Keyword Research Part II: Methods of Keyword Research Different Than Using Keyword Planner

As I mentioned in the previous article, you have a few possible options to find new phrases and synonyms. And these options are not necessarily confined in the Keyword Planner of Google. In general, your possibilities for keyword research include:

1. The classical methods;
2. Forums;
3. Wiki;
4. Google Search Console (Webmaster Tools);

The Classical Methods include AdWords, checking competition (Ctrl+U for source of webpage) and Google Suggest.

Competition Research

Just open a competitor site and explore what kind of keywords he has used in his copy (text). Look in the headings, the beginning of the paragraphs, in image titles. You can also check the source of the web page (Ctrl+U). There you can look for “keyword” (use Ctrl+F) tag and check what they have entered. Bear in mind – not everyone is putting their keywords there. Then you can copy/paste those words in Google Keyword Planner (GKP). Do you remember that “Your landing page” section just under the field where you enter the words? Paste the competitor's URL there. Use the filters and you can get some really neat suggestions.

Google Suggest

Simply type your keyword in Google Search. At the bottom you will find a few suggestions from the engine. When you find something relevant, go one step deeper. There you can find even more synonyms. All of them you can put in GKP to see if the words are worth it.
Advanced Search

The methods above are rather basic and most of the other SEO specialists and writers will use them. So you need something unique. Here are a few suggestions where you can look for keywords:

Forums;
Wikis;
Articles, Reddit subreddits, Moz categories;
Google Webmaster Tools;
Pinterest boards;

Forums

There you can find content written by users. This is very useful, because you will know how a user calls a service. Every topic could be a potential niche and a potential article for your clients! When you find the right thread (use for example “keyword”+”forum/board/forums”) you can paste the URL in GKP. Wikis, competitor sites, Pinterest boards and other URLs can be used the same way.

Webmaster Tools

You can use them to check how people find your website. If you have a new one, it wouldn't be in much use in the beginning. But as soon as you gain some visits, queries or if you already have some, you will be able to see how the users have found your website. For example, you notice that 4 people have seen the site while searching for “app for cleaning house” and there is even one click. Let's say you haven't worked for this word and you have just discovered a new variation of a main phrase. Run in through GKP to check search volume.