AnswerThePublic homepage screenshot showing neil patel

How to Use AnswerThePublic for Keyword Research Like a Pro

Want to level up your keyword research game?

AnswerThePublic is your reliable easy to use search listening. content research tool. This powerful tool recently bought by Neil Patel helps you tap into the minds of your target audience, revealing the questions they’re asking and the topics they care about most.

By understanding these queries, you can create content that resonates, ranks, and drives results.

In this guide, I will show you how to use AnswerThePublic like a pro, unlocking valuable insights that will transform your SEO strategy in 2024 and beyond.

Get ready to dive deep, identify untapped opportunities, and write content that truly connects with your audience.

Let’s get started!

What is the AnswerThePublic?

AnswerThePublic is a powerful keyword research tool that helps content creators and marketers discover the questions and phrases people are searching for. By providing insights into what users are asking about a particular topic, AnswerThePublic enables you to create content that directly addresses their needs and interests.

I must tell you that this simple definition above can skyrocket your SEO effort if done right.

Reliable Keyword Research Tool

At its core, AnswerThePublic is a tool designed to uncover the questions and phrases people search for related to a given keyword or topic. It provides a comprehensive overview of the various queries users are entering into search engines, giving you valuable insights into what information they are seeking.

By understanding these queries, you can craft content that directly answers user questions and provides the information they are looking for.

Answer The Public keyword research result page

How Does AnswerThePublic Work For Keyword Research?

Honestly, Using AnswerThePublic is straightforward.

Simply enter a keyword or phrase into the search bar on the AnswerThePublic webpage, and the tool will generate a visualization of related questions, prepositions, comparisons, alphabetical, and related queries.

AnswerThePublic Keyword Visualization

The visualization is presented in a user-friendly format, with different branches and subcategories representing various aspects of the topic.

You can explore these branches to uncover valuable insights and identify specific questions or phrases that are relevant to your intended content strategy, and if you want you can download and store them for later use in your strategy.

And that is about how to use AnswerThePublic for keyword research

Benefits Of AnswerThePublic for SEO and Content Marketing

AnswerThePublic offers several key benefits for SEO and content marketing. By helping you understand the user intent behind searches, it allows you to create content that directly addresses the needs and interests of your target audience.

The tool also helps you uncover long-tail keywords and content opportunities that you may have overlooked. By identifying specific questions and phrases related to your topic, you can create targeted content that ranks well for those queries and drives qualified traffic to your website.

Moreover, by creating content that directly answers user questions, you can improve your search visibility and establish your brand as a trusted resource in your industry which helps in the E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) – the quality rater guidelines.

This can lead to increased engagement, higher conversion rates, and better overall SEO performance.

AnswerThePublic Keyword Research Tips and Valuable Insights

As I have made clear before now, AnswerThePublic is a powerful tool for conducting keyword research.

By understanding how to use its features effectively, you can uncover valuable insights to inform your content strategy and better target your audience.

Understand the Different Types of Queries

AnswerThePublic categorizes search queries into different types, including questions, prepositions, comparisons, alphabetical, and related queries. Each query type provides unique insights into what users are searching for and how they phrase their searches.

Questions

Question queries are an excellent source for understanding user intent and the specific information they’re seeking. By analyzing question queries, you can identify topics to address in your content and structure your articles or blog posts to provide clear, concise answers.

For example, if you find a high volume of queries like “What is the best software for project management?” or “How do I choose a project management tool?”, you can create content for your website visitors that compares different project management solutions, highlights their key features, and provides guidance on selecting the right tool for specific needs.

Prepositions and Comparisons

Preposition queries (e.g., “project management software for small teams”) and comparison queries (e.g., “Asana vs. Trello”) indicate that users are looking for specific solutions or trying to decide between different options. By addressing these queries in your content, you can position your product or service as the ideal choice for their needs.

When creating content around preposition and comparison queries, focus on the unique benefits and features of your offering, and provide clear, objective comparisons to help users make informed decisions.

Analyze the Related Questions Section

The “Related Question” (RQ) section in AnswerThePublic provides a list of related questions that users frequently ask in connection with your main search query. These questions offer valuable insights into the broader topics and subtopics that users are interested in that support your topical cluster.

By incorporating the questions that people also ask into your content, you can create more comprehensive and valuable resources that address users’ needs at a deeper level. This not only helps to establish your authority on the subject but also increases the likelihood of your content ranking well for a wider range of related queries.

When analyzing the Related questions section a.k.a PAA section, make sure to consider the following:

  • Identify common themes or subtopics among the questions
  • Prioritize questions based on their relevance to your main topic and your target audience
  • Use the questions as a guide for structuring your content and ensuring that you cover all the key points

Use the “Search Listening” Feature

AnswerThePublic’s “Search Listening” feature allows you to track trending topics and emerging keywords over time. By monitoring these trends, you can stay ahead of the curve and adapt your keyword strategy to capitalize on new opportunities.

