Keyword Research Unlocked: How a Newbie Found 20 Low-Competition Gems (Free Tools Inside!)

Introduction: When Google Became My Frenemy

It’s 2 a.m. My laptop screen glows like a neon sign. My assignment? Find 20 keywords with 100+ monthly searches in India, targeting competitors with DA <25. No paid tools. No shortcuts. Just me, a caffeine buzz, and a sinking feeling that “keyword research” was a secret language I hadn’t cracked.

This isn’t a polished guide. It’s my unedited, messy, yet triumphant journey—how I turned confusion into clarity, free tools into allies, and panic into a 20-keyword victory. Want to see how I built this website from scratch? Check out my step-by-step journey on the homepage. Let’s rewind.

Chapter 1: The Day Ahrefs Humiliated Me (And Why It Was a Good Thing)

Ahref keyword generator

My First Brush with Keyword Difficulty

I started with Ahrefs’ free keyword generator, typing “digital marketing” like a hopeful novice. The results? “SEO strategies” (KD 45), “content marketing tools” (KD 50). Top-ranking sites? Semrush (DA 90) and Backlinko (DA 88). My heart sank.

Lesson 1:

  • Short-tail keywords are battlegrounds for giants.
  • Long-tail keywords (3-5+ words) are quieter corners where beginners thrive.

My Pivot:
I chased phrases like “Instagram Reels strategies for local boutiques in Mumbai” (Volume: 95, KD: 12) and “WhatsApp Business hacks for small retailers” (Volume: 110, KD: 10).

Chapter 2: AnswerThePublic’s 3-Free-Searches Miracle

How a Robot Taught Me to Speak Human

AnswerThePublic’s free plan gave me 3 daily searches. Typing “digital marketing” unveiled raw questions like:

  • “Can a bakery survive with just Instagram marketing?”
  • “Why do Facebook ads flop for small businesses?”

Reality Check:
Most had KD scores above 30. So I filtered for commercial intent:

  • “Affordable SEO services for Pune startups” (Volume: 130, KD: 15)
  • “Freelance email marketing expert for solopreneurs” (Volume: 85, KD: 18)

Lightbulb Moment:
Turn questions into blog titles. Example: “Can a ₹10k Budget Work for Digital Marketing? (Spoiler: Yes!)”

Chapter 3: Reddit, Quora & LinkedIn: Where Real People Spill Their SEO Secrets

Confessions from the Digital Marketing Trenches

I became a forum lurker. Here’s what real strugglers shared:

Reddit:

  • “My local clinic’s website is invisible on Google. Help!” → Keyword: “Healthcare clinic SEO services near me”
  • “Google Ads burned my budget. Alternatives?” → Keyword: “Low-cost Google Ads strategies for startups”

LinkedIn Rant:

  • “Why do agencies charge ₹1 lakh/month? Highway robbery!” → Keyword: “Budget-friendly digital marketing freelancers India”

Takeaway:

  • Forums = Unfiltered pain points. If someone’s venting, hundreds are Googling solutions.

Chapter 4: Google Autocomplete: The Free Tool Hiding in Plain Sight

Letting Strangers Type My Keywords For Me

I typed “digital marketing” into Google and let autocomplete finish my sentences:

  • “Digital marketing courses with free certificates”
  • “Digital marketing tools for absolute beginners”

Pro Hack:

  1. Add letters (a-z) to your keyword:
    • “Digital marketing a” → “Digital marketing agency vs. in-house team”
    • “Digital marketing f” → “Digital marketing freelance rates 2024”
  2. Use incognito mode to dodge personalized results.

Chapter 5: SEMrush’s Free Plan: My 10-Search Daily Lifeline

Semrush Keyword Research

How I Squeezed SEMrush Like a Lemon

SEMrush’s free tier became my validation squad. Here’s how I milked it:

  1. Prioritized forum-inspired keywords.
  2. Checked search volume and keyword difficulty.
  3. Used “Related Keywords” to find gems like:
    • “TikTok ads for local salons” (Volume: 150, KD: 18)
    • “Email marketing templates for fitness coaches” (Volume: 80, KD: 8)

Golden Tip:
Use SEMrush’s “Keyword Gap” to find terms competitors ignore.

Chapter 6: Local Keywords: My Secret Weapon Against DA Giants

Why “Chennai” Saved My Sanity

I targeted hyper-local queries:

  • “Best SEO agency in Hyderabad for restaurants” (Volume: 120, DA Competitor: 14)
  • “Google Ads management for Delhi bakeries” (Volume: 75, KD: 7)

Why Local Works:

  • Local businesses often have DA <25 (verified via MozBar).
  • Less competition from national players.
Mozbar

Case Study:
A Chennai bakery owner Googling “cake delivery SEO services near me” isn’t looking for Neil Patel—they want someone who knows their streets.

Chapter 7: Dodging the “Copy-Paste” Trap (And Why Google Hates It)

How I Avoided Becoming a Keyword Robot

I could’ve recycled “digital marketing agency in [City]” 20 times. But Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) hates repetition.

My Workaround: Mix angles like:

  • Service + Niche: “Email marketing for yoga instructors”
  • Problem + Solution: “Fix zero website traffic with local SEO”
  • Tool-Centric: “Canva hacks for Instagram carousels”

Bonus: Exploit Google’s “People Also Ask” for subtopics.

Chapter 8: Free Tools I’d Marry If I Could

  1. Ubersuggest’s Free Tier: Uncovered “micro-influencers for Chennai boutiques” (Volume: 65, KD: 10).
  2. Google Trends: Spotted rising searches for “AI tools for small business SEO”.
  3. Keyword Surfer: Saw search volume without leaving Google.

Deep Dive:

  • MozBar: Instantly check DA while browsing.
  • Screaming Frog’s Free Plan: Crawl competitors’ sites (limited but gold).

Chapter 9: My Final 20-Keyword Cheat Sheet (Steal These!)

Here’s how I mixed angles to hit 20 keywords:

  1. Problem-Based: “How to track SEO ROI for ₹50k budgets” (Volume: 110, DA Competitor: 16)
  2. Local + Service: “Instagram marketing for Kolkata cafes” (Volume: 85, KD: 9)
  3. Tool-Focused: “Free Canva templates for salon social media” (Volume: 180, DA Competitor: 12)

Chapter 10: Brutally Honest Lessons No Course Taught Me

  1. Start Small: Master 1-2 tools before jumping to paid ones.
  2. Think Like a Searcher: What would you Google during a 3 a.m. panic?
  3. Limitations Breed Creativity: Free tools force you to innovate.

FAQ: Questions I Googled Mid-Meltdown

  1. “How long does keyword research take for a newbie?”
    • Answer: 8 hours for my first 20 keywords. Now? 2-3 hours. Muscle memory matters!
  2. “Can I rank without paid tools forever?”
    • Answer: Yes, but paid tools save time as you scale.

Conclusion: From Blank Screen to Keyword Warrior

Keyword research isn’t about tools—it’s about curiosity. I started with panic and left with 20 keywords, a caffeine tolerance, and a mantra: “Free tools + creativity = unstoppable.”

Your Homework:

  1. Open AnswerThePublic.
  2. Stalk a Quora thread.
  3. Let Google autocomplete blow your mind.

Remember: Every expert was once a rookie who refused to quit.

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