In this blog post, we'll walk you through 17 free tools that will empower you to see your competitors' keywords and gain a competitive edge. We'll address the most commonly asked questions about competitor keyword research and provide step-by-step guidance on using these tools effectively.

So, whether you're a seasoned digital marketer or just starting, let's dive into the world of competitor keyword analysis.

Chapter 1: Why Should You Care About Your Competitors' Keywords?

Before diving into the tools and techniques, it's essential to understand why competitor keyword research is crucial for your online success.

The Importance of Competitor Keyword Research

In the fast-paced digital landscape, knowing what keywords your competitors are targeting can provide you with several advantages:

• Stay Ahead of Trends: By analyzing your competitors' keywords, you can identify emerging trends in your industry and adapt your content strategy accordingly.

• Discover Untapped Opportunities: Competitor keyword research can reveal keywords that your competitors might have overlooked, giving you the chance to capitalize on them.

• Optimize Your SEO Strategy: Understanding your competitors' keyword strategies can help you fine-tune your own SEO efforts, potentially outranking them in search results.

• Content Inspiration: Discovering the keywords that your competitors are targeting can inspire new content ideas for your website or blog.

• Competitive Analysis: Gain insights into your competitors' overall digital marketing strategy by understanding their keyword choices.

Chapter 2: Common Questions About Competitor Keyword Analysis

How Can I Find My Competitors' Keywords?

Finding your competitors' keywords might seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools and techniques, it becomes achievable. In this guide, we'll introduce you to 17 free tools specifically designed for this purpose. These tools will help you uncover the keywords your competitors are targeting, providing you with valuable data to refine your SEO and content strategy.

What advantages does competitor keyword research offer?

Competitor keyword research offers numerous benefits, including:

1. Strategic Insights: Understanding your competitors' keyword strategies can help you make informed decisions about which keywords to target.

2. Content Ideas: Analyzing your competitors' keywords can spark new content ideas and help you create more engaging and relevant content for your audience.

3. Competitive Advantage: By identifying keywords that your competitors are ranking for, you can work on optimizing your own content to surpass them in search engine rankings.

4. Market Trends: Keep up with the latest trends in your industry by monitoring the keywords your competitors are using.

5. Improved ROI: Targeting the right keywords based on competitor research can lead to a better return on investment (ROI) for your digital marketing efforts.

Chapter 3: 17 Free Tools for Discovering Competitors' Keywords

1. Google Keyword Planner

Features:

• Keyword search volume data

• Keyword competition analysis

• Keyword suggestions and variations

Pros:

• Free to use.

• Provides insights directly from Google's search data.

• Easy to navigate for beginners.

Cons:

• Limited to Google's search engine.

• Limited granularity in keyword data.

How to Access and Use Google Keyword Planner

1. Access Google Keyword Planner: Sign in to your Google Ads account (or create one if you don't have one already) and navigate to the Keyword Planner tool.

2. Start a New Project: Click on the "Discover new keywords" option and enter a product or service related to your industry.

3. Analyze Competitors: Click on the "Competitive metrics" tab, where you can enter the URLs of your competitors' websites to see keyword suggestions based on their content.

4. Keyword Insights: Explore keyword ideas, search volume, competition levels, and historical data to inform your SEO and content strategy.

2. SEMrush

Features:

• Comprehensive competitor analysis

• Keyword research and tracking

• Backlink analysis.

• Site audit tools.

Pros:

• Detailed competitor keyword analysis

• Provides data on organic and paid keywords.

• In-depth domain and backlink analysis

Cons:

• There are limited free features in the free version.

• steep learning curve for beginners.

Analyzing competitors' keywords with SEMrush

1. Sign up for SEMrush: Create a free SEMrush account to get started.

2. Enter Competitor's Domain: Enter the domain of a competitor's website in the search bar.

3. View Keyword Analytics: SEMrush will provide a comprehensive overview of the competitor's organic and paid keywords, along with valuable data on search volume, CPC (cost per click), and more.

4. Analyze Competitor Strategies: Use SEMrush to dissect your competitors' keyword strategies and identify opportunities to improve your own SEO efforts.

3. Ahrefs

Features:

• Extensive competitor research tools

• Backlink analysis.

• Site audit and rank tracking.

• Content explorer.

Pros:

• Rich competitor keyword data.

• Comprehensive backlink analysis.

• Detailed site audits and SEO reports

Cons:

• Full access necessitates a paid subscription.

• High cost for premium features.