To make the most of the “Search Listening” feature:

  1. Set up alerts for your main keywords and topics of interest
  2. Regularly review the trending queries and identify patterns or shifts in user behavior
  3. Adjust your content calendar and keyword targeting based on the insights gained from search listening

For example, if you notice a sudden spike in queries related to “remote project management” or “virtual collaboration tools,” you can create timely content that addresses these emerging needs and positions your brand as a thought leader in the space.

Leverage Visualization Tools

AnswerThePublic offers a range of visualization tools, such as word clouds and topic wheels, that help you quickly identify patterns and relationships between different queries.

These visualizations can be particularly useful for spotting long-tail keywords, uncovering content gaps, and generating new content ideas.

Word Clouds

Word clouds display the most frequently used words in the search queries related to your main topic. By analyzing the word cloud, you can identify keywords and phrases that are commonly associated with your topic and use them to inform your content.

For example, if you see words like “template,” “free,” or “download” prominently featured in the word cloud for “project management,” you might consider creating content that offers free, downloadable templates or resources to attract and engage your target audience.

Topic Wheels

Topic wheels group related queries into clusters, making it easier to understand the relationships between different subtopics. By exploring the topic wheel, you can identify content opportunities and ensure that your site offers comprehensive coverage of your main topic.

When using the topic wheel, consider:

  • Creating pillar pages or hub content that covers the main topic and links to more specific, related content
  • Developing a series of blog posts or articles that address each subtopic in-depth
  • Using the topic wheel to inform your site architecture and internal linking strategy

Identify Content Gaps and Opportunities

By combining the insights gained from different query types, the PAA section, search listening, and visualization tools, you can identify content gaps and opportunities to create more targeted, valuable content for your audience.

Some key questions to ask yourself when identifying content gaps and opportunities are:

  • What questions or topics are users searching for that your current content doesn’t adequately address?
  • Are there any emerging trends or subtopics that you could capitalize on by creating new content?
  • How can you use the insights from AnswerThePublic to improve your existing content and make it more comprehensive and valuable to your target audience?

AnswerThePublic Search Insights: Interpreting the Data

Addressing User Questions

When you see a high volume of questions (green) related to your topic, it’s an excellent opportunity to create content that directly addresses these queries. By providing clear, concise answers to common questions, you can establish your authority on the subject matter and improve your chances of ranking well in search engines.

Common QuestionsBrief Answers
Why is keyword research important?Keyword research helps identify relevant keywords to target in content, enhancing search engine optimization (SEO).
How do I conduct keyword research?Conducting keyword research involves using tools like AnswerThePublic to identify popular search queries and analyzing competitors’ content.

Identifying Content Gaps

Analyzing the data from AnswerThePublic can help you identify content gaps in your niche. Look for phrases or questions that are not well-covered by existing content. These gaps present opportunities to create unique, valuable content that stands out from competitors.

For example, if you notice a high volume of searches for “keyword research tools for YouTube,” but find limited content addressing this specific topic, it could be a good opportunity to create a comprehensive guide or comparison of the best keyword research tools for YouTube creators.

Understanding User Intent

The phrases and questions displayed in AnswerThePublic provide insight into user intent – the reason behind a user’s search query. Understanding user intent is crucial for creating content that meets the needs and expectations of your target audience.

Types of User Intent

There are four main types of user intent:

  1. Informational: Users seeking information or answers to questions
  2. Navigational: Users trying to find a specific website or page
  3. Transactional: Users looking to make a purchase or complete an action
  4. Commercial investigation: Users researching products or services before making a decision

More on keyword intent in my quick video below where I mentioned more example of each intent listed above

By analyzing the phrases and questions in AnswerThePublic, you can determine the dominant user intent for your topic and create content that aligns with that intent.

Trending Topics and Seasonal Queries

AnswerThePublic data can also reveal trending topics and seasonal queries related to your niche. By staying on top of these trends, you can create timely, relevant content that capitalizes on current interests.

For example, if you notice a spike in searches for “holiday gift ideas for remote workers” during the months leading up to Christmas, you could create a gift guide targeting this specific audience and promote it heavily during that period.

Lets now go into some actionable tasks for you to think about after gathering insights from AnswerThePubblic

Analyzing AnswerThePublic Results for Actionable Insights

Identify Content Gaps

Once you have the data from AnswerThePublic, it’s time to dive in and look for content gaps. These are questions or phrases that your existing content doesn’t fully cover.

By finding these gaps, you can create new content that directly addresses your audience’s needs and interests.

