Free Keyword Research Methods for Beginners (No Paid Tools — 2026)
Paid keyword research tools like Ahrefs and Semrush cost $100–$200/month — a significant investment when you’re just starting out. The good news: free tools give you more than enough data to find low-competition, high-intent keywords that a new blog can realistically rank for. This guide walks through every free method in detail, with real examples.
Once you’ve found your keywords, see SEO for beginners for how to use them in your articles, and how to write affiliate blog posts that convert for the content structure.
What Makes a Good Beginner Keyword?
- Long-tail — 3–5 words, more specific, far less competition
- Buyer intent — includes “best”, “review”, “vs”, “how to”, “for beginners”
- Answerable — you can write a genuinely comprehensive post on it
- Low competition — smaller blogs ranking on page 1 is a positive signal
- Under 1,000 monthly searches — easier to rank, still worth targeting
Method 1 — Google Autocomplete
The Fastest Free Keyword Tool Available
When you start typing in Google’s search box, it suggests completions based on what people actually search for. These suggestions are real keyword opportunities — and because they come directly from Google, they’re the most accurate data available.
How to use it:
- Open Google in incognito mode (removes personalisation from suggestions)
- Type your broad topic and pause: “affiliate marketing for…”
- Note all suggestions — these are real searches
- Add letters at the end: “affiliate marketing for b…”, “affiliate marketing for c…”
- Try adding qualifiers: “best affiliate marketing for…”, “how to affiliate marketing…”
→ email marketing for beginners
→ email marketing for affiliate marketers
→ email marketing for small business
→ email marketing for bloggers
→ email marketing for ecommerce
Each suggestion is a potential article topic. Check each one by searching it — if smaller blogs rank on page 1, it’s a realistic target for a new site.
Method 2 — Google People Also Ask
Unlimited Question-Based Keywords
The “People Also Ask” (PAA) box appears in most Google search results. It shows related questions real people are asking — each one is a potential article topic or FAQ section. Click any PAA question and more questions appear below it, giving you an infinite supply of related keywords.
How to use it:
- Search your main topic in Google
- Find the “People Also Ask” box (usually appears after position 1–2)
- Click each question to expand it and reveal more related questions
- Screenshot or note the questions most relevant to your niche
- Each question is a perfect FAQ answer or standalone article topic
→ How do beginners start affiliate marketing?
→ What is the best affiliate programme for beginners?
→ Can you do affiliate marketing with no money?
→ How long does it take to make money with affiliate marketing?
Method 3 — Google Related Searches
More Keyword Ideas at the Bottom of Every Search
Scroll to the bottom of any Google results page and you’ll find “Related searches” — 8 additional keyword variations Google suggests. These are consistently lower competition than the main keyword you searched for.
How to use it:
- Search your target keyword
- Scroll to the bottom of the results page
- Note all 8 related search suggestions
- Click each one and repeat — finding related searches within related searches
Method 4 — AnswerThePublic
Visualises Every Question Around Your Topic
AnswerThePublic takes a keyword and generates a visual map of every question, comparison, and preposition-based search around it. The free tier gives 3 searches per day — enough to build weeks of content ideas in one session.
How to use it:
- Go to answerthepublic.com
- Type your broad topic (e.g. “affiliate marketing”)
- Switch to “Data” view instead of visualisation for easier reading
- Filter by question type: Who, What, Where, When, Why, How
- Export the results as a CSV and save for future content planning
How: “how to start affiliate marketing without a website”
What: “what is the best niche for affiliate marketing”
Which: “which affiliate marketing programme pays the most”
Can: “can you do affiliate marketing on Pinterest”
Method 5 — Semrush Free Tier
Real Keyword Data Including Volume and Difficulty
Semrush’s free tier gives you 10 keyword searches per day with real data — monthly search volume, keyword difficulty score, and related keywords. Ten searches per day is enough to validate your Google Autocomplete and PAA findings with actual numbers.
