Ever wonder how the pros find the perfect keywords for their website? What secrets or proprietary tools do they possess mere mortals like us do not?

The truth is, most search gurus don’t use any special keyword research tools. They employ the same set of tools available to you or me—most are even free to use.

This article will show you how to find high-volume keywords and determine if the competition warrants a realistic attempt at ranking for these phrases.

But before learning the tools of the trade, you need to get organized. Open an Excel spreadsheet and create six columns using the headings listed below:

• Keywords
• Average Monthly Searches (broad)
• Average Monthly Searches (exact)
• Advertiser Competition
• All in Title
• Word Tracker

Or you can download the keyword research template here to get started even faster.

Each column will serve a purpose in the keyword research process. Some identify competition levels, while others determine search volume.