Review Your Existing Content

Before you can identify gaps, you need a clear understanding of your current content. Take an inventory of your blog posts, articles, and other resources.

Make a list of the main topics and subtopics you’ve covered.

This will give you a baseline to compare against the AnswerThePublic results.

Compare AnswerThePublic Results to Your Content

With your content inventory in hand, start going through the questions and phrases from AnswerThePublic. For each one, ask yourself:

  1. Do I have content that directly answers this question or addresses this phrase?
  2. If yes, is my content comprehensive and up-to-date?
  3. If no, is this a question or topic that’s relevant to my audience and aligns with my content strategy?

As you go through this process, list the questions and phrases that represent content gaps. These are prime opportunities for new content creation.

Refine Your Keyword List

AnswerThePublic provides a wealth of keyword ideas, but not all will be relevant to your business or audience.

The next step is to refine your keyword list to focus on the most valuable opportunities.

Identify Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases with lower search volume but higher conversion rates. They’re valuable because they allow you to target niche topics and attract highly qualified traffic.

For example, instead of just targeting “content marketing,” you might identify a long-tail keyword like “how to measure content marketing ROI”. This specific phrase can help you attract more targeted traffic.

Find Semantic Keyword Variations

In addition to long-tail keywords, look for semantic variations of your main keywords. These are phrases that are closely related to your main topic but use different wording.

For instance, if one of your main keywords is “email marketing,” semantic variations might include:

  • Email campaign best practices
  • Improving email open rates
  • Crafting effective email subject lines

By targeting these semantic variations, you can create content that comprehensively covers a topic and captures search traffic from a variety of angles.

Prioritize Keyword Opportunities

Not every keyword or content gap will be worth pursuing. To make the most of your time and resources, prioritize opportunities based on:

  1. Relevance to your business and audience
  2. Alignment with your content strategy and goals
  3. Search volume and competition level
  4. Potential for driving valuable traffic, conversions, and revenue

Focus on the keyword opportunities that offer the best balance of these factors. You may want to create a spreadsheet to rank and prioritize your keyword list.

By identifying content gaps, refining your keyword list, and prioritizing opportunities, you can turn AnswerThePublic’s insights into a powerful, actionable content strategy.

Let me now take you through how to integrate these insights into your broader SEO efforts.

Integrating AnswerThePublic into Your SEO Strategy

The data you have from AnswerThePublic can be used to create targeted content, optimize existing content based on user queries and intent and you can also incorporate relevant keywords to boost search visibility.

Informing Content Creation

AnswerThePublic provides a wealth of information about the questions and topics your target audience is searching for.

By leveraging these insights, you can create content that directly addresses their needs and interests.

Close the Content Gaps

Review the questions and topics uncovered by AnswerThePublic and compare them to your existing content. Look for gaps where you haven’t yet addressed specific queries or subjects.

These gaps represent opportunities to create new, targeted content that will attract and engage your audience. Make sure you close those gaps

Creating Comprehensive Content

When creating new content based on AnswerThePublic insights, ensure that you provide comprehensive coverage of the subject matter.

Don’t just scratch the surface; dive deep into the topic and provide valuable, actionable information.

Use the questions and subtopics as a guide to structure your content and ensure that you’re addressing all relevant aspects.

For example, if you’re writing about how to do pencil drawing, you can use AnswerThePublic to identify specific pain points and create detailed, step-by-step guides that address those issues. as you can see in the screenshot below.

Optimizing Existing Content

In addition to creating new content, AnswerThePublic can also help you optimize your existing content for better search visibility and user engagement.

Aligning with User Intent

Review your existing content in light of the insights gained from AAnswerThePublic. Are you effectively addressing the questions and topics that users are searching for? If not, consider updating your content to better align with user intent. This may involve expanding on certain topics, adding new sections, or restructuring your content to make it more relevant and accessible.

Keyword Optimization

As you review your existing content, look for opportunities to incorporate relevant keywords and phrases uncovered by AnswerThePublic.

However, be careful not to engage in keyword stuffing, which is the practice of excessively using keywords in an attempt to manipulate search rankings.

This tactic is not only ineffective but can also result in penalties from search engines.

Free Resource: Use My Free SEO Checklist to guide you on keyword optimization for any page on your website.

Instead, focus on naturally integrating keywords into your content where they make sense and add value to the reader. Use variations and long-tail keywords to capture a wider range of search queries and to better match user intent.

To address the question “Is AnswerThePublic good for SEO?”, the answer is a resounding yes. By providing insights into the questions and topics your target audience is searching for, v helps you create content that is more likely to rank well in search results and engage users.

By integrating AnswerThePublic into your SEO strategy, you can create more targeted, comprehensive content that effectively addresses user needs and drives better search visibility. The key is to use the insights gained to inform both new content creation and the optimization of existing content, always keeping the user’s intent and experience at the forefront.

