5 Ways to Research Keywords without Using a Keyword Suggestion Tool

“Keyword research” are the 2 words every SEO is all too familiar with. It’s what we spend hours every day doing. Thankfully, there are tools available that help us streamline the entire keyword research process. But what if these tools didn’t exist? What would we do? After panicking and scheduling an extra session of therapy, we’d all be forced to sit down and come up with keywords the old fashioned way. Here are 5 ways to research keywords without ever using a keyword suggestion tool.

1. Brainstorming- While a number of SEOs out there like to let keyword research tools do all the dirty work, I still believe in the power of brainstorming. Long before I ever sit down in front of the computer, I get out a piece of paper to being my brainstorming session. I then write down every word or phrase I can think of to describe my products and services. As a writer, I’m typically able to come up with a large number of key phrases simply by writing down descriptions on paper.
2. Dictionary and Thesaurus- My two best friends as a writer- the dictionary and the thesaurus. Without these 2 resources, I never would have been able to crank out those 15 page term papers in college. Now, in my life as an SEO writer, I still find these books to be quite handy. Using them helps me generate a wide range of keywords I would never think of on my own. It helps me gain a deeper understanding of the terms, and it gives me insight into what phrases potential visitors might use should they be searching for my services.
3. Trade Journals- Virtually every industry has a trade journal of some sort that covers relevant topics surrounding the industry. Reading through one of these documents can open your mind to a whole new world of terminology. Typically, the content in these journals is highly targeted. So, the phrases used in these journals could be the exact terms your target audience would be using to find you. Stay up on the latest industry lingo by regularly reading trade journals in your field.
4. Competitor’s Websites- By no means is this a new idea for keyword research, but it’s necessary to mention. Keyword tools or not, you simply have to study the websites of your competitors if you want to have any success in the search engines. You need to analyze what they’re doing right, and what they are doing wrong. Look at their source code to find keywords that are repeated often. Remember, everyone has a different voice and a different way of describing things. The more voices you study, the more successful you will be at covering the most effective keywords.
5. Traffic Analysis- Lastly, you should be using a website traffic analysis tool to determine how visitors are arriving at your website. Sometimes, a person will land on your website by typing a keyword into the search engine that you’d never think of. Take careful notes of any trends you find in your traffic analysis. After all, who better to tell you what keywords to optimize for than the visitors typing them into the search engines?