To choose a blog topic that attracts and engages your audience effectively, think about your readers’ search interests and later find the right keywords. Here's how to research blog topics + some excellent blog topics research tools for finding out what’s currently trending with your audience.
Are you trying to figure out what kind of blog post topics will attract your prospects? Want to engage them with your web content but not sure how to research topics for your blog?
Remember…
… no one understands your business better than you do, so you’re in a great position to identify the questions and concerns of your potential customers. Use your blog to address these issues, and they should flock to your website.
Here’s one piece of advice for researching blog topics: always think about your audience first.
Sounds simple, but how do you do it, especially if you’re short on time? If you can’t do detailed keyword research for your blog posts, give professional blog writing services a go. However, if you prefer to do it yourself, I’ve got some practical tips to help you get started:
Understand the questions and concerns of your potential customers. If you run a travel agency, you might address concerns such as How to Travel Safely with a Kid or Top Budget-Friendly Travel Destinations, and
Address these issues directly in your blog posts. For a financial advisor, this could mean writing articles like How to Start Investing with Little Money or Understanding Your Credit Score,
Choose a blog topic primarily on the needs and interests of your audience. A parenting blog might feature posts like Effective Ways to Manage Toddler Tantrums or Balancing Work and Parenting.
Try to engage readers using blog topics relevant to your business expertise. As a tech company, you could write posts like The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Life or 5 Essential Cybersecurity Tips for Small Businesses.
In the block titles use hand-picked keywords to maximize the reach of your posts (more on that below). For a gardening blog, keywords could be “sustainable gardening practices,” “indoor herb gardening,” or “seasonal planting guide.”
Use various topic research tools to discover subjects that your readers find interesting.
Speaking of which…
Free & Paid Blog Topic Research Tools
The below blog topic research tools are arranged in random order.
Ubersuggest is a useful tool that works with keywords from Google Suggest.
In case you’re not sure what Google Suggest is, it’s a tool created by Google that helps find phrases that match well with the main word you’re searching for. When you use Google Search and start typing something, it gives you suggestions to complete your search, just like here:
source: Google Suggest example
It might finish the word you’re typing or add more words or letters to your search. It works by looking at what other people have searched for and suggests the most common searches that start with the same letters or words you’re typing. When you type something into Google, you get some suggestions. Ubersuggest uses these suggestions.
Here’s how to research blog topics with Ubersuggest:
STEP 1: Go to the Ubersuggest website.
STEP 2: In the search bar type in a website’s address or some keywords you want to create content about.
source: Ubersuggest
Choose the language you want to write the content in and hit Search.
STEP 3: The blog topics research tool shows you all sorts of information about the keyword you’re checking out like keyword ideas, search volume, SD (SEO difficulty).
source: Ubersuggest
It also gives you keyword suggestions, related keywords…
source: Ubersuggest
questions related to your keyword that people type into Google’s search bar:
source: Ubersuggest
and product/idea comparisons, which, let’s be honest, are other great ways to research blog topics:
source: Ubersuggest
STEP 4: When you scroll down, you will see even the section titled Content Ideas that also goes with a couple of useful pieces of information: estimated monthly visits the web gets for a particular term and a number of domains linking back to the blog post optimized for the very keyword.
source: Ubersuggest
This will definitely help you think of good topics for your blog.
Please note that the free version of Ubersuggest doesn’t show everything, but it still gives you a lot of ideas for topics that your target audience might like to read about.
This blog topics research tool helps you find the ready-made phrases you can use while creating content on Google, Bing and even YouTube. To see the almost never-ending list of blog topic ideas:
STEP 1: Go to the AnswerThePublic website and type the keyword related to your business. Don’t forget to choose the destined country and language you’re going to create your content in.
source: AnswerThePublic
STEP 2: Start researching the blog topics. The cool thing is that you can decide the data display format:
wheels
source: AnswerThePublic
lists
source: AnswerThePublic
or tables displaying prepositions or words organized in alphabetical order that go with your keyword
source: AnswerThePublic
source: AnswerThePublic
source: AnswerThePublic
When you search for a keyword, AnswerThePublic gives you almost ready-made blog topic ideas and even blog post titles, each stemming from long-tail keyword suggestions. For instance, you might see suggestions like:
What weight-lifting training should I do to lose weight?
