Keyword research database

Keyword research tools hold a large database of search terms with figures attached, such as an estimate of monthly searches, how hard it is to rank, and related phrases and questions. You enter a topic and get ideas, then filter by volume, difficulty or intent. For example, a bookkeeping firm can discover that people search for a particular tax deadline thousands of times a month and decide to write a guide on it. Ahrefs, SEMrush and SurferSEO are listed as having it.

Without data, content planning relies on guesses about what people type. Keyword research shows demand and competition before you invest in writing, and it reveals the wording customers actually use. It matters for any business that wants search traffic. It matters less if your leads come from direct outreach or referrals. Volumes are estimates and differ between tools, so use them to compare topics with each other, not as exact numbers.

• Which countries and languages does the database cover.
• What does it show beyond volume, such as difficulty, intent and trends.
• Can you group keywords into topics and save lists.
• How many searches or exports does your plan allow each day or month.