Keyword Research Basics for Affiliate Content

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Keyword research shows the language people use when they look for help. It informs what you publish; it does not guarantee traffic.

Start with problems, not tools

List ten questions a beginner in your niche might ask. Search each one and note the autocomplete suggestions, "People also ask" questions and the types of pages that rank.

Group by search intent

Informational: "how does X work" - suits guides.
Commercial: "best X for Y", "X vs Z" - suits comparisons and reviews.
Navigational: brand lookups - usually not worth targeting.

Step-by-step workflow

Collect candidate phrases in a spreadsheet.
Look at the current results: do they match the page you plan to write?
Group near-duplicates so one page targets one topic.
Rate each topic by relevance to your audience and your ability to add something useful.
Publish, then check Google Search Console for the queries you actually appear for.

Common mistakes

Writing several pages for one intent.
Chasing volume numbers while ignoring relevance.
Repeating a phrase unnaturally. Write for readers first.

FAQ

Do I need paid tools?

No. Autocomplete, Search Console and careful reading of results are enough to begin.