A free four-step method
- List customer questions. Write 20 things customers ask before they buy.
- Check YouTube's suggestions. Type the first few words of each into the search bar. Write down the suggested phrases.
- Look at what already ranks. Search the phrase. What do the top videos cover, and what do they miss?
- Pick one phrase per video. Put it in the first half of your title and in your description's summary.
Which keywords should a business target?
| Type | Example | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Problem | "why my piano students quit" | The person feels the pain now |
| How-to | "how to raise prices as a coach" | Clear intent to learn |
| Comparison | "hire a bookkeeper or do it myself" | Close to a decision |
| Local | "kitchen remodel cost Denver" | Ready to hire |
Big, generic terms ("marketing") bring broad audiences. Specific phrases bring buyers.
What free tools help beyond search suggestions?
- Ask Studio in YouTube Studio suggests ideas from your channel's data.
- YouTube Analytics' search terms show what people typed to find your existing videos.
- Your own comments and emails: the exact words customers use.
Do tags matter for keywords?
Very little. YouTube Help says tags play a minimal role, mostly for commonly misspelled topics. Put your effort into the title, thumbnail and description.
Example
Worked example: a landscaper's keyword research session
A landscaper in Arizona spends 30 minutes on research:
- Customer questions: "When should I plant in Phoenix?", "How much does desert landscaping cost?", "Artificial turf vs. gravel," "Why is my lawn dying in summer?"
- YouTube suggestions: typing "desert landscaping" shows suggestions such as "desert landscaping ideas front yard" and "desert landscaping on a budget." Typing "artificial turf vs" suggests comparisons with real grass and gravel.
- What ranks: the top "desert landscaping on a budget" videos are mostly national channels with general tips. None shows real local costs or local plant choices.
- The pick: "Desert Landscaping on a Budget in Phoenix: 5 Plants That Survive Summer." It matches a real search, adds a local angle the big channels miss, and attracts people who might hire him.
(Suggestions change over time and by location, so do your own search rather than copying these.)
Turn one keyword into a cluster
One good phrase usually leads to five more videos. For "desert landscaping on a budget":
- Desert landscaping mistakes that cost money
- Best low-water plants for [your city]
- Gravel vs. artificial turf: real costs
- How to plan a front yard redesign in a weekend
- Before-and-after: a budget front yard
Link these together with end screens and a playlist, so a viewer who finds one finds the rest.
Where to put your keyword
- Title: near the start, in natural words.
- Description: in the first one or two sentences, which should also summarize the video.
- Spoken in the video: say the phrase naturally early on; it helps automatic captions match.
- File name and chapters: a minor help, but free.
Watch out
Common mistakes
- Chasing huge generic terms like "landscaping" where you can't compete and the viewers aren't your buyers.
- Keyword stuffing titles and descriptions. It reads badly and doesn't help.
- Researching once. Revisit your list every few months; your comments will reveal new phrases.
- Ignoring your own search terms report in YouTube Analytics, which shows what people typed to find you.
Dave’s take
A principle I keep coming back to
"I am my audience." (Dave)
AI shortcut
How can AI speed this up?
AI tools and plans checked October 18, 2026. They change often, so confirm on each tool's own page. No affiliate links.
- Expand questions. Ask ChatGPT for 30 customer questions, then check each in YouTube search.
- Ideas from data. Ask Studio suggests topics.
- Gap research. Gemini can summarize what top videos miss.
Tools mentioned:
- Ask Studio in YouTube Studio: free, built into YouTube Studio on desktop for most creators.
- ChatGPT: free plan, Go ($8 a month in the US) and Plus ($20 a month).
- Gemini: free plan includes image generation and editing and Deep Research, and the app can connect to YouTube and other Google apps; Google AI Plus is $4.99 a month and Google AI Pro $19.99 a month (US).
AI is great for first drafts. Always edit the result so it sounds like you and is accurate for your business.
Key takeaways
- YouTube's search suggestions are the best free keyword tool.
- Start from your customer's questions, not from generic high-volume terms.
- Use the exact phrase in your title and description naturally.
- One clear keyword per video is enough.
