I’m Kayla. I write and sell stuff online for a living. I’ve tried more keyword tools than I care to admit. Some helped. Some wasted time. A few saved my bacon during a busy holiday season when I was running on coffee and hope.
Here’s the thing. I don’t chase shiny charts. I care about simple wins that bring real readers, real buyers, and real calls. So I’ll tell you what I used, what worked, and where each tool fell short. With real examples from my own projects.
And yes, I’ll pick a “best” tool at the end. You know what? It surprised me too.
How I judge “best” (very simple)
- Ideas I can use right now
- Numbers I can trust
- Speed and clean workflow
- Helps me pick fights I can win
If you want the blow-by-blow version of how I arrived at these four filters, I've laid it out in the best keyword analysis tool I actually use.
Ahrefs Keywords Explorer: the one I reach for first
I didn’t want to like Ahrefs. It’s not cheap. But wow, it keeps paying for itself.
If you've never poked around the tool itself, Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer lets you generate thousands of keyword ideas in seconds, clusters them automatically, and backs every suggestion with reliable metrics so you can pick winners faster.
Real example from my sourdough blog:
- I searched “sourdough starter.”
- Ahrefs showed me “how to feed sourdough starter after fridge.”
- It said low difficulty, about 300 searches a month, and most folks click.
- I wrote a simple guide with photos.
- Two months later, that page brings about 400 visits a month. It sits on page one, most days at spot 3. My email list grew by 120 people off that one post. Not magic—just a smart pick.
Why it works for me:
- It shows “Clicks,” not just search volume. Some searches get no clicks because Google answers right on the page. Ahrefs warns me.
- “Parent Topic” helps me roll small ideas into one strong page when it makes sense.
- Filters are fast. I can set “KD under 10,” “volume over 200,” and “include: after fridge.” Then I get a tidy list I can act on during a lunch break.
Another real one, local plumber client:
- Seed term: “water heater noise.”
- Ahrefs suggested “water heater making sizzling noise” (low difficulty, steady volume).
- I wrote a page with short steps, costs, and when to call.
- We tracked calls. That page brings 8–12 calls per month. For a small shop, that’s huge.
What I don’t love:
- It’s pricey if you’re just starting.
- Data for tiny niches can feel thin at times. Still better than most, though.
SEMrush: great all-around, almost my top pick
SEMrush feels like a full toolbox. Keyword research, content ideas, site audits—everything baked in. When I handle a bigger client, I open SEMrush first. It also moonlights as one of my go-to competitor analysis tools when I need a quick peek at what rivals are ranking for.
Real example, HVAC site:
- I used the Keyword Magic Tool and found “AC smells like vinegar.”
- Good volume, not too hard.
- I paired it with the “Questions” filter: “why does AC smell like vinegar,” “is AC smell dangerous.”
- We wrote a guide with a simple checklist.
- That post grabbed a snippet for a while. Traffic doubled on that page for three months in summer. Calls ticked up on hot days. (Folks Google weird smells when it’s 98°F. I would too.)
Why I use it:
- Very strong for topic clusters. It shows related phrases in clean groups.
- Rank tracking is solid. Easy to show clients charts without a headache.
- PPC folks love the CPC data. Helps if you run ads and SEO side by side.
For outreach campaigns, I pair those insights with a few dedicated link building tools to win the right backlinks.
Where it bugs me:
- The interface is busy. It takes a week to feel at home.
- Keyword difficulty sometimes feels spiky versus Ahrefs. I cross-check when stakes are high.
Google Keyword Planner: free and useful, just… fuzzy
I use it when I need a starting list or ad angles. But the ranges can be wide, and many terms get lumped together. Still, as a free snapshot it doubles as rough-and-ready market research when I'm validating a new niche.
Real example, landscaping:
- Seed: “mulch delivery.”
- Planner showed strong demand and high cost per click.
- That told me the buyer intent is hot. People pay for this click.
- I made a service page with clear pricing and an “order by Friday” note.
- Leads came in, not huge, but steady.
Why it helps:
- It’s free with a Google Ads account.
- It shows location data well. Good for local businesses.
Where it falls short:
- Volume ranges can be vague.
- Not great for long-tail content ideas.
Keywords Everywhere: tiny tool, big help on the fly
I keep this browser add-on on. It drops volume and related terms right on the search page.
Real example, my YouTube notes video:
- I typed “iPad note taking.”
- It showed “iPad note taking for students,” “iPad note taking tips,” and “GoodNotes vs Notability” with volume hints.
- I used “iPad note taking tips for messy writers” as a title. That video now brings steady watch time. The phrase felt human. The tool gave me the nudge.
Why I like it:
- It’s cheap.
- It’s quick idea fuel while I’m surfing.
Limits:
- Data is lighter than the big tools.
- I still cross-check with Ahrefs or SEMrush before big content.
AnswerThePublic and AlsoAsked: pure question gold
These tools show the questions people ask around a topic. I use them when I’m stuck or want a tight FAQ.
Real example, dog blog:
- Topic: “dogs and cucumbers.”
- I saw questions like “can dogs eat cucumber peel” and “how much cucumber can dogs eat.”
- I wrote a quick guide with a small chart and two vet quotes. It ranks on page one for a few long-tails. Steady, calm traffic.
Why they’re handy:
- Great for subheads and FAQs.
- Help me cover the “people also ask” angles in plain words.
Why they’re not my main tool:
- No deep metrics out of the box.
- Good for shaping content, not for full research.
Speaking of niches where search demand can spike almost overnight, the adult-leaning corners of live-stream platforms are a wild study in long-tail volume. If you’ve ever wondered how a single brand name plus a risqué modifier can rack up thousands of highly specific searches, swing by Periscope nudes — the page curates trending tags, real-time screenshots, and popularity data, giving you a concrete look at how fast these micro-niches erupt (and fade) so you can spot similar keyword waves before they crest. Likewise, local escort directories show how hyper-local plus intent-driven keywords can explode with minimal notice; a quick tour of Listcrawler Arcadia reveals live listings, price points, and headline phrases that trend by the hour, letting you mine real-time data on which geo-specific terms are converting right now.
Moz Keyword Explorer: friendly and clean
Moz feels calm. The UI is simple. I like the “Priority” score, since it mixes volume, difficulty, and chance to rank.
Real example, kid crafts:
- “Perler bead patterns” was tough.
- Moz nudged me toward “small perler bead patterns for beginners.”
- Low difficulty, decent interest.
- That post brings about 200 visits a month. It sells a small printable pack on Gumroad. Quiet but steady.
Where it shines:
- Easy to learn.
- Priority score helps when I’m tired and need a clear pick.
Where it’s light:
- Database size trails Ahrefs and SEMrush.
- I use it more for planning than deep hunts.
The quick tests I run with any tool
I keep a tiny checklist next to my keyboard:
- Can I find 10 low-difficulty, real-click terms in 15 minutes?
- Do the top results look beatable? Weak pages, thin content, odd forums?
- Are there clear question angles I can answer in one sitting?
- Will the post help a real person, not just a robot?
If a tool helps me say “yes” fast, it stays.
My real results across tools (a few snapshots)
- Sourdough “after fridge” post from Ahrefs idea: 400 visits/month, 120 new email subs over two months.
- HVAC vinegar smell from SEMrush idea: doubled traffic in summer, more calls on hot days.
- Plumber sizzling noise page from Ahrefs: 8–12 calls/month.
- Perler bead beginners from
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