6 Ways To Do Keyword Research With Ahref Step-By-Step In 2025

Doing effective keyword research with ahref is key in digital marketing. It helps businesses know their audience and make content they like.

By following the 6 steps in this article, you can optimize your content and boost your online presence. Ahrefs can help you, no matter if you’re experienced or new to digital marketing.

But, many marketers find it hard to pick the right keywords. This can lead to bad search rankings and less visibility online. Ahrefs is a strong SEO tool that makes keyword research easier.

Main Objective

• Understand the importance of keyword research in digital marketing
• Learn how to use Ahrefs for effective keyword research
• Discover 6 step-by-step ways to conduct keyword research with Ahrefs
• Improve your online visibility and search engine rankings
• Optimize your content for better digital marketing results

Understanding Ahrefs as a Keyword Research Tool in 2025

Ahrefs keeps getting better, helping with keyword research in 2025. It has many features to boost your SEO plans.

What Makes Ahrefs Stand Out in 2025

Ahrefs shines in the SEO tool world. It has a comprehensive keyword database and cool features like backlink and content gap analysis. These help users do deep keyword and competitor research.

It gives detailed insights into keyword metrics like search volume and difficulty. Accurate data is key for smart decisions, and Ahrefs provides it.

Key Features for Effective Keyword Research

Ahrefs has important features for keyword research:

• Keywords Explorer: A strong tool for keyword finding and analysis.
• Site Explorer: Lets users check their site or competitors’ sites.
• Content Explorer: Finds trending content and topics.

Together, these features offer a full keyword research solution.

Feature	Description	Benefit
Keywords Explorer	Analyzes keywords based on various metrics.	Helps find the right keywords.
Site Explorer	Shows website traffic and competitor analysis.	Helps with competitive analysis and strategy.
Content Explorer	Finds trending topics and content.	Helps make engaging and relevant content.

Recent Updates and Improvements

Ahrefs keeps updating to match SEO’s changing world. It’s made the Keywords Explorer better and the Content Explorer more powerful. These updates mean users get the best keyword tools.

By keeping up with SEO trends and changes, Ahrefs remains a top keyword research tool.

Why Effective Keyword Research With Ahref Matters

Effective keyword research is key to a good SEO strategy. Ahrefs gives you the tools to do this research well. It helps you know what your audience is looking for. This way, you can make your content better, making your site more visible and relevant.

Impact on Search Engine Rankings

Good keyword research greatly affects your search engine rankings. Finding the right keywords helps your content rank better in search results. Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer tool finds keywords with lots of searches and less competition, giving you an edge.

Key benefits of effective keyword research include:

• Increased visibility in search engine results
• Improved relevance of your content to user searches
• Enhanced ability to target specific audience segments

Content Strategy Development

Ahrefs helps you build a strong content strategy. It shows you what your audience is searching for. By looking at keyword trends and search volumes, you can make content that your audience will love and find useful.

The following table shows how Ahrefs helps with your content strategy:

Keyword	Search Volume	Competition Level
SEO tips	2,900	High
Keyword research tools	1,300	Medium
Ahrefs tutorial	820	Low

Competitive Analysis Benefits

Knowing your competitors’ keyword strategies is important. Ahrefs’ Site Explorer tool lets you see your competitors’ organic keywords. It helps you find gaps in their strategies and grab opportunities they miss.

By using Ahrefs for competitive analysis, you can:

• Identify competitor keywords and strategies
• Discover content gaps and opportunities
• Refine your SEO strategy to outperform competitors

Essential Preparation Before Starting Your Keyword Research

Before starting your keyword research with Ahrefs, you need to prepare well. This preparation helps you use Ahrefs to its fullest. It also sets you up for success in your SEO goals.

Setting Up Your Ahrefs Account

First, set up your Ahrefs account. If you haven’t, sign up and get to know the dashboard. Ahrefs has many tools, and knowing the layout helps you use them better. Make sure to check out Keyword Explorer, Site Explorer, and Content Explorer as they are key for research.

Defining Your Research Goals

Before starting, define what you want to achieve with your keyword research. Do you want to rank higher, get more traffic, or find content gaps? Having clear goals helps you focus on the right keywords. Make a list of topics or themes you want to cover.

• Know your target audience and their search habits.
• Choose the area you’re targeting.
• Decide what type of content you’re optimizing (like blog posts or product pages).

