How to Use Ahrefs for Keyword Research – 3 Easy Steps (Stupidly Simple Guide)

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In this video I show you how to use Ahrefs for keyword research in 3 easy steps. I start with one seed keyword in Ahrefs Keyword Explorer and turn it into a list of keyword ideas with real search volume.

Then I use the Keyword Explorer tool and Site Explorer to check keyword difficulty, search queries and search results so you can pick a realistic target keyword.

I also show you how SEO professionals read search engine results, judge Ahrefs keyword metrics and avoid wasting time on topics you will never rank for.

By the end of this video you will have a simple, repeatable keyword research process you can use for every blog post, page and SEO project.

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⏩ Skip to Section
0:00 Intro and what we’re doing
0:21 Start in Ahrefs Keyword Explorer with a seed topic
0:39 Use the AI ideas tool to generate keyword ideas
1:00 Filter with Matching terms (phrase/terms) + set KD up to 30
1:25 Toggle Questions to find top of funnel topics
1:56 Open a keyword and check the SERP (who’s ranking)
2:21 Why KD can be misleading, check DR and backlinks
3:58 Use SERP volatility to spot keywords you can realistically compete for
4:21 Look for “intent wins” by matching the exact search phrase
5:19 Wrap up and questions

📺More videos from The Conversion Clinic
How to Check Competitor Backlinks with Ahrefs – in 1 Minute!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ba1Vso-ahw
What Is Content Gap Analysis in SEO? (Explained in 2 Minutes!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW25a73UJpU
How to do an SEO Audit — 7 Steps for Beginners (Free Tools): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nCoeDTbo_Y

📚 Related resources
The Ultimate Keyword Research Checklist for SEO in 2025: https://josiahroche.co/blog/keyword-research-checklist/
Keyword Research Made Easy: The Beginner’s Guide to SEO Success in 2025: https://josiahroche.co/blog/how-to-do-keyword-research-for-seo/
How to Use Chatgpt for Keyword Research in 3 Steps (with Actual Prompts): https://josiahroche.co/blog/how-to-use-chatgpt-for-keyword-research/
How to Build a Pillar Cluster Content Strategy in 6 Easy Steps: https://josiahroche.co/blog/how-to-build-a-pillar-cluster-content-strategy-in-6-easy-steps/

❓FAQs
Q1: How do I start keyword research in Ahrefs as a beginner
Open Keyword Explorer and type a simple seed keyword that matches your site, offer or video. Ahrefs will give you keyword ideas, related keyword phrases and rough search volume. At this stage, just save a list of keyword topics that clearly fit your audience.

Q2: How should I use Keyword Explorer for SEO, not just data hunting
Use Keyword Explorer to filter by country, then sort ideas by search volume and keyword difficulty. For any promising specific keyword, open the search result page and scan the top URLs. Check if you could write a better answer and make that your main target keyword.

Q3: How do I find low competition keywords with Ahrefs
Set a low keyword difficulty filter and remove branded terms in the explorer tool. Look for long phrases and question style search queries with steady traffic. Then open the search results and see if smaller sites rank, which is a good sign you can also find keyword wins there.

Q4: How accurate is Ahrefs Keyword Difficulty for picking keywords
Keyword difficulty in Ahrefs is only an estimate based on links to the top pages. Before you commit, open the live search engine results and judge content quality and intent. Use KD to narrow your list of keyword options, but let your manual review guide the final research process.

Q5: How do I see what keywords my competitors rank for in Ahrefs
Put a competitor into Site Explorer, then open the organic keywords report. You will see each Ahrefs keyword, their position and traffic estimates. Remove brand terms and note any generic target keyword that also fits your offer, then add the best ones to your list of keyword ideas.

Q6: How can I turn Ahrefs keyword research into a simple content plan
Group your keyword research list into themes that match real problems your audience has. Give each page one main target keyword and a few related keyword phrases. Check the search results again so you choose the right format, like a how to guide, service page or comparison piece.

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