You’re putting in the hours churning out content and targeting ‘high-volume’ SEO keywords. But despite all the effort, your rankings are still flatlining. And goodness, do they need resuscitation!
The truth is, most keyword advice you find floating around the internet is outdated. With everyone targeting the same obvious phrases, you can rest assured knowing you’ll be buried by high-authority sites, and that’s just us putting it gently.
But don’t hit the panic button just yet. In this article, we’re giving you the scoop on everything SEO keywords, tools and how to use them to rank higher on search engines.
Table of Contents
Does That Mean SEO Keywords Are Dead?
How Do You Find SEO Keywords That Actually Rank?
How Many Times Should SEO Keywords Be Repeated To Work?
5 SEO Keywords Generator Tools You Should Use
Your Quick Guide To Nailing Your SEO Keyword Search
What Are SEO Keywords Anyway?
SEO keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google when they’re looking up something online. So, if you’re a perfume business and someone searches for perfumes online, you would want your website to be the first thing they see.
All you have to do is mention the word “perfume” in your website content a few times, and voilà, your website shows up on the first page of search results. Once people see it, they will click into your website then you get thousands of sales, right?
Wrong.
That might have worked back in the days when keyword stuffing was all people knew, and Google’s algorithm wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. In 2025, the algorithm now uses AI and machine learning to evaluate context, intent and actual usefulness of content before its ranks, and with thousands of businesses in your niche, you have to be strategic with SEO if you want to stay in the competition.
Does That Mean SEO Keywords Are Dead?
Not even close. But what’s dead is the idea that you can slap a few generic keywords into blog content and watch it rank overnight.
SEO keywords still matter a lot, but the way you use them has changed. That’s because Google and every other search engine on the World Wide Web are now evaluating whether your content actually answers the query behind the SEO keyword.
So, if you’re using those seductive high-volume phrases that look good on SEO keyword tools, SEO keywords may as well be dead for you. That’s because:
They’re Overly Competitive
If you use high-volume keywords, you’re up against giant corporations and media houses with domain ratings through the roof and teams dedicated to SEO 24/7. In other words, you don’t stand a chance of ranking at all.
They’re Not Specific Enough
Take “fitness,” for example. It gets a ton of searches, but are people looking for exercise plans, supplements, local gyms, online trainers, or just inspiration? If you target “personal trainer for women in Ohio”, on the other hand, your ideal customer will visit your site.
They’re Way Past Their Prime.
Trends evolve, and what people searched for in 2018 isn’t always going to be what they’re searching for now. If you’re still using old data or targeting expired fads, your content has already lost the race.
How Do You Find SEO Keywords That Actually Rank?
The best SEO keywords aren’t always the ones with the biggest numbers. They’re the ones that connect with real people, at the exact moment they’re ready to act. That means switching your thought process from “look how much search volume this keyword has” and going for keywords that check these three boxes:
- Low competition, so you actually stand a chance of ranking.
- High intent, meaning the person searching is ready to take action (buy, book, sign up).
- Hyper-relevance so the keyword fits your business offer perfectly.
These are called long-tail keywords, and they’re where the gold is buried.
To put things into perspective, let’s say you’re a skincare brand. The keyword “moisturiser” might get 100,000+ searches a month, but who’s going to see your blog post when Sephora and Allure own page one?
However, if you try:
- Best moisturiser for dry skin in winter
- Vegan moisturiser for sensitive skin under Rs. 300
- Moisturiser for men with oily skin in India
They may have lower volume on SEO keyword tools, but they’re laser-targeted. In our books, 10 clicks from the right audience beats 10,000 from the wrong one every time.
How Many Times Should SEO Keywords Be Repeated To Work?
Remember when people used to write like this:
“If you’re looking for a budget wedding photographer, our budget wedding photographer services are the best for anyone needing a budget wedding photographer…”
Trust us, we can keep going.
Once upon a time, people believed that SEO keywords density, or simply how many times you repeat your keyword in your content, was the key to ranking. And yes, it was cringe. But it worked; at least for a while.
In 2025? Not so much.
Google’s AI is now trained to understand context, not just repetition. Therefore, SEO keywords density still matters in the sense that you want your keywords to appear naturally in the right places.
