How to Do YouTube Keyword Research: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Introduction
Want more views and subscribers on your YouTube channel? Then mastering YouTube keyword research is a must. YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world, and if your content doesn’t align with the right search terms, it can get buried.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to do keyword research for YouTube using free and premium tools — including some of my favorite resources with affiliate links. Let’s grow your channel the smart way!
Step-by-Step Guide to Do YouTube Keyword Research
Step 1: Use the YouTube Search Suggest Feature
Go to YouTube and begin typing your topic. YouTube's autocomplete suggestions reveal what users are actively searching.
Example: Type “weight loss” → You get:
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weight loss tips for women
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weight loss at home
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weight loss diet plan
Each suggestion is a potential keyword.
Step 2: Explore Competitor Channels
Find top-ranking videos in your niche. Study their:
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Titles
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Descriptions
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Tags (use tools like VidIQ or TubeBuddy)
This helps you identify which keywords are driving their traffic.
Step 3: Use Keyword Research Tools (With Affiliate Links)
These tools help uncover high-ranking, low-competition keywords:
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TubeBuddy (Get it here)
➤ Chrome extension to find video tags, keyword scores, and SEO suggestions.
✅ Perfect for beginners and pros alike. -
VidIQ (Try it free)
➤ Offers keyword scores, trending topics, and competitor research tools.
✅ Great analytics dashboard and browser plugin. -
KeywordTool.io for YouTube
➤ Generates long-tail YouTube keywords from search data.
✅ Ideal for finding content gaps and ideas. -
AnswerThePublic
➤ Discover what people are asking in the form of "how," "why," "what" questions.
✅ Very helpful for creating topic clusters. -
Google Trends – YouTube Search Filter
➤ Analyze keyword popularity over time.
✅ Compare trends and select best-performing regions.
Step 4: Analyze Search Volume and Competition
Your goal is to find keywords with:
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✅ High Search Volume
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✅ Low or Medium Competition
Most tools (like TubeBuddy and VidIQ) will show this directly.
Step 5: Plan and Organize Keywords
Create a keyword planner sheet with:
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Keyword
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Search Volume
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Competition Score
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Suggested Video Title
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Target Audience
Plan your content around the keywords with the best potential.
Optimize Videos with Your Keywords
Use your keywords in these places:
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Title: Include the exact keyword naturally.
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Description: Repeat it 2–3 times in context.
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Tags: Use long-tail and LSI keywords.
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Captions/Transcript: YouTube picks up on spoken keywords.
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Hashtags: Add 2–3 relevant hashtags with keywords.
Bonus Tip: Use Keyword Clustering
Instead of using just one keyword per video, cluster 2–3 related keywords together. This helps your video show up for more searches.
✅ Example Cluster:
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“youtube seo 2025”
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“hYouTubeow to rank youtube videos”
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“youtube keyword research tools”
Get Started With These Tools Now!
Want to grow your channel faster? Start using these tools today:
Final Words
YouTube keyword research is the first step to growing a channel that reaches the right audience. Use the tools above, stay consistent, and focus on creating videos that solve real problems.
Have any questions or need help choosing a keyword tool? Drop a comment or reach out via Learnwithkanchi Blog.
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