Understanding Keyword Metrics in Ahrefs

Ahrefs offers many keyword metrics that are key for research. Knowing these metrics helps you make better choices. Important ones include search volume, keyword difficulty, and click-through rate (CTR). Get to know these to see how good different keywords are.

Metric	Description	Importance
Search Volume	The average number of searches for a keyword per month.	High
Keyword Difficulty	A score showing how hard it is to rank for a keyword.	High
Click-Through Rate (CTR)	The percentage of users who click on a search result.	Medium

By knowing and using these metrics, you can improve your keyword research. Good preparation, like setting up your Ahrefs account and understanding metrics, is key for success.

Method1: Finding Low-Competition Keywords Using Keywords Explorer

Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer helps find low-competition keywords. These keywords can boost your SEO. This tool is key to finding keywords that bring a lot of traffic to your site.

Step1: Entering Seed Keywords

The first step is to enter a seed keyword related to your niche. For example, if your site is about fitness, start with “workout routines.”

Keywords Explorer then gives you a list of related keywords. This list comes from a huge database of keyword variations. You get many options to pick from.

Step2: Filtering for Keyword Difficulty

Keywords Explorer lets you filter keywords by difficulty. Keyword difficulty shows how hard it is to rank for a keyword. By picking low-competition keywords, you can find terms that are easier to rank for.

To find low-competition keywords, set the difficulty metric to a lower range. This makes it easier to find keywords that are within your reach.

Step3: Analyzing Search Volume and Traffic

Next, look at the search volume and traffic of your keywords. Keywords Explorer shows how many people search for each keyword. This tells you how popular they are.

Keyword	Search Volume	Keyword Difficulty
fitness workout routines	2,900	0.3
beginner workout routines	1,300	0.2
home workout routines	820	0.4

Step4: Evaluating Click Metrics

Looking at click metrics is important. Keywords Explorer shows the click-through rate (CTR) of your keywords. CTR tells you how many people click on your content after seeing it in search results.

By checking CTR, you can improve your keyword strategy. Focus on keywords that get more clicks. This makes your content more visible and engaging.

Method2: Uncovering Competitor Keywords with Site Explorer

Discovering what your competitors are targeting is key to improving your SEO. Ahrefs’ Site Explorer helps you do this efficiently. It lets you see what your rivals are doing and find new ways to attract visitors to your site.

Identifying Your Main Competitors

First, you need to find out who your main competitors are. These are sites that are already ranking for the keywords you want. Ahrefs’ Competitor Analysis tool can show you who’s in the same league as you.

To find your main competitors, follow these steps:

• Enter your target keyword in Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer.
• Look at the top-ranking websites in the SERP overview.
• Analyze their content and identify common themes.

Analyzing Organic Keywords

After finding your competitors, it’s time to look at their organic keywords. Site Explorer gives you a detailed list of keywords they rank for. You’ll see things like how often people search for them and how hard it is to rank for those keywords.

To analyze your competitors’ organic keywords:

1. Enter your competitor’s website URL into Site Explorer.
2. Navigate to the ‘Organic Keywords’ report.
3. Sort the keywords by metrics like search volume or keyword difficulty to identify valuable targets.

Finding Content Gaps

Content gaps are chances to rank for keywords your competitors are already getting. By spotting these gaps, you can make content that targets those keywords. This helps you get more visibility in search results.

To find content gaps:

• Use the ‘Content Gap’ feature in Site Explorer.
• Enter your competitor’s URL and your own URL.
• Analyze the resulting keywords that are common to your competitors but missing from your site.

Prioritizing Competitor Keywords

Not all competitor keywords are worth your time. You should focus on the ones that are most valuable. Look at things like how often people search for them, how hard it is to rank for them, and if they fit your business.

Keyword	Search Volume	Keyword Difficulty
Competitor Keyword 1	1000	0.5
Competitor Keyword 2	500	0.7
Competitor Keyword 3	2000	0.3

By following these steps and using Ahrefs’ Site Explorer, you can find important competitor keywords. This helps you improve your SEO and bring more visitors to your site.

Method3: Content Gap Analysis for Strategic Keyword Targeting

To get ahead, use Ahrefs’ content gap analysis. It finds keywords your competitors rank for but you don’t. This way, you can find valuable keywords to bring more traffic to your site.

