Free Keyword Research Tools for YouTube

Succeeding on the most popular video-sharing website on the web takes more than just curating random video content.

Developing a thoughtful search engine optimization strategy for YouTube is just as important. Like Google, YouTube uses algorithms to determine which content is the most relevant to its users.

Discovering the search queries of your audiences is vital to creating valuable content that will drive organic traffic to your site. Keyword research tools for YouTube lets you in on your audience’s search queries and help you find the best keywords to target.

Keywords are the backbone of every SEO strategy. Incorporating the right keywords into your video titles, descriptions, and tags will increase your traffic potential. YouTube Keyword research tools help you discover the search terms your audience use to find videos in your niche.

You also learn the popularity of these queries, their ranking difficulty, and others. With such tools, you learn the best keywords to target in your content. This guide highlights some of the best YouTube keyword research tools.

What Is YouTube Keyword?

YouTube keywords are words, or phrases, that YouTube users search for on the video-sharing website to find specific information. Optimizing your video content for search increases the chances of your video being found by the right audience.

This is typically done by targeting relevant keywords in your video and adding these keywords to the video title, description, and tags on YouTube. Adding relevant keywords to your videos improves your ranking in the YouTube search engine.

Keywords are a way YouTube algorithm understand the context of your video. The algorithm uses keywords to determine the relevancy of your content and deliver it to the right audience. 

What Is YouTube Keyword Research?

YouTube keyword research is the practice of discovering search terms your audience enters into the YouTube search box to find video content. With keyword research, you identify the keywords that are most appropriate to target.

When you uncover what your audiences are searching for, you’ll create content they find valuable. Using these keywords to optimize your video title, description, and tags will improve your rankings over time. 

Why Is YouTube Keyword Research Important?

Millions of YouTube viewers use the search function to find specific videos. Publishing content on random topics might result in meager traffic. Knowing what your audience is looking for helps you create content that they’ll find valuable. Tailoring your video content to fit your audience’s needs significantly impacts your traffic. 

Keyword research helps you discover the search queries of your audiences and the best keywords to target. This way, you produce content that satisfies the search intent of your target audience.

With keyword research, you get to know whether or not there’s a search demand for the keywords you’re targeting. And you also discover relevant SEO-friendly topics that can improve your rankings.

What Are Keyword Research Tools?

Keyword research tools help you identify the terms your audiences are searching for, so you can tailor your content to meet their needs.

Using these tools, you can analyze keywords based on SEO metrics like search volume, traffic potential, and others. This will help you determine the ranking potential of each keyword and identify the best ones to target. 

Keyword research tools can also help you discover the keywords your competitors are ranking for, so you can target them better and outrank them.

Keyword Research Tools for YouTube

Here are some of the best keyword research tools for YouTube.

1. YouTube Keyword Tool Dominator

Keyword Tool Dominator is designed to help users find keyword ideas for YouTube, Etsy, Amazon, and other platforms. The tool uses YouTube’s Autocomplete service to uncover keywords directly from YouTube. To use this tool, enter a topic into the search box, select a country and language, and then initiate the search. 

You may use filters like “Keyword contains” and “Keyword does not contain” to modify the search results. You can also specify the minimum and maximum word count and keyword score. Keyword Tool Dominator ranks keywords on a scale of 1-100, depending on their popularity. You can download the keyword suggestions in a .csv file for further research or use.

2. Ahrefs YouTube Keyword Tool

Ahrefs YouTube Keyword Tool helps you find the best keywords to target with your YouTube content. With Ahrefs YouTube keyword tool, you can get reliable search volume statistics for any keyword. Ahrefs also gives you the average monthly search volume and number of clicks rather than an estimate.

To use this tool, enter a keyword into the search field. The tool will provide a list of keyword suggestions that matches your query. The result will include vital SEO metrics for each keyword, including its monthly search volume and the average cost per click. You can refine the keyword list using filters like word count, clicks per search, and included words.

3. Keyword Tool

The keyword tool is a YouTube keyword generator that allows you to discover valuable keywords to target with your videos. The result includes SEO metrics like competition that you can use to analyze a potential keyword.

Keyword Tool uses YouTube’s autocomplete feature to find keyword ideas. To find new ideas, enter a keyword into the search bar. The tool will provide detailed metrics for that keyword, including its search volume, average CPC, trend, and competition. You’ll get a list of related keywords with the same metrics with each search.

4. YouTube Studio

YouTube Studio has a research tool that you can use to discover new keywords based on what your audience is frequently searching for. You can access it directly on YouTube. Click your account icon in the upper right corner and select “YouTube Studio” from the dropdown menu.

Navigate to Analytics > Research and enter a search term in the search field. The tool will provide a list of related searches made by people. YouTube will display the search volume of each keyword next to every keyword result. 

You can filter the result to only display search terms used by your current viewers; you can also filter results by content gaps. This means you’ll be shown keywords frequently searched for without enough content to satisfy viewers’ intent. You can save the keywords you discover during your research.

5. YouTube Autocomplete

YouTube Autocomplete is a feature built into YouTube’s search function. The tool lets you discover popular keywords related to the topic you type into the search field.

To use this YouTube feature, begin typing a search term in the YouTube search bar. A window with a list of search terms that includes the term you’ve entered into the search field will open.

For instance, if you type “weight loss” into the search field, you’ll get keywords like “weight loss journey” and “weight loss diet.” The result will display the most popular search terms related to your initial query. You can target any of such terms in your content.

How to Optimize Your YouTube Videos for Relevant Keywords

Discovering YouTube keywords is just one piece of the puzzle in achieving success on YouTube. Incorporating relevant keywords into your content makes your video resonate with hot searches on YouTube, which are your best bets for attracting traffic. 

Here are a few tips for optimizing your videos for relevant keywords: 

1. Use Your Keyword in Your Video Title

The first step to optimizing your content for search is to include relevant keywords in your video title. This will signal to the YouTube algorithm and viewers that your content is relevant to the topic you’re targeting.

It also increases the chances of your videos getting a higher ranking for that keyword. Make sure your title is clear and captivating. Keep it minimal; avoid stuffing your title with keywords, as doing so can lower your organic search rankings and video clicks.

2. Use the Keyword in Your Description

Your video description helps YouTube understand the context of your video, so optimizing it for relevant keywords is essential. Incorporating the keyword into the description two to three times, and at strategic positions, will improve your visibility and boost your organic traffic. 

3. Use Keywords As Video Tags

Video tags are descriptive metadata elements that help users find your videos easily. Adding keywords to your video tags will increase the chances of your videos being found on YouTube. However, keep it minimal, so your content doesn’t look spammy. 

Final Thoughts

Keyword research is a critical aspect of every marketing, including YouTube marketing. With keyword research, you discover your audience’s search queries and know the right keywords to target.

Publishing content that resonates with your audience is crucial to your success on YouTube. And optimizing your video content for relevant keywords can have a significant impact on your rankings.

Keyword research tools have made finding relevant keywords easier. They help you uncover the terms your audiences are actively searching for.

Discover the tool that best suits your needs from our list above and improve your search rankings!