How to Do Keyword Research Using AI Tools (Even Without Experience)

Part of 🔍 Keyword Research & Strategy with AI (Articles 6–9) in Launch and scale an SEO business using AI tools

Part of the SEO Starter Course for Humans (with AI as Your Sidekick)

Alright, let’s be real for a second. Keyword research? Sounds dry, right? Like, “Oh joy, let me sit down with a spreadsheet and whisper sweet nothings to Google’s algorithm.” But here’s the kicker — it doesn’t have to be a soul-crushing task. And no, you don’t need to be some tech wizard who dreams in code. If you can Google something and talk to an AI (hey there 👋), you’ve got this.

Let’s dive in — not like swan-dive elegance, more like a cannonball with splashy enthusiasm.

First, Why Even Bother with Keyword Research?

Imagine opening a taco stand in the middle of a forest. Best tacos in the world. No one finds you. Why? No one’s searching for tacos out there. Keyword research is how we make sure your metaphorical taco stand ends up on a busy street — with people actually hungry for what you’re offering.

So yeah, this part matters.

“But I’ve Never Done SEO Before…”

Perfect. Seriously. No bad habits to unlearn. No weird SEO jargon bouncing around in your head like “latent semantic indexing” (don’t Google it; just…don’t). You’ve got fresh eyes, a curious mind, and some kick-butt AI tools that’ll make you feel like you’ve got a superpower.

If I had these tools when I started? Man, I would’ve spent way less time crying into my coffee.

Let’s Talk AI Tools (a.k.a. Your New Digital Buddies)

So, what are we using here?

• ChatGPT (or something like it) — For brainstorming keyword ideas, finding user intent, and even content outlines.
• Google’s Keyword Planner — Old-school but free and solid.
• Ubersuggest — For when you want to peek at what your competition is up to (like digital people-watching).
• AnswerThePublic — Like eavesdropping on the internet’s collective brain.
• LowFruits, Frase, or SurferSEO — For serious content matching and low-competition keywords.

You don’t need to use all of them. Pick two or three. They won’t cry if you ghost the others.

Step 1: Start with Curiosity (Not Perfection)

Let’s say you’re starting a blog about houseplants because, I dunno, maybe talking to your pothos has become the highlight of your week (no judgment). Start with questions:

• What are people struggling with?
• What are you Googling?
• What weird plant things keep you up at night?

Pop those into ChatGPT. Example:

“Hey, give me 20 questions beginners ask about caring for monstera plants.”

Boom. Instant seed keywords (pun fully intended). Don’t worry about volume yet. Just get your ideas flowing.

Step 2: Check the Waters — Are People Searching for This?

Now we bring in Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest. Drop in a few ideas like:

• “Monstera leaves turning yellow”
• “Best soil for monstera”
• “Monstera aerial roots what to do”

What you’re looking for:

• Search volume – Are people actually typing this stuff in?
• Competition – Are you about to walk into a content battlefield?

Hot tip: Low competition + decent volume = sweet spot. Think “hidden gem” keywords. The SEO equivalent of finding $20 in your winter coat.

Step 3: Understand the “Why” Behind the Search

AI’s about to flex here.

Ask ChatGPT:

“What’s the search intent behind ‘best soil for monstera’?”

It might say: “Informational — the user is trying to learn, not buy.”

Cool. So your job is to educate. Maybe write a post like “The Best Soil Mix for Monstera (And the One That Killed Mine).” Add some personality, a little story, maybe a tragic plant tale. People remember that stuff.

Real Talk: Don’t Chase Keywords Like They’re Magic Beans

Yeah, keywords matter. But don’t write stuff just to “rank.” Write to help. To connect. To be useful. AI can sniff out garbage content — but so can humans.

Use keywords to guide the topic, not to cram into every sentence like some SEO sausage. Seriously, stuffing “best monstera soil mix” in five times makes you sound like a bot pretending to be human pretending to be a bot.

Just… don’t.

A Mini Anecdote (Because Humans Love Those)

When I first learned SEO, I spent two weeks writing a guide titled: “The Ultimate Guide to Local SEO in 2020”. I optimized every H2 like it was a sacred mantra. It ranked. Briefly. Then flopped. Why?

Because it was boring.

No real stories. No emotion. No edge. Readers bounced like they were on a trampoline.

I re-wrote it months later with actual client stories, frustrations, and that “oh man, I totally did this wrong too” tone — and that version still ranks. You can’t fake vibe.

Step 4: Organize What You Find

Use a simple Google Sheet. Or Notion. Or honestly, a piece of paper and a crayon if that’s your vibe.

Columns to include:

• Keyword
• Volume
• Difficulty
• Intent
• Notes (like “OMG, this is gold!” or “meh”)

This isn’t an SAT. It’s your treasure map.

Step 5: Use AI to Plan Content (Not Write Garbage)

Please don’t just copy/paste AI-generated content straight to your blog. That’s like buying boxed brownies, smashing them with a fork, and calling it “homemade.” 😅

Ask AI to help you outline. Like:

“Give me an outline for a blog post targeting the keyword ‘monstera root rot signs’.”

Then you fill it in with your real voice. Your weird metaphors. Your plant-nerd energy. The AI is your co-pilot, not your ghostwriter.

Final Thoughts (And a Pep Talk, Because You Deserve One)

Look, keyword research might feel like trying to decode a secret language at first. But give it a few tries, and you’ll start seeing patterns. You’ll start thinking like your reader. And with AI by your side, you’re not wandering blind — you’re hiking with a GPS and a digital buddy who never sleeps.

Don’t overthink it. Get curious. Get messy. Make mistakes. Tweak. Repeat.

And for the love of coffee, don’t wait to be perfect before you start. No one is. Not even the people ranking #1.

Next Lesson: Crafting AI-Assisted Blog Posts That Don’t Suck (Seriously).

Stay curious,
~ A fellow human who once Googled “why is my plant crying”