Exploring competitor keywords using Ahrefs

1. Sign up for Ahrefs: Create a free or paid Ahrefs account based on your needs.

2. Enter Competitor's Domain: Input your competitor's domain into Ahrefs' Site Explorer tool.

3. View Competitor Keywords: Ahrefs will display a list of keywords your competitor is ranking for, including search volume, keyword difficulty, and more.

4. Analyze Backlinks: Additionally, explore backlinks to your competitor's site to identify potential link-building opportunities.

5. Plan Your Strategy: Utilize the insights gained to refine your SEO and content strategy, aiming to outperform your competitors in search results.

4. Moz Keyword Explorer

Features:

• Keyword research and analysis

• SERP (Search Engine Results Page) analysis

• Keyword difficulty scores

• Content suggestions.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.

• Detailed keyword metrics

• SERP analysis for competitive insights

Cons:

• Limited free features

• Full access requires a subscription.

Leveraging Moz's Keyword Explorer for Competitor Research

1. Create a Moz Account: Sign up for a Moz account and access the Keyword Explorer tool.

2. Enter Competitor URL: Input your competitor's URL to analyze their keyword performance.

3. Review Keyword Metrics: Moz will provide data on keyword difficulty, search volume, and click-through rates (CTR).

4. Explore SERP Analysis: Gain insights into the search results for specific keywords and understand your competitor's ranking positions.

5. Incorporate Findings: Use Moz's insights to optimize your content and SEO strategy to surpass your competitors.

5. SpyFu

Features:

• Competitor keyword analysis.

• PPC (Pay-Per-Click) research

• Ad history and ad copy analysis

Pros:

• Detailed competitor keyword data

• Historical PPC campaign analysis

• Track competitor ranking changes.

Cons:

• Limited free features

• Focuses heavily on PPC data.

Unearthing competitor keywords with SpyFu

1. Sign up for SpyFu: Create a SpyFu account or use the free version to get started.

2. Enter Competitor's Domain: Input your competitor's domain into the search bar.

3. Explore Competitor Keywords: SpyFu will provide a list of keywords your competitor is targeting, along with data on search volume, CPC, and ranking history.

4. Review PPC Insights: If you're interested in PPC analysis, SpyFu offers detailed data on your competitor's ad campaigns, ad history, and ad copy.

5. Strategize Accordingly: Leverage SpyFu's findings to enhance your SEO and PPC strategies and gain a competitive edge.

6. Ubersuggest

Features:

• Keyword research and analysis

• Content ideas and suggestions

• Backlink data.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.

• Provides keyword ideas and content recommendations.

• Access to basic features for free.

Cons:

• There is limited in-depth data in the free version.

• Advanced features require a subscription.

A Guide to Finding Competitor Keywords with Ubersuggest

1. Access Ubersuggest: Visit the Ubersuggest website and enter your competitor's domain or a target keyword.

2. Explore Keyword Ideas: Ubersuggest will provide keyword suggestions, search volume, CPC, and SEO difficulty.

3. Analyze Top Pages: Review your competitor's top-performing pages and their respective keywords.

4. Content Suggestions: Ubersuggest offers content ideas based on the keywords your competitor is ranking for.

5. Plan Your Content: Use the insights from Ubersuggest to create high-quality content that can compete with your rivals.

7. KeywordSpy

Features:

• Competitor keyword analysis.

• PPC ad research.

• Domain and keyword tracking.

Pros:

• Detailed competitor keyword data

• Historical PPC ad data

• Tracking of keyword and domain performance.

Cons:

• Limited free features

• Advanced features require a subscription.

How KeywordSpy Can Help You Spy on Competitors' Keywords

1. Sign Up for KeywordSpy: Create a KeywordSpy account to access its competitor keyword research features.

2. Enter Competitor's Domain: Input your competitor's domain to analyze their keyword strategy.

3. Explore Competitor Keywords: KeywordSpy will provide a list of keywords your competitor is targeting, including search volume, CPC, and competition level.

4. Review PPC Insights: If you're interested in PPC analysis, KeywordSpy offers data on your competitor's paid ad campaigns.

5. Track Performance: KeywordSpy allows you to track your competitor's keyword and domain performance over time.

6. Incorporate Findings: Use the insights gained from KeywordSpy to optimize your own SEO and PPC strategies.

8. SE Ranking

Features:

• Competitor keyword analysis.

• Website audit tools

• Backlink analysis.

• Keyword rank tracking

Pros:

• In-depth competitor keyword data

• Comprehensive site audit features.

• Backlink analysis for competitor backlink research

Cons:

• A free trial is available, but full access requires a subscription.

