The problem: you have a blank page and a blinking cursor
You know you need keywords. You’ve heard about tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Ubersuggest. But right now, you’re staring at an empty spreadsheet, and none of those tools have the button that says “give me the perfect keyword.”
Here’s the truth: the tool doesn’t matter as much as the process. Beginners often lose 30 minutes jumping between tools instead of actually finding usable keywords.
This checklist skips the tool comparison drama. It focuses on one thing: getting you from zero to a list of keyword opportunities in 20 minutes.
Why speed matters more than tool choice
If your first keyword session takes longer than 30 minutes, you won’t do it again. The goal isn’t to find the perfect keyword. It’s to find 10 keywords that are good enough to start writing.
You can refine later. Right now, you need momentum.
Phase 1: Gather raw ideas (the messy phase, 5 minutes)
Don’t open a keyword tool yet. Start with what you already know.
- Your own brain: write down 5 words or phrases your ideal customer would type into Google. Be specific. If you sell “leather travel wallets,” write that. Not “wallets.”
- A competitor’s page: open one competitor page. Hit Ctrl+F and search for “best,” “how to,” “guide,” or “vs.” Write down any phrase that looks like a search query.
- Google’s autocomplete: type your main phrase into Google. Don’t press enter. Write down the 5 suggestions that appear. Do this 3 times with different starting words.
Now you have 15-20 raw ideas. They’re messy. That’s fine.
Phase 2: Validate with one free tool (10 minutes)
Pick one free tool. I recommend Ubersuggest (free tier) or Google Keyword Planner (requires an Ads account, but still free).
Enter your raw ideas one by one. Look at two numbers:
- Search volume: aim for 100-1,000 searches per month. Higher is more competition. Lower means almost nobody searches for it.
- Suggested bid or competition: if a keyword has high competition and low volume, skip it. You’ll waste time.
Your goal: keep the keywords that have volume AND are realistic for you to rank for.
Phase 3: Spot the real opportunities (5 minutes)
This is where beginners stop too early. Don’t just collect keywords. Ask three questions for each:
- Can I create something better than what’s currently ranking? Open the top 3 results. Is the content thin? Outdated? Boring? If yes, that’s your opportunity.
- Does this keyword have clear search intent? Is someone searching for “leather wallet” looking to buy or to learn? If you can’t tell, skip it. You’ll write content nobody reads.
- Is there a long-tail version? “Best leather wallet for men under $50” is easier to rank for than “leather wallet.” Add a modifier (best, cheap, vs, guide, how to) to create a more specific version.
Common mistake: skipping the search results check
Beginners trust the tool’s numbers blindly. Tools estimate search volume. They don’t know if people actually click on the results.
Do this: search for your keyword. Read the first 3 results. If they’re all from massive sites like Amazon or Wikipedia, you’ll struggle to compete as a beginner. If you see smaller blogs or niche sites, you have a real chance.
Mini scenario: from blank page to 5 keyword targets in 15 minutes
A friend runs a small coffee subscription service. She didn’t know where to start.
- Phase 1 (5 min): She wrote “coffee subscription,” “best coffee,” “coffee beans.” Then she searched for “best coffee subscription” on Google and found autocomplete suggestions like “coffee subscription for couples.”
- Phase 2 (10 min): She plugged those into Ubersuggest. “Coffee subscription” had 14,000 searches but high competition. “Coffee subscription for couples” had 280 searches and low competition.
- Phase 3 (5 min): She checked the results. The top 3 articles were old and short. She could write a better, more specific guide.
In 20 minutes, she had a keyword target she could actually rank for.
FAQ
Q: Do I need a paid tool as a beginner?
A: No. Free tools like Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner, and even Google autocomplete are enough to find your first 10-20 keyword opportunities. Upgrade only when you need historical data or deeper competitor analysis.
Q: How many keywords should I find in one session?
A: Aim for 10 good keywords. That’s enough for 2-3 articles and a few weeks of content planning. More than that leads to paralysis.
Q: What if I can’t find any keywords with low competition?
A: Broaden your topic. If “coffee subscription” is too competitive, try “best coffee subscription for remote workers” or “affordable coffee subscription for students.” Long-tail keywords are your friend.
Q: Should I trust search volume numbers completely?
A: No. Use them as a rough guide. A keyword with 100 searches per month can still drive meaningful traffic if it converts well. Focus on intent and competition more than exact volume.
Final practical takeaway
You don’t need a toolbox full of paid software. You need a repeatable process.
Next time you sit down to find keywords, follow these three phases: gather ideas from your brain and Google, validate with one free tool, then check the search results to confirm the opportunity is real.
If you spend more than 30 minutes on a single session, stop. You have enough to start writing. The rest will come from publishing and learning what actually works.
