Free IGoogle Keyword Planner Alternatives

Hey guys! Ever found yourself missing the good ol' days of iGoogle and its handy Keyword Planner? Well, you're not alone! For those of you who remember, iGoogle was a personalized homepage that Google offered, and it included some neat tools for webmasters and marketers. While iGoogle itself is no longer around, the need for reliable and free keyword research tools certainly hasn't gone away. So, let's dive into some awesome alternatives to the iGoogle Keyword Planner that you can start using today to boost your SEO game.

Why Keyword Research Matters

Before we jump into the tools, let's quickly chat about why keyword research is super important. Think of keywords as the breadcrumbs that lead people to your website. When someone types a query into Google, they're using specific words and phrases. If you want your website to show up in those search results, you need to understand what those words and phrases are. That's where keyword research comes in!

By identifying the keywords your target audience is using, you can:

• Optimize your content: Craft blog posts, website copy, and other materials that directly address what people are searching for.
• Improve your SEO: Use keywords strategically in your titles, headings, and throughout your content to help search engines understand what your site is about.
• Attract the right audience: Target keywords that are relevant to your niche and attract visitors who are genuinely interested in your products or services.
• Stay competitive: See what keywords your competitors are targeting and find opportunities to stand out.

In short, keyword research is the foundation of a successful online strategy. It helps you understand your audience, improve your search engine rankings, and drive more traffic to your website. So, let's get to those free alternatives!

Free iGoogle Keyword Planner Alternatives

Okay, so iGoogle might be gone, but the good news is there are tons of fantastic, free tools out there that can help you with your keyword research. Let's take a look at some of the best:

1. Google Keyword Planner

Alright, let's start with the obvious one: Google Keyword Planner itself! While it might seem like we're going in circles here, it's worth mentioning because it's still a powerhouse tool, especially for those just starting out. It's directly from Google, so you know you're getting data straight from the source. You'll need a Google Ads account to use it, but you don't necessarily have to run any ads to access the keyword research features.

Key Features:

• Keyword Ideas: Enter a keyword or topic, and Google Keyword Planner will suggest a whole bunch of related keywords.
• Search Volume Data: See how many people are searching for specific keywords each month. This is crucial for understanding the popularity of different terms.
• Competition Analysis: Get an idea of how competitive different keywords are, which can help you prioritize your efforts.
• Forecasting: Estimate how your keywords might perform in terms of clicks and impressions if you were to run Google Ads.
• Keyword Grouping: Organize your keywords into relevant groups to make your campaigns more efficient.

Why it's great: It's free (with a Google Ads account), provides reliable data, and offers a wide range of features for keyword research and planning. Plus, since it's a Google product, the data is directly tied to Google's search engine, making it incredibly valuable for SEO.

How to use it:

1. Sign up for a Google Ads account (if you don't already have one).
2. Go to the Google Keyword Planner tool.
3. Choose between "Discover new keywords" or "Get search volume and forecasts."
4. Enter your seed keywords or website URL.
5. Explore the suggested keywords, search volume data, and competition metrics.

Pro Tip: Don't just focus on the most popular keywords. Look for long-tail keywords (longer, more specific phrases) that might have lower search volume but also less competition. These can be goldmines for attracting a highly targeted audience.

2. Ubersuggest

Next up, we have Ubersuggest, a tool created by the one and only Neil Patel. Ubersuggest has become a favorite among marketers and SEO professionals due to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive features. It offers a wealth of information, from keyword suggestions to competitor analysis, all within a single platform.

Key Features:

• Keyword Suggestions: Similar to Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest generates a list of related keywords based on your initial input.
• Search Volume & Trends: See the monthly search volume for keywords, as well as historical trends to understand how their popularity has changed over time.
• SEO Difficulty: Get an estimate of how difficult it would be to rank for a particular keyword, helping you prioritize your efforts.
• Content Ideas: Discover popular content related to your keywords, giving you inspiration for your own blog posts and articles.
• Competitor Analysis: See which keywords your competitors are ranking for and identify opportunities to outrank them.

Why it's great: Ubersuggest is incredibly user-friendly, making it a great option for beginners. It offers a ton of features in its free version, and the paid plans are also quite affordable. The content ideas feature is particularly helpful for brainstorming new topics.

How to use it:

1. Go to the Ubersuggest website.
2. Enter your keyword or domain.
3. Explore the keyword suggestions, search volume data, SEO difficulty, and content ideas.
4. Analyze your competitors' keyword strategies.

