Search your chosen keyword on Google and look at the top results. Note:
- What questions do they all answer? (Your post must answer these too.)
- What is missing or confusing? (This is your chance to be more helpful.)
- Is the format a list, a step-by-step guide, or a comparison?
Then write an outline with one heading per question. That outline is your article plan.
A simple weekly routine
- Monday: add 5 new seed ideas from reader questions.
- Tuesday: check them in your keyword tool and save the best 1–2.
- Rest of the week: write one article for the best keyword.
Small, steady progress beats a giant keyword spreadsheet you never use.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Chasing only high-volume keywords. They are usually the hardest to rank for.
- Writing for the tool instead of the reader. The keyword decides the topic; the reader decides the content.
- Judging too early. Search traffic for a new blog takes time to build. Give posts a few months before deciding they "failed."