How long before you see results from weight training?
Which weight training burns the most calories?
As you scroll down, you’ll find these suggestions listed alphabetically for easier browsing. One downside of AnswerThePublic is that in its free version, this blog topics research tool doesn’t show crucial keyword metrics. To check that, you may need tools like Keyword Planner.
#3: Keyword Planner
cost: free / to see detailed keyword metrics you need to run an ad campaign even if you don’t have any funds in your account. website:Google Ads
Keyword Planner is a popular tool for researching blog content and is available through Google Ads.
STEP 1: To use it, log into Google Ads and select Keyword Planner from the Tools menu.
source: Google Ads
STEP 2: Once you enter a keyword, be it “calligraphy” or “photovoltaics” into the search box, the tool shows you a list of related keywords and their average monthly search volumes.
source: Google Ads
With over 1,700 suggestions, you can explore various topic ideas for your blog, such as:
How to connect photovoltaic panels?
Photovoltaic ground mounting
How to clean photovoltaic panels?
That said, Keyword Planner is yet another easy-to-use blog topic research tool that helps you identify the best keywords to use in your blog post.
Like Ubersuggest, Keyword Tool generates suggestions based on phrases that appear when you start typing a word into search bars, not just on Google, but also on YouTube, Bing, Instagram, and even Amazon.
source: Keyword Tool
This makes it a versatile tool for content idea generation across different platforms.
STEP 1: Go to Keyword Tool’s official website. Type the keyword you want to search, and select the country and language of of target audience.
source: Keyword Tool
STEP 2: If you go for the paid version, this blog topics research tool gives you information about a few crucial keyword metrics, as shown in the screenshots below:
source: Keyword Tool
Researching topics for a blog becomes super easy with this tool, as it gives you tons of inspiration and ideas. Suffice to explore the top 3 tabs: keyword suggestions, questions and prepositions
source: Keyword Tool
STEP 3: If you find that the Keyword Tool is particularly helpful in researching blog topics, you might consider using more paid features in Settings.
source: Keyword Tool
Filter Results which allows you to focus on results that include a specific keyword.
Negative Keywords which is useful for excluding certain words from your results. For example, if you type in “covid” as your search term, you can use this feature to see related topics without including the word “covid” in the results.
There are two main situations when ChatGPT can help research blog topics:
First, if you’re trying to figure out how to choose a blog topic, like mountain bikes, but you’re not sure where to start. ChatGPT can assist you in researching blog topics and offering suggestions related to your target audience’s interest, such as off-road cycling.
Second, if you’re exploring how to research topics for a blog because you have already used most of the keywords in your content. ChatGPT can help you find new blog topics and search terms.
When used correctly, ChatGPT can spark fresh ideas for your posts, at the same time making sure that your content remains interesting and relevant to your audience, while helping you avoid repeating the same concepts or risking duplicate content. Also, it speeds up the research topics for your blog. Moreover, you may try to use ChatGPT for keyword research, which can also be useful when you run out of blog post topic ideas.
STEP 1: Log into your ChatGPT account.
STEP 2: Ask it to give you trending blog post topics concerning [mountain bikes]. Add some basic info on your target audience to make the suggestions more relevant:
source: ChatGPT
STEP 3: You can ask it to suggest ready blog post titles, using the information it has just provided you with:
source: ChatGPT
Remember though to ALWAYS verify the information ChatGPT provides you with. You can do it, for example, by checking some of the keywords’ metrics the AI tool gives you in one of the above keyword research tools.
Get more free conversion-improving tips sent to your e-mail
Going Beyond Blog Topic Research Tools: The Immense Benefit of Running a Content Gap Analysis
In short, a content gap analysis lets you understand what your market rivals write about that you don’t. For that reason, it is a great way to find new research blog topics and choose the best ones that your target audience may be looking for.