Competitor Keyword Analysis with SE Ranking

1. Sign Up for SE Ranking: Create an SE Ranking account and access its competitor keyword research tools.

2. Enter Competitor's Domain: Input your competitor's domain to initiate the analysis.

3. Review Competitor Keywords: SE Ranking will provide a list of keywords your competitor is targeting, including search volume, keyword difficulty, and more.

4. Analyze Backlinks: Explore your competitor's backlink profile to identify potential backlink opportunities for your website.

5. Track Rankings: SE Ranking also allows you to track your competitor's keyword rankings over time.

6. Optimize Your Strategy: Use the data from SE Ranking to enhance your SEO efforts and stay ahead of your competitors.

9. KeywordTool.io

Features:

• Keyword research and analysis

• Long-tail keyword suggestions

• Competitor keyword analysis.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.

• Provides long-tail keyword suggestions.

• Basic features are available for free.

Cons:

• Limited advanced features without a subscription.

Utilizing KeywordTool.io to Discover Competitor Keywords

1. Visit KeywordTool.io: Go to the KeywordTool.io website and enter your competitor's domain or a target keyword.

2. Explore Keyword Ideas: It will generate a list of keyword suggestions, including long-tail keywords, search volume, and keyword difficulty.

3. Analyze competitor keywords: Review the keywords your competitor is targeting, along with related data.

4. Identify Opportunities: Use the long-tail keyword suggestions to uncover potential content opportunities and refine your SEO strategy.

10.Serpstat

Features:

• Competitor keyword analysis.

• Site audit tools.

• Backlink analysis.

• Rank tracking.

Pros:

• Comprehensive competitor keyword data

• Detailed site audit features.

• Backlink analysis for competitor research

Cons:

• Limited free features

• Advanced features require a subscription.

Uncovering Competitor Keyword Insights Using Serpstat

1. Sign up for Serpstat: Create an account on the Serpstat platform.

2. Enter Competitor's Domain: Input your competitor's domain to initiate the analysis.

3. Explore Competitor Keywords: Serpstat will provide a list of keywords your competitor is targeting, along with search volume, keyword difficulty, and other relevant data.

4. Analyze Backlinks: Investigate your competitor's backlink profile to identify potential backlink opportunities for your website.

5. Track Rankings: Serpstat enables you to monitor your competitors' keyword rankings over time.

6. Enhance Your Strategy: Use the insights from Serpstat to refine your SEO and content strategy to outperform your competitors.

11. WordStream Free Keyword Tool

Features:

• Keyword research and analysis

• Keyword suggestions.

• Competitor keyword analysis.

Pros:

• Free to use.

• Provides keyword suggestions.

• Basic competitor keyword analysis

Cons:

• Limited in-depth data.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Using WordStream for Competitor Keyword Research

1. Access WordStream Free Keyword Tool: Visit the WordStream website and enter your competitor's domain or a target keyword.

2. Generate Keyword Suggestions: WordStream will generate a list of keyword suggestions along with search volume and competition data.

3. Analyze competitor keywords: Review the keywords your competitor is targeting and gather insights for your own keyword strategy.

4. Refine Your Strategy: Use the data from WordStream to optimize your SEO and content strategy for better performance.

12. Keyword Finder

Features:

• Keyword research and analysis

• SERP analysis.

• Long-tail keyword suggestions

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.

• Provides long-tail keyword ideas.

• Basic competitor keyword analysis

Cons:

• Limited advanced features without a subscription.

Exploring competitors' keywords with Keyword Finder

1. Visit Keyword Finder: Go to the Keyword Finder website and enter your competitor's domain or a target keyword.

2. Generate Keyword Ideas: Keyword Finder will provide keyword suggestions, including long-tail keywords, search volume, and keyword difficulty.

3. Analyze competitor keywords: Review the keywords your competitor is targeting and gather insights for your own keyword strategy.

4. Utilize Long-Tail Keywords: Consider incorporating long-tail keywords into your content to target specific user queries.

5. Optimize Your Strategy: Use the insights from Keyword Finder to enhance your SEO efforts and gain a competitive advantage.

13. SERPWatcher

Features:

• Rank tracking.

• SERP analysis.

• Competitor keyword tracking

Pros:

• Focuses on rank tracking and SERP analysis.

• Track competitor keyword rankings.

• Provides insights into your website's performance.

Cons:

• Limited free features

• Primarily designed for rank tracking

Tracking Your Competitors' Keyword Rankings with SERPWatcher

1. Sign up for SERPWatcher: Create an account on the SERPWatcher platform.

2. Add competitor URLs: Enter the URLs of your competitors' websites that you want to track.

3. Monitor Keyword Rankings: SERPWatcher will track the keyword rankings of your competitors and provide insights into changes over time.