Step1: Setting Up the Content Gap Tool

To use the content gap analysis tool, start by setting it up in Ahrefs. Go to Site Explorer, enter your domain, and click on “Content Gap.” Then, add your competitors’ domains to see their keywords.

Key steps to set up the content gap tool:

• Enter your domain in Site Explorer
• Navigate to the “Content Gap” tab
• Add your competitors’ domains
• Analyze the keywords

Step2: Interpreting the Results

After setting up, Ahrefs will show you keywords your competitors rank for but you don’t. Look for keywords with lots of searches and are easy to rank for.

Interpreting results involves:

• Analyzing keyword search volume
• Evaluating keyword difficulty
• Identifying relevant keywords

Step3: Identifying High-Value Opportunities

To find valuable opportunities, filter the results. Look at search volume, keyword difficulty, and click-through rates. Choose keywords that fit your content strategy and can bring a lot of traffic.

Keyword	Search Volume	Difficulty	Click-Through Rate
Example Keyword 1	1000	0.5	0.02
Example Keyword 2	500	0.3	0.01

Step4: Creating an Action Plan

After finding valuable keywords, make a plan to target them. Create content that matches these keywords. This will make your site more relevant and authoritative. Keep an eye on how your content does and change your strategy if needed.

Action plan steps:

1. Develop keyword-optimized content
2. Improve site relevance and authority
3. Monitor content performance
4. Adjust strategy based on performance data

Method4: Leveraging Questions and Topics for Content Creation

Ahrefs has tools to find questions and topics for your content. This helps you make content that people want to read. It also meets their needs.

Step1: Using the Questions Feature

The “Questions” feature in Ahrefs is great for finding content ideas. It shows what people are looking for. This helps you know what to write about.

• Enter your seed keyword or topic into the Keywords Explorer
• Navigate to the “Questions” tab
• Analyze the list of questions related to your topic

Step2: Exploring Related Terms

After finding questions, look at related terms. Ahrefs’ “Related Terms” feature shows more keywords. These can add to your content plan.

Step3: Analyzing Search Intent

It’s important to know the search intent behind your topics. Look at top pages for your keywords. This tells you what content works well.

Step4: Building Content Clusters

Now, create content clusters around your topics. Make a main piece of content. Then, add related sub-content. This makes you an expert and boosts your site’s search ranking.

By using Ahrefs’ tools, you can make a strong content plan. This plan will get more people to engage with your content and improve your search rankings.

Method5: Tracking Keyword Performance with Rank Tracker

Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker lets you watch your keyword rankings change over time. It gives you insights into how well your SEO strategy works. This tool is key for seeing how your content does in search results and making smart SEO choices.

Setting Up Keyword Tracking

To track your keywords, start by setting up Rank Tracker. First, list the keywords you want to track. Then, pick the search engine and location you’re aiming for. Ahrefs lets you track rankings on Google, Bing, and YouTube.

Key steps to set up keyword tracking:

• Enter your target keywords
• Select the search engine and location
• Configure the tracking frequency

Monitoring Position Changes

After setting up tracking, you can see how your rankings change. This shows how your SEO work affects your rankings. You can look at past data to spot trends in your keyword performance.

Benefits of monitoring position changes include:

• Identifying successful SEO strategies
• Detecting areas for improvement
• Adjusting your content to better match search intent

Analyzing SERP Features

Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker also lets you check out SERP features. These features can really affect your click-through rates. By knowing what SERP features are for your keywords, you can make your content more competitive.

SERP features to analyze:

1. Featured Snippets
2. Knowledge Panels
3. Local Packs

Creating Performance Reports

To see your keyword performance clearly, make detailed reports with Ahrefs’ Rank Tracker. These reports show your SEO strengths and weaknesses. This helps you make smart choices.

Key components of performance reports:

• Keyword ranking history
• SERP feature analysis
• Competitor comparison

Method6: Discovering Trending Keywords with Content Explorer

Ahrefs’ Content Explorer helps find trending keywords. It shows how well these keywords perform. This tool is great for finding topics that are currently popular.

Setting Search Parameters

To start with Content Explorer, set your search parameters. Type in your keywords or topics. Then, adjust the settings to fit your research needs.

• Enter your seed keywords or topics in the search bar.
• Adjust the search filters to refine your results based on language, region, and date.

Filtering by Performance Metrics

After getting your results, filter them by performance metrics. This shows which keywords are best for traffic or engagement.