How to use it:
- Create a free account at semrush.com
- Go to Keyword Overview and type your target keyword
- Check: Volume (aim for 100–1,000), Difficulty (aim for under 40 as a beginner)
- Scroll down to “Keyword Variations” and “Questions” for more ideas
- Use your 10 daily searches to validate the best keywords from your other research
Bonus — AI-Assisted Keyword Research
Use AI to Generate Keyword Lists Instantly
ChatGPT and Claude can generate keyword ideas fast — not with search volume data, but with realistic long-tail variations you can then validate in Semrush.
Prompt template:
“Generate 20 long-tail keyword ideas for a beginner affiliate marketing blog in the [niche] niche. Focus on buyer-intent keywords including ‘best’, ‘review’, ‘how to’, and ‘vs’ variations. Each keyword should be 3–6 words long.”
Take the AI-generated list and run the most promising ones through Semrush’s free tier to check volume and difficulty before writing.
All Free Keyword Research Tools at a Glance
Google Autocomplete
Real search suggestions. 100% free, no signup. Best for initial brainstorming.
Google People Also Ask
Question-based keywords. Free, unlimited. Best for FAQ and informational content.
Google Related Searches
Low-competition variations. Free, unlimited. Best for finding keyword clusters.
AnswerThePublic
Question maps. 3 free searches/day. Best for content planning sessions.
Semrush Free
Volume + difficulty data. 10 searches/day. Best for validating keyword choices.
ChatGPT / Claude
AI keyword brainstorming. Free tier. Best for rapid idea generation.
Step-by-Step: Find Your Next 10 Keywords for Free
Open incognito. Type your main topic and note every autocomplete suggestion. Try 5–6 variations with different words added before and after.
Search each keyword candidate and screenshot the PAA questions. Expand each question to see more. You’ll end up with 30–50 question-based keyword ideas.
Note any related searches that look like strong article topics. Each one is a lower-competition alternative to the main keyword.
Check volume and difficulty for your strongest keyword candidates. Prioritise keywords with 100–1,000 monthly searches and difficulty under 40.
Track: keyword, estimated volume, difficulty, article idea, and status (not started / in progress / published). Review and update monthly.
Want a complete keyword research template and content planner?
The Ultimate Online AI Income Toolkit includes a keyword planning spreadsheet and content calendar template for affiliate bloggers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I do keyword research without any tools?
Yes — Google Autocomplete, People Also Ask, and Related Searches are built directly into Google, require no signup, and provide real keyword data. Many successful affiliate bloggers built their first 50 articles using only these three free methods before investing in paid tools.
How do I know if a keyword is too competitive for a new blog?
Search the keyword in Google. If the top 5 results are all massive authority sites (Wikipedia, Forbes, WebMD, major news outlets), it’s too competitive. If you can see smaller blogs or less-known sites ranking, you have a realistic chance with quality content.
When should I upgrade to a paid keyword tool?
When you’re publishing consistently (at least 2 articles per week) and starting to see some Google traffic (month 3–4). At that point, the data from Ahrefs or Semrush will help you scale faster. Before that, free tools are sufficient.
How many keywords should I target per article?
One primary keyword per article, plus 3–5 secondary keywords (related terms that naturally appear in a well-written piece on that topic). Trying to optimise for too many keywords dilutes your focus and reduces your chance of ranking for the main one.
What is keyword difficulty and what score should I target?
Keyword difficulty (KD) is a score from 0–100 showing how hard it is to rank for a keyword. For new sites, target keywords with KD under 30–40. Most free keyword tools don’t show KD — use Semrush’s free tier to check your shortlisted keywords.
Summary
Free keyword research using Google Autocomplete, People Also Ask, Related Searches, AnswerThePublic, and Semrush’s free tier gives beginner affiliate bloggers everything they need to plan months of content — at zero cost. Use these tools systematically, validate your best ideas in Semrush, and build a simple tracking spreadsheet to stay organised.
Once your keywords are chosen, see SEO for beginners for on-page optimisation and how to write affiliate blog posts that convert for the content structure that turns rankings into commissions.
Related: SEO for Beginners · How to Write Affiliate Blog Posts That Convert · Free Traffic for Affiliate Marketing · Best Tools for Affiliate Marketing on a Budget