4. Analyze SERPs: Gain insights into the search engine results pages (SERPs) and see how your competitors are performing in comparison to your website.

5. Optimize Your Strategy: Use the data from SERPWatcher to refine your SEO strategy and improve your rankings.

14. SerpWorx

Features:

• On-page SEO analysis

• SERP analysis.

• Competitor keyword research

Pros:

• Focuses on on-page SEO and SERP analysis.

• Detailed insights into SERP features

• Basic competitor keyword analysis

Cons:

• Limited free features

• Primarily designed for on-page SEO

A Deep Dive into SerpWorx for Competitor Keyword Analysis

1. Sign up for SerpWorx: Create an account on the SerpWorx platform.

2. Enter Competitor URL: Input your competitor's URL for analysis.

3. Analyze competitor keywords: SerpWorx will provide a list of keywords your competitor is targeting, along with relevant data.

4. Explore SERP Features: Gain insights into SERP features such as featured snippets, knowledge graphs, and more.

5. Optimize Your Content: Use the insights from SerpWorx to improve your on-page SEO and compete effectively.

15. Rank Tracker

Features:

• Keyword rank tracking

• SERP analysis.

• Competitor keyword tracking

Pros:

• Focuses on keyword rank tracking.

• Track competitor keyword rankings.

• Provides data on SERP features.

Cons:

• Limited free features

• Primarily designed for rank tracking

Tracking and Analyzing Your Competitors' Rankings with Rank Tracker

1. Sign up for Rank Tracker: Create an account on the Rank Tracker platform.

2. Add competitor URLs: Enter the URLs of your competitors' websites that you want to track.

3. Monitor Keyword Rankings: Rank Tracker will track the keyword rankings of your competitors and provide insights into changes over time.

4. Analyze SERPs: Gain insights into the search engine results pages (SERPs) and see how your competitors are performing in comparison to your website.

5. Optimize Your Strategy: Use the data from Rank Tracker to refine your SEO strategy and improve your rankings.

16.KWFinder

Features:

• Keyword research and analysis

• Keyword difficulty scores

• SERP analysis.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.

• Provides keyword difficulty scores.

• Offers SERP analysis.

Cons:

• Limited free features

• Advanced features require a subscription.

Uncovering Hidden Competitor Keywords Using KWFinder

1. Access KWFinder: Visit the KWFinder website and enter your competitor's domain or a target keyword.

2. Generate Keyword Ideas: KWFinder will provide keyword suggestions, along with keyword difficulty scores and search volume data.

3. Analyze competitor keywords: Review the keywords your competitor is targeting and gather insights for your own keyword strategy.

4. Assess Keyword Difficulty: Use KWFinder's difficulty scores to prioritize keywords that are easier to rank for.

5. Optimize Your Strategy: Use the insights from KWFinder to enhance your SEO efforts and target valuable keywords.

17.Bulk Keyword Generator

Features:

• Keyword research and analysis

• Bulk keyword generation.

• Competitor keyword analysis.

Pros:

• Generates keywords in bulk.

• Provides basic competitor keyword analysis.

• Easy-to-use interface.

Cons:

• Limited advanced features.

How to Use a Bulk Keyword Generator for Competitor Analysis

1. Access Bulk Keyword Generator: Visit a bulk keyword generator tool (various options are available) and enter your competitor's domain or a target keyword.

2. Generate Keyword Lists: The tool will generate lists of keywords related to your competitor's domain or the entered keyword.

3. Analyze competitor keywords: Review the generated keyword lists to identify keywords your competitor is targeting.

4. Organize Keywords: Organize the keywords into relevant groups for your content and SEO strategy.

5. Optimize Your Content: Use the generated keywords to optimize your website content and improve your rankings.

Chapter 4: Conclusion

This comprehensive guide explores competitor keyword analysis, introducing 17 free tools for discovering competitors' keywords. It highlights the importance of competitor keyword research and how it can optimize SEO, enhance content, identify opportunities, and gain a competitive advantage. By utilizing these tools, marketers can propel their online presence to new heights.

Other Related Blog Posts

 How to Get Keyword Ideas for SEO Success

https://www.skillylily.com/blog/b/how-to-get-keyword-ideas-for-seo-success

Best SEO Services for Small Business: Mastering Local SEO

 https://www.skillylily.com/blog/b/best-seo-services-for-small-business