Metric	Description	Importance
Social Shares	Number of shares on social media platforms.	High
Backlinks	Number of backlinks to the content.	Medium
Organic Traffic	Estimated organic traffic to the content.	High

Identifying Trending Topics

After filtering, find trending topics for your strategy. Look for common themes in top results.

• Analyze the titles and content of top results for recurring themes.
• Use these insights to inform your content creation process.

Extracting Actionable Keywords

The last step is to get actionable keywords. These are keywords you can use to make your content more visible and relevant.

Key Takeaways:

• Use Content Explorer to discover trending keywords and topics.
• Filter results based on performance metrics to identify high-potential keywords.
• Incorporate trending keywords into your content strategy to stay relevant.

Advanced Tips for Maximizing Your Keyword Research With Ahref

Ahrefs has many advanced features for better keyword research. You can use the API for custom analysis or integrate with other SEO tools. These tools help you understand your keywords better and work more efficiently.

Combining Multiple Research Methods

Using different Ahrefs tools together is a great way to improve your keyword research. You can use Keywords Explorer, Site Explorer, and Content Gap analysis. This way, you get a full picture of your keywords.

• Use Keywords Explorer to find good keywords and phrases.
• Check out your competitors with Site Explorer for new keyword ideas.
• Content Gap analysis helps you see where your content is missing.

Using Ahrefs API for Custom Analysis

The Ahrefs API lets you do custom analysis and work with other tools. It’s very useful for big SEO projects or for agencies with many clients.

Benefits of using Ahrefs API:

Feature	Description	Benefit
Custom Analysis	Access Ahrefs data programmatically	Make analysis fit your needs
Integration	Work with other SEO tools and platforms	Make workflows smoother and more useful
Automation	Automate boring tasks	Save time and effort

Integrating with Other SEO Tools

Connecting Ahrefs with other SEO tools makes your keyword research even better. You can link it with Google Search Console, SEMrush, or Moz.

Key integration benefits:

1. Get a full view of your data from different sources.
2. Get deeper insights by combining data.
3. Make your workflow smoother by automating data sharing.

Automating Keyword Research Workflows

Automation is key to making keyword research efficient. Ahrefs lets you automate tasks like tracking keyword rankings and watching your competitors.

By using these advanced tips, you can make your keyword research with Ahrefs much better. This leads to better SEO results and a stronger online presence.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Ahrefs for Keyword Research

Using Ahrefs for keyword research is more than just knowing how to use it. You need to know the common mistakes. These mistakes can hurt your SEO efforts. Knowing them is key to getting the most out of Ahrefs.

Overlooking Search Intent

One big mistake is ignoring search intent. Ahrefs gives you lots of data on keywords. But, knowing why people search for something is just as important. If you ignore this, your content might not connect with your audience.

Tip: Look at the top pages for your keyword. See what kind of content is doing well.

Focusing Only on Volume Metrics

Just looking at search volume is not enough. It can lead to choosing keywords that are too hard or not good enough. You should also look at keyword difficulty and how likely people are to click on your page.

• Use Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer for a full view of keyword data.
• Think about if the keyword fits your content and audience.

Ignoring Long-Tail Opportunities

Long-tail keywords have less competition and can bring in more people. Not using them means you could miss out on a lot of traffic.

Example: Instead of “SEO tools,” try “best SEO tools for small businesses.”

Neglecting Competitive Analysis

Looking at your competitors is important. Ahrefs’ Site Explorer can show you what they’re doing with keywords.

Competitor Analysis Metrics	Description	Importance
Organic Keywords	Number of keywords a competitor ranks for	High
Backlink Profile	Quality and quantity of backlinks	High
Content Gaps	Topics competitors have covered that you haven’t	Medium

Avoiding these mistakes can make your keyword research better. It’s not just about using Ahrefs well. It’s also about understanding your SEO strategy fully.

Conclusion

Keyword research is key to a good SEO plan, and Ahrefs helps a lot. It offers tools for finding easy keywords and trending topics. This makes your content more visible and relevant.

Ahrefs does more than just keyword research. It also helps you see what your competitors are doing. You can find content gaps and track how well your content is doing. This helps you make smart choices to get more traffic and better rankings.

To succeed with Ahrefs, you need to know how to use its tools for your own needs. This way, you can keep up with the digital world and improve your SEO strategy.