The best thing is that content gap analysis can give you even more insights than blog topic research tools. Here’s a general procedure, but if you would like to get into more details, be sure to read How to Do Content Gap Analysis.
STEP 1: Define your competitors and look for other blogs or websites that are popular in your niche.
STEP 2: Look at your competitor’s web content to check what they write about. See which topics help bring in visitors.
STEP 3: Try to identify the keywords these pieces of content are optimized for. Also, use SEO tools to find out which keywords make your competitors’ blogs popular.
STEP 4: See what’s missing by comparing your blog with your competitors. Find topics they talk about that you don’t. These are your content gaps.
STEP 5: Pick topics from these gaps that match what your blog is about and what your readers may like. This is a key part of researching blog topics.
STEP 6: Create blog posts that cover these new topics. Try to offer something different or more detailed than your competitors. Don’t forget to give a new perspective to the discussed topic, and show your expertise and experience to win those extra points for E-E-A-T.
What Are Other Ways to Research Blog Topics?
In addition to blog topics research tools and content gap analysis, there are at least five other online places where you can research engaging blog topic ideas.
Comments: Read the comments on your blog and your competitors’ blogs. Your readers might suggest topics or ask questions that can inspire new posts.
Social media groups: Platforms like Facebook are great for seeing what people are talking about. Join groups related to your business and observe the discussions. This can guide you on how to choose a blog topic that resonates with your audience.
Customer inquiries: If you notice recurring questions from customers or users, these can form the basis of informative blog posts. Addressing these questions directly can be a key part of how to research topics for your blog.
Current events: Stay updated with your industry news. Current events can provide timely and relevant topics for your blog.
Online forums: Forums related to your industry can be goldmines for content ideas. Look for frequently discussed topics and think about how you can add value and expertise to these conversations in your blog.
By getting inspiration from the above online places with the insights provided by blog topics research tools, it will become way easier for you to research blog topics. This way you not just follow trends, but also uncover unique problems that your target audience has and ideas that will make your blog stand out.
6 Quick SEO Tips for Increasing the Reach of Your Blog Posts
When you have your keywords and blog post ideas ready, you also need to know how to write content that ranks high. This involves using your keywords effectively and making your posts both interesting and useful for your readers.
Good content is easy to read and more likely to show up in search engine results. Below, you’ll find a table with straightforward SEO tips. These tips are key to writing content that not only engages your audience but also performs well in search engine rankings.
SEO Element
Tip
Example
Title
Start your post’s title with the main keyword.
Title: “Mountain Biking Basics: A Beginner’s Guide”
First Paragraph
Use the main keyword in the H1 header and within the first 50-100 words.
First paragraph includes ‘Mountain Biking Basics’ within the first 100 words.
Headers and Descriptions
Spread similar keywords in H2 headers, the meta description, image alt texts, and throughout the post.
H2 header: “Choosing the Right Mountain Bike”, Meta description includes mountain bike types
Header Order
Stick to using headers in sequence. Use headers from H1 to H3 mostly.
Start with an H1 header, followed by H2, and then H3 if needed.
Emphasizing Text
Use bold or italics to highlight important parts for readers, and for keywords important for search engines.
Name images using keywords, separated by hyphens, and include keyword-rich alternative descriptions.
Image name: “mountain-bike-trail.jpg”, Alt text: “Rider on a mountain bike trail”
When you handle basic SEO optimization, there is another pretty important thing – actually two things – related to technical SEO that influences the discoverability of your blog content. I’m talking about Categories and Tags.
Categories and tags on the blog help organize your content and make it easier for readers to find what they’re interested in. Also, it helps bots understand what the content is about. Think of them like labels or chapters in a book:
Categories: They are like the big chapters of your blog. Each category groups together posts on a similar topic. For example, on a cooking blog, you might have categories like “Desserts,” “Vegan Recipes,” or “Quick Meals.” They help readers quickly find the type of posts they’re looking for.
Tags: Tags are more specific than categories. They’re like the index at the back of a book. Tags highlight specific things mentioned in your posts, like “chocolate,” “30-minute meals,” or “gluten-free.” They help readers find posts that mention specific items or themes they’re interested in.