Getting Started with AnswerThePublic

The good thing about AnswerThePublic is that it’s free to use and you can also have access to the paid version if you think the investment is with it for your SEO research process.

Accessing the Free Version Of AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic provides a free version of its tool, which is an excellent way to get a taste of its capabilities without committing to a paid plan. The free version allows you to perform a limited number of searches per day, typically around 3-5 searches. While this might not be sufficient for extensive keyword research, it’s still a valuable resource for gaining insights into your target audience’s questions and search queries.

The free version does come with some restrictions compared to the paid plans. For example, you may not have access to certain advanced features, such as the ability to filter results by language or export data in various formats. Additionally, the search results may be displayed differently, with limitations on the number of questions shown or the ability to expand and explore related topics.

Despite these limitations, the free version of AnswerThePublic can still provide valuable insights for your keyword research and content planning. It’s a great way to test the tool’s functionality and determine if it aligns with your SEO strategy before investing in a paid plan so go sign up, I will show you how later below.

Is AnswerThePublic Free?

Yes, AnswerThePublic does offer a free version of their tool. However, it’s important to note that the free version comes with limitations on the number of daily searches and access to certain features.

If you find yourself needing to conduct more extensive keyword research or require advanced functionality, you may want to consider upgrading to one of their paid plans.

Setting Up an Account on AnswerThePublic

To start using AnswerThePublic, you’ll need to set up an account. The process is straightforward and should only take a few minutes. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. Visit the AnswerThePublic website and click on the “Create Free Account” button located in the top-right corner of the page.
  2. On the registration page, provide the necessary information, including your name, email address, and password for your account. Make sure to choose a strong password to protect your account’s security. You can use Google account login also.
  3. After filling in the required fields, click on the “Create Account” button to complete the registration process.
  4. Once your account is created, you’ll be redirected to the main dashboard where you can start using the tool for your keyword research.

Navigating the Dashboard

After logging in to your newly created account, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the AnswerThePublic dashboard. The interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy to navigate and access the various features.

At the top of the dashboard, you’ll find a search bar where you can enter your target keyword or phrase. Simply type in the topic you want to research and hit the search button to generate a list of questions and search queries related to that keyword.

The dashboard also provides options to filter your search results by language, country, or category (e.g., questions, prepositions, comparisons). These filters allow you to refine your results and focus on the most relevant questions for your target audience and market.

Upgrading to the Paid Version

While the free version of AnswerThePublic offers valuable insights, you may find that you need access to more advanced features or unlimited searches as your keyword research expands.

In this case, upgrading to one of the paid versions is worth considering.

The version of AnswerThePublic provides several benefits over the free version:

  1. Unlimited searches:: You can conduct as many searches as you need without any daily limitations. This is particularly useful if you’re working on multiple projects or have an extensive list of keywords to research.
  2. Advanced filters: Offers additional filters to refine your search results, such as the ability to exclude certain words or phrases, filter by question type (e.g., how, why, when), and more. These advanced filters help you drill down into the most relevant questions for your content strategy.
  3. Data export: You can easily export your search results in various formats, such as CSV or PDF, for further analysis or sharing with your team. This feature saves time and makes it convenient to integrate AnswerThePublic data into your existing workflow.
  4. Priority support: You’ll have access to priority support from the AnswerThePublic team. If you encounter any issues or have questions about using the tool, you can expect a prompt response and assistance.

To upgrade to the paid version, simply navigate to the pricing page on the AnswerThePublic website and select the plan that best suits your needs.

The pricing is based on a monthly or annual subscription, with the annual plan offering a discounted rate compared to paying monthly.

At the time of writing this article. AnswerThePublic is on a lifetime offer!

Conclusion

AnswerThePublic is a game-changer for keyword research in 2024 especially for small businesses will limited budgets for SEO tools that we use. By leveraging its powerful insights, you can uncover valuable questions, prepositions, comparisons, and related queries that align with your content strategy.

Focus on the most relevant query types, analyze the “People Also Ask” section, and use the “Search Listening” feature to stay ahead of the curve. The visual data presentation and color coding make it easy to identify content gaps and refine your keyword list.

Integrate AnswerThePublic into your SEO strategy to inform content creation and optimize existing content. With the free version, you can get started right away.

By understanding user intent and creating content that directly addresses their needs, you can improve your search visibility and drive targeted traffic to your website.

I hope this guide was useful. if you have any questions just DM me on Linkedin.

Don't forget to share the post:

Related Posts

Explore More

Get a free consultation with us today!

Every day that goes by without taking action is a missed opportunity to attract more customers and grow your business. Don’t wait any longer to take advantage of effective SEO strategies.