Basic Keyword Research for a New Blog (A Simple 60 to 90-Minute Method)

A new blog feels like a fresh notebook. The ideas are there, the energy is there, but the audience hasn’t arrived yet. You hit publish, then refresh your stats… nothing. That’s normal.

Keyword research is the bridge between what you want to write and what people already search for. A keyword can be a single word, but for new blogs it’s usually a full phrase (like “how to start a running plan as a beginner”). When you match your posts to real searches, you stop guessing and start showing up.

This guide gives you a basic, repeatable method you can run in 60 to 90 minutes. It focuses on low-competition, long-tail phrases, the kind a new site can actually win.

Photo by Atlantic Ambience

Start with the right topics, not random keywords

New bloggers often start with the tool, type in a word, then chase whatever number looks biggest. That’s like choosing a book title before you know the plot.

Start with topic buckets instead. These are 3 to 5 clear areas your blog will cover, written in normal language. Each bucket should match your reader’s life, not your own private jargon.

A fast way to define your reader:

• What they want: a clear outcome (save money, get fit, land a job, cook faster).
• What keeps them stuck: confusion, lack of time, fear of doing it wrong.
• What they type into Google: short, honest searches they’d use at 11pm.

Now choose your buckets. If you were starting a new blog about personal finance for UK graduates, your buckets might look like this:

• Budgeting on an entry-level salary
• Clearing debt and using credit well
• Saving and investing basics
• Career moves that raise income
• Life admin (bills, rent, taxes, pensions)

From each bucket, build seed keywords, which are starter phrases you’ll expand later. Aim for 10 to 20 seeds in total. Keep them plain, like you’re quoting a friend.

Example seed list (from the buckets above):

• “budgeting for graduates”
• “how to stop overspending”
• “how credit cards work UK”
• “pay off overdraft fast”
• “how to start investing UK”
• “ISA vs savings account”
• “how to ask for a pay rise”
• “best way to track expenses”

If you want a deeper explainer on the overall approach, this walkthrough is useful: beginner keyword research for bloggers. Then come back and do the steps below with your own niche.

Choose your niche lanes: problems, goals, and ‘how-to’ moments

When you’re building seeds, stick to three “lanes” that beginners search most.

A simple checklist to brainstorm:

• Problems: what’s going wrong right now?
• Goals: what do they want to reach?
• Beginner how-to moments: what are they trying for the first time?

Examples (using a home fitness blog):

Problem-based seeds: “knee pain after squats”, “can’t do a press-up”
Goal-based seeds: “get stronger at home”, “build muscle without gym”
Beginner-based seeds: “how to start lifting weights”, “workout plan for beginners at home”

Notice the pattern. These sound like real searches, because they are.

Build a seed list fast using Google suggestions and real questions

Once you have a bucket and a few seeds, let Google help you extend them. You don’t need a paid tool for this part.

Use three quick sources:

Google Autocomplete: Start typing your seed keyword, then copy the suggestions exactly as shown.
People also ask: Open a few questions, then copy the phrasing people use.
Related searches: Scroll to the bottom of page one, then grab the “close cousin” phrases.

Important habit: write phrases as full searches, not single words. “Meal prep” is vague. “meal prep for night shifts” is a post with a clear reader.

Keep all of this in a simple sheet or notes doc. Speed matters more than perfection here.

Find long-tail keywords you can actually rank for as a new blog

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases, usually three words or more. They get less traffic per phrase, but they’re easier to rank for and they bring clearer intent.

Think of it like fishing. A short keyword is the ocean. A long-tail keyword is a small bay where you can actually see the fish.

At this stage, you’ll take your seed list and expand it into a shortlist of “post-ready” keywords. Beginner-friendly tools you can use in 2026 include Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, Ubersuggest, AnswerThePublic, and lightweight keyword tools that show volume and difficulty. You don’t need all of them. Pick two, then cross-check.

A simple workflow:

1. Drop in one seed keyword (for example, “how credit cards work UK”).
2. Collect long-tail suggestions that fit your blog (like “how does credit card interest work UK” or “credit card minimum payment explained”).
3. Check volume and competition inside your chosen tool.
4. Keep only the ones you can serve well with a clear post.

As a new blog, don’t obsess over “perfect” numbers. Tools estimate. What you need is direction.

If you want a broad view of tool choices, this round-up gives a good sense of what’s popular right now: keyword research tools used in 2026.

A quick way to judge a keyword: volume, difficulty, and fit

You’ll see three signals again and again:

Volume: how often people search it (usually monthly).
Difficulty: how hard it is to rank (each tool scores it differently).
Fit: whether the phrase matches your blog’s promise and your reader’s needs.

Beginner-friendly ranges (use these as guidance, not strict rules):

• Volume: look for modest demand. Even 20 to 200 searches a month can be worth it when you’re new, because you can stack many posts over time.
• Difficulty: aim low. If a tool shows a difficulty score, start with the lowest you can find that still feels relevant.
• Fit: non-negotiable. If the keyword pulls in the wrong type of reader, it’ll waste your time.