Using categories and tags makes your blog more SEO- and user-friendly. Readers can easily browse through related posts or find specific topics they’re interested in, which makes them more likely to stay on your website longer and explore more of your content.
5 Takeaways from How to Research Blog Topics
That was a massive dump of practical information, wasn’t it? Let’s distill the essence so that it’s easier for you to memorize the most important information on how to research blog topics:
🔍 TAKEAWAY #1: Don’t hesitate to play with a variety of blog topics research tools, like Ubersuggest, AnswerThePublic, and Keywordtool.io. Each tool offers unique features that can help you find different long-tail keywords that you can later use in your blog posts.
🌐 TAKEAWAY #2: While keywords are essential, understanding the context around them, such as current trends and competitor content, can provide a more comprehensive approach to topic selection.
👂 TAKEAWAY #3: Listening to your audience, through comments, social media, and direct inquiries, is worth its weight in gold. These interactions often reveal what your readers are genuinely interested in and can guide your blog topic choice.
🛠️ TAKEAWAY #4: Using technical SEO, such as proper keyword placement and creating a proper header structure increases your chances of being found by your target audience.
🚀 TAKEAWAY #5: Running a content gap analysis helps you identify areas you might have overlooked, offering you a great opportunity to create unique and valuable content that stands out in your niche.
This is an update of the article published on September, 2020.
Delante is an online marketing agency specialized in generating website traffic from search engines and paid ads (SEO / SEM). Over 80% of our clients are from rapidly growing e-commerce industry.
Delante is an online marketing agency specialized in generating website traffic from search engines and paid ads (SEO / SEM). Over 80% of our clients are from rapidly growing e-commerce industry.
Comments
Very useful tips. Personally, I also get inspiration from the “people also ask” section on Google and Quora – you can check what answers your audience search for 🙂
1. How frequently should I post on my company blog?
The more frequently you’re able to provide users with valuable content, the better. However, it’s important to publish more or less regularly. Don’t write entries in bulk, remember that quality matters. Publish on the same days, for example on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so that people visit your blog regularly. You can also inform them about new content in the newsletter.
2. Will my new blog entries be automatically displayed on Google?
It’s determined by a number of factors such as your domain authority, internal linking and many more. If you want to make sure that Google indexes your entry faster, provide a link to it on your homepage. You can also use Google Search Console. Enter the link into the box for checking all URLs and then click “request indexing”.
Aby zapewnić najlepsze doświadczenia, używamy technologii takich jak pliki cookie do przechowywania i/lub uzyskiwania dostępu do informacji o urządzeniu. Wyrażenie zgody na te technologie umożliwi nam przetwarzanie danych, takich jak zachowanie podczas przeglądania lub unikalne identyfikatory na tej stronie. Brak wyrażenia zgody lub jej wycofanie może niekorzystnie wpłynąć na niektóre cechy i funkcje.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Funkcjonalne // Functional
Always active
Techniczne przechowywanie lub dostęp są ściśle niezbędne do uzasadnionego celu, jakim jest umożliwienie korzystania z określonej usługi wyraźnie żądanej przez abonenta lub użytkownika, lub wyłącznie w celu przeprowadzenia transmisji komunikatu za pośrednictwem sieci komunikacji elektronicznej. // The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferencyjne // Preferences
Techniczne przechowywanie lub dostęp jest niezbędny do uzasadnionego celu przechowywania preferencji, o które abonent lub użytkownik nie prosił. // The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statystka // Statistics
Techniczne przechowywanie lub dostęp wykorzystywane wyłącznie do celów statystycznych. // The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Techniczne przechowywanie lub dostęp są wymagane do tworzenia profili użytkowników w celu wysyłania reklam lub śledzenia użytkownika na stronie internetowej lub na kilku stronach internetowych w podobnych celach marketingowych. // The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Loading...
Very useful tips. Personally, I also get inspiration from the “people also ask” section on Google and Quora – you can check what answers your audience search for 🙂