Best Free YouTube Keyword Research Tools: Boost Your Views

Alright, guys, let's dive into the world of YouTube keyword research! If you're trying to grow your channel and get more views, you absolutely need to understand how to find the right keywords. Lucky for you, there are some fantastic free YouTube keyword research tools out there that can help you level up your content game. So, let's break down the best options and how to use them.

Why Keyword Research Matters for YouTube

Before we jump into the tools, let’s quickly chat about why keyword research is so important. Think of it this way: YouTube is a massive search engine – second only to Google. People go there to find answers, learn new things, and be entertained. If you want your videos to show up when they search, you need to know what words and phrases they're using.

Keyword research helps you:

• Understand Your Audience: Discover what your target audience is searching for. What questions do they have? What topics are they interested in?
• Optimize Your Content: Use the right keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags to improve your video's visibility in search results.
• Find Content Ideas: Uncover trending topics and popular search terms that you can create videos around.
• Beat the Competition: See what keywords your competitors are using and identify opportunities to rank higher.

Basically, without keyword research, you're just throwing darts in the dark. You might get lucky, but you're much more likely to waste time and effort on videos that no one ever sees. Now that we're on the same page about the importance of keywords, let's check out some awesome free YouTube keyword research tools!

Top Free YouTube Keyword Research Tools

1. YouTube Suggest (Autocomplete)

Okay, this one isn’t exactly a dedicated tool, but it’s a goldmine of information, and it’s built right into YouTube! YouTube Suggest, also known as autocomplete, is what happens when you start typing something into the YouTube search bar. YouTube tries to predict what you're looking for and offers suggestions. These suggestions are based on real searches that people are making right now. So, it's a fantastic way to get a sense of what's trending and what people are interested in. The best free YouTube keyword research tool is the one already at your disposal!

How to use it: Simply start typing a keyword related to your video idea into the YouTube search bar. Pay attention to the suggestions that pop up. These are your potential keywords! Try different variations and see what comes up. For example, if you're making a video about cooking, try typing in "easy recipes," "quick dinner ideas," or "baking tips." Make a note of the most relevant and promising suggestions.

2. Google Trends

Google Trends is another powerful free YouTube keyword research tool that can give you insights into the popularity of different search terms over time. While it's not specific to YouTube, you can filter the results to see trends specifically for YouTube searches. This is super helpful for identifying seasonal trends, understanding the overall interest in a topic, and comparing the popularity of different keywords.

How to use it: Head over to Google Trends and enter your keyword. Make sure to select "YouTube Search" as the search type. You'll see a graph showing the interest in that keyword over time. You can also see related topics and queries, which can give you even more keyword ideas. Use this data to choose keywords that are trending upwards and have consistent interest.

3. Google Keyword Planner

While primarily designed for Google Ads, the Google Keyword Planner can still be a valuable free YouTube keyword research tool. It allows you to research keywords, analyze their search volume, and get ideas for new keywords. To get the most out of it for YouTube, focus on long-tail keywords and video-specific terms.

How to use it: You'll need a Google account to use the Keyword Planner. Once you're in, you can either enter a keyword or a website URL (like your competitor's YouTube channel) to get keyword suggestions. The tool will show you the average monthly searches for each keyword, as well as the competition level. Keep in mind that the search volume data is for Google search, not YouTube specifically, but it can still give you a good indication of the overall interest in a topic. Focus on keywords with a decent search volume and low to medium competition.

4. Keyword Tool

Keyword Tool is a popular free YouTube keyword research tool that generates hundreds of keyword ideas based on a seed keyword. The free version provides a good starting point for your research, giving you a broad range of potential keywords to target. It’s user-friendly and quickly provides a lot of possibilities.

How to use it: Go to the Keyword Tool website and enter your seed keyword. Select YouTube as the platform. The tool will generate a list of keyword suggestions, along with their search volume, trend, and competition data (in the paid version). In the free version, you can see the keyword suggestions, which is still incredibly valuable. Use these suggestions to brainstorm video ideas and identify potential keywords for your titles, descriptions, and tags.

5. TubeBuddy

TubeBuddy is a browser extension that offers a suite of tools for YouTube creators, including keyword research. While it has a paid version with more advanced features, the free YouTube keyword research tool version provides valuable insights into keyword rankings, search volume, and competition. It integrates directly into YouTube, making it easy to analyze keywords while you browse.

How to use it: Install the TubeBuddy extension and connect it to your YouTube channel. When you search for a video on YouTube, TubeBuddy will display keyword data next to the search results. You can also use the Keyword Explorer tool to research specific keywords and see their search volume, competition, and related keywords. Use this information to choose keywords that are relevant to your videos and have a good chance of ranking.

How to Choose the Right Keywords

Okay, so you've got a list of potential keywords. How do you decide which ones to use? Here are a few factors to consider:

• Relevance: Are the keywords actually relevant to your video? Don't try to trick people into watching your videos by using irrelevant keywords. It's not a sustainable strategy.
• Search Volume: How many people are searching for these keywords? You want to target keywords that have a decent search volume, but not so high that you'll be drowned out by the competition.
• Competition: How many other videos are targeting these keywords? If there are already hundreds of videos targeting the same keywords, it will be harder to rank. Look for keywords with lower competition.
• Intent: What is the user's intent when searching for these keywords? Are they looking for information, entertainment, or something else? Make sure your video delivers on that intent.

Optimizing Your Videos with Keywords

Once you've chosen your keywords, it's time to optimize your videos! Here's how:

• Title: Include your main keyword in your video title. Make it catchy and engaging, but also clear and descriptive.
• Description: Write a detailed description of your video, including your main keyword and related keywords. The first few sentences are the most important, as they're what will show up in search results.
• Tags: Add relevant tags to your video, including your main keyword and related keywords. Use a mix of broad and specific tags.
• Thumbnails: Create eye-catching thumbnails that are relevant to your video topic. A good thumbnail can significantly increase your click-through rate.
• Closed Captions: Adding closed captions to your videos can improve accessibility and also help YouTube better understand the content of your video.

Staying Consistent

Remember, keyword research is an ongoing process. Keep an eye on your analytics to see which keywords are performing well and which ones aren't. Adjust your strategy as needed and keep creating high-quality content that your audience will love. It's all about consistent effort and learning as you go. So get out there and make some awesome videos!

Conclusion

So there you have it, folks! A rundown of the best free YouTube keyword research tools to help you boost your views and grow your channel. By using these tools and following the tips above, you'll be well on your way to creating videos that people actually want to watch. Happy creating!