So, what’s working now? Stick to an keywords density between 1 and 2%. That means if you write a 1000-word blog, try to repeat the SEO keyword at least 20 times.
You should also focus on semantic relevance by using supporting keywords and related terms that show your content really covers the topic. This could be synonyms, industry language, subtopics and common questions people ask.
Why?
Because that’s what real people are actually searching for, and Google gets that now.
5 SEO Keywords Generator Tools You Should Use
If you want to find keywords that actually rank, you need the right SEO writing tools in your corner. And no, we’re not talking about outdated spreadsheets or those free SEO keyword tools that just show the most obvious results.
1. Google Search Console
This SEO keywords generator tool shows you what you’re already ranking for and where you can easily climb.
2. Ubersuggest
This SEO keywords generator tool is great for beginners and gives you related terms, long-tails, and search trends you can use to boost your organic rankings.
3. AnswerThePublic
If you’re looking for a goldmine for finding question-based keywords that target specific user intent, this SEO keywords generator is our top pick.
4. Semrush
Although this SEO keywords generator is a little pricey, it’s worth the investment for in-depth competitor research and uncovering keyword gaps.
5. KeywordTool.io
This SEO keywords generator tool pulls keywords from Google, YouTube, Amazon, and more, making it perfect for e-commerce businesses and content creators.
Your Quick Guide To Nailing Your SEO Keyword Search
You now know how keywords work and which SEO keywords generators to use. Here’s how you can find keywords that are actually worth targeting in a way that makes sense for your brand.
1. Brainstorm Topics That Solve Problems
Start with the stuff your customers are actually asking. Check your DMs, your inbox, your support tickets, Reddit, forums, or even Google’s “People also ask” box.
2. Plug It Into SEO Keyword Tools
Take your idea and run it through one of the SEO keywords generators we just covered. Look for long-tails with moderate volume but low difficulty.
3. Check Out the Competition
Google the keyword or plug it into the SEO keyword tool. Look at who’s ranking. Are they big brands? Small blogs? Is the content good or just okay? This will give you an idea of whether you’ve got a shot at ranking.
4. Map SEO Keywords to Content Types
Not all keywords are blog material. Some are better suited for product pages, landing pages, or YouTube videos. So, after researching your SEO keyword tool, take time to categorise them so you can use them on pages where they can make the most impact.
5. Optimise Your Content In The Most Human Way Possible.
Once you’ve done the keyword research, write your content naturally. Make sure you use the keyword in your:
- Title Tag
- Page Title
- Page URL
- Meta description
- Main page headings (H1)
- Page or blog introduction
- A few headers and body paragraphs
Make sure you support the content with related terms and phrases so your content doesn’t sound awkward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SEO keywords generator, and why do I need one?
An SEO keywords generator is a tool that helps you discover relevant keywords people are searching for online. When you use it, you will find the right keywords to use in your content so you can rank higher for relevant searches.
I’ve done everything, and I’m still not ranking. What should I do?
Using a great SEO keywords generator and finding the right keywords is just one part of the equation. If you’re using all the right SEO keywords but still not getting traction:
- Your content isn’t better than what’s already ranking.
- Your site is slow, messy, or not mobile-friendly.
- You don’t have any backlinks.
- You’re not posting consistently.
Our expert recommendation? Don’t depend on SEO keywords generators alone. Work with a digital marketing expert to see where you’re going wrong and what you can do better.
How do I calculate SEO keywords density?
Once you’ve used your SEO keywords generator to find the right search terms and included them in your content, simply divide the number of times the keyword appears in your content by the total word count and multiply by 100. The result is your SEO keywords density as a percentage.
What’s the best SEO keyword tool?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and it all boils down to what you need the SEO keyword tool for. If you’re a beginner, Ubersuggest is a great SEO keywords generator to use. If you want more in-depth insights, your go-to SEO keyword tool would be SEMRush.
To conclude
SEO keywords aren’t working the way they did a decade ago. If you want to give your product, service or offer the chance to reach your ideal customer, you’ve got to move with the times by being intentional with your keyword searches, incorporating search terms into your content strategically and sticking to a good keyword density.
Need help writing quality content that actually ranks? At LeftWrite Digital, we can do all that and more. Reach out to us to discover what we can do for you.