A common trap is chasing huge volume keywords (like “budgeting” or “investing”). Those terms are broad, and page one is often packed with established sites. Save them for later, when you’ve built authority and internal links.

For a more detailed, process-led breakdown, this guide lays out a structured method: keyword research process for 2026.

Use Google Trends to avoid writing about fading topics

A keyword can look great in a tool, then flop because interest has dropped. That’s where Google Trends helps.

Use it for two checks:

Seasonality: Some topics spike every year (like “best ISA” around tax-year deadlines). If you publish too late, you miss the wave.
Comparisons: Compare two phrases that feel similar, then pick the one with steadier interest.

Example: imagine a tech blog choosing between “best AI resume builder” and “resume template Word”. The first might spike after a viral trend, then cool off. The second might stay steady for years. A new blog usually needs steady more than spiky.

Trends won’t give exact search volume, but it will stop you writing posts that feel dated by the time they index.

Check search intent and the first page before you commit

A keyword isn’t just words. It’s a request. Search intent is what the person actually wants when they type it.

If you get intent wrong, you can write a brilliant post that Google won’t rank, because it’s the wrong shape for that search.

Do a quick “SERP sniff test” before you lock in a keyword:

1. Google the exact phrase (use an incognito window if you like).
2. Scan the top 5 results.
3. Note what format keeps showing up (how-to guide, list, comparison, product page, definition).
4. Judge how tough the competition looks.

Signs the keyword is too competitive for a new blog:

• The first page is full of big brands or major publishers.
• Every result looks heavily updated, with polished graphics and deep sections.
• The pages have strong authority (often clear from how dominant the sites are).

Signs it might be a good opportunity:

• Several results are old, thin, or don’t answer the query well.
• You see forum threads ranking because there’s no strong guide.
• The top results don’t agree on the best answer (Google is still testing).

This step is where beginners often find their best keywords. Numbers are helpful, but page one tells the truth.

If you’d like another simple perspective on how keyword research is shifting (with more emphasis on topics and intent), this is worth a skim: simple keyword research process for 2026.

Match the keyword to the right post type (guide, list, comparison)

Google tends to reward the format that best serves the query. Don’t fight it.

A quick mapping:

• “how to …” keywords suit step-by-step guides.
• “best …” keywords suit list posts (with clear criteria).
• “… vs …” keywords suit comparisons (with a decision at the end).
• “what is …” keywords suit explainers (simple definitions, examples, FAQs).

Write the post Google is already showing, then make yours clearer, more current, and easier to follow.

Spot easy wins: weak pages, outdated advice, and missing steps

You don’t need tricks. You need to be the most helpful result on the page.

Use this short checklist when judging page one:

Clarity: Can you answer the query faster and more plainly?
Completeness: Are key steps missing, or are examples thin?
Freshness: Is the advice out of date for 2026?
Trust: Can you add sources, screenshots, or a simple template?
Usefulness: Can you include a mini checklist, a timeline, or “what to do next”?

If you can improve two or three of these, you can often compete, even as a new site.

Turn your keyword list into a simple plan, then track what works

A keyword list is only useful if it becomes published posts. The goal is steady growth, not one “perfect” article.

Start by organising your keywords into a lightweight content plan:

• Choose one focus keyword per post (the main target).
• Add 3 to 6 close variations you can use in headings and body text.
• Avoid writing two posts that answer the same question in the same way.

A simple spreadsheet layout works well:

For your first month, a realistic target is 6 to 8 posts aimed at low-competition long-tails. That’s enough to learn what sticks, without burning out.

Once posts are live, use Google Search Console to see what’s happening. It’s one of the few tools that shows what Google actually tested your pages for.

Prevent keyword overlap so Google doesn’t get confused

Keyword cannibalisation sounds scary, but it’s simple. It happens when two of your posts try to rank for the same query, so neither becomes the clear winner.

Quick fixes:

Merge similar drafts into one stronger post.
Choose one main page for the core keyword, then support it with related posts.
Use subheadings for close variants, instead of making separate articles.

A clean site structure helps you later, when you start targeting bigger terms.

Track rankings and clicks, then update the plan every month

In Search Console, focus on a few beginner-safe checks:

Queries with impressions: these are keywords Google already associates with your page.
High impressions, low clicks: often a title or intro problem, not a content problem.
Pages that plateau: refresh them with a clearer opening, better headings, and a missing section.

Small tweaks can move a post from page two to page one. Put a monthly reminder in your calendar, then spend one hour improving what already exists.

Conclusion

Basic keyword research for a new blog isn’t about chasing huge numbers. It’s a steady loop: pick topics your reader cares about, expand into long-tail keywords, check intent on page one, then publish with purpose. After that, you watch what Google shows your pages for and improve the winners.

Give it one hour a week and you’ll build momentum without stress. Start today with one seed topic, then find 10 long-tail options that match real questions. The blank page gets a lot less intimidating when you know people are already searching for your next headline.