Pro Tip: Use Ubersuggest's content ideas feature to find trending topics and create content that your audience will love. This can significantly boost your organic traffic.

3. AnswerThePublic

If you're looking for a tool that helps you understand the questions people are asking around a particular topic, AnswerThePublic is your go-to! This tool visualizes search queries in the form of questions, prepositions, comparisons, and alphabetical listings, giving you a unique insight into your audience's needs and interests.

Key Features:

• Question-Based Keywords: Discover questions people are asking related to your keyword, such as "how to," "what is," and "why."
• Prepositional Keywords: See keywords that include prepositions like "for," "with," and "without," helping you understand the context of searches.
• Comparison Keywords: Find keywords that compare your topic to other things, such as "vs" and "or."
• Alphabetical Listings: Explore keywords listed alphabetically, which can spark new ideas.
• Visualizations: The results are presented in visual formats, making it easy to grasp the relationships between keywords.

Why it's great: AnswerThePublic is fantastic for content ideation and understanding the specific questions your audience is asking. It helps you create content that directly addresses their needs, making your website more valuable and engaging.

How to use it:

1. Go to the AnswerThePublic website.
2. Enter your keyword.
3. Explore the visualized results, focusing on questions, prepositions, and comparisons.
4. Identify content opportunities based on the queries people are making.

Pro Tip: Use the questions generated by AnswerThePublic to create a FAQ section on your website or to write blog posts that answer specific queries. This can improve your site's authority and attract more traffic.

4. Wordtracker Scout

Wordtracker Scout is a Chrome extension that allows you to quickly analyze keywords directly from any webpage. It's a super handy tool for on-the-go keyword research and competitor analysis. Simply install the extension, browse a webpage, and click the icon to see a list of relevant keywords.

Key Features:

• On-Page Keyword Analysis: Extract keywords directly from any webpage you're browsing.
• Keyword Difficulty: Get an estimate of how difficult it would be to rank for a particular keyword.
• Search Volume: See the monthly search volume for keywords.
• Related Keywords: Discover related keywords and long-tail phrases.
• Export Data: Export your keyword data for further analysis.

Why it's great: Wordtracker Scout is incredibly convenient for quick keyword research and competitor analysis. It allows you to see the keywords that a particular webpage is targeting, giving you insights into your competitors' strategies.

How to use it:

1. Install the Wordtracker Scout Chrome extension.
2. Browse any webpage.
3. Click the Wordtracker Scout icon in your browser toolbar.
4. Explore the extracted keywords, search volume, and difficulty metrics.

Pro Tip: Use Wordtracker Scout to analyze your competitors' top-performing pages and identify keywords they're targeting. This can help you refine your own keyword strategy.

5. Moz Keyword Explorer (Free Trial)

While Moz Keyword Explorer isn't entirely free, it offers a free trial that gives you access to its powerful keyword research features. Moz is a well-respected name in the SEO industry, and their Keyword Explorer is a comprehensive tool that provides a wealth of data and insights.

Key Features:

• Keyword Suggestions: Generate a list of related keywords based on your initial input.
• Search Volume: See the monthly search volume for keywords.
• Keyword Difficulty: Get an estimate of how difficult it would be to rank for a particular keyword.
• Organic CTR: See the estimated click-through rate for organic search results.
• Priority Score: Moz's unique metric that helps you prioritize keywords based on their potential value.
• SERP Analysis: Analyze the top-ranking pages for a keyword and see their metrics.

Why it's great: Moz Keyword Explorer offers a ton of valuable data and insights, including their unique Priority Score, which helps you focus on the most promising keywords. The free trial allows you to explore the tool's features and see if it's a good fit for your needs.

How to use it:

1. Sign up for a free trial of Moz Keyword Explorer.
2. Enter your keyword.
3. Explore the keyword suggestions, search volume, difficulty, and Priority Score.
4. Analyze the SERP results to see the top-ranking pages.

Pro Tip: Use Moz's Priority Score to identify keywords that have a good balance of search volume and ranking potential. This can help you get the most bang for your buck with your SEO efforts.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it! Even though iGoogle is no longer around, there are plenty of awesome, free keyword planner alternatives that you can use to boost your SEO and attract more traffic to your website. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, these tools offer a wealth of data and insights to help you understand your audience, optimize your content, and stay ahead of the competition.

Remember, keyword research is an ongoing process. Regularly revisit your keyword strategy, track your results, and make adjustments as needed. With the right tools and a little bit of effort, you can unlock the power of keywords and achieve your online goals. Happy researching, guys!