Fat-Finger SEO: Why I Do Keyword Research by Hand

I don't use keyword volume/difficulty tools anymore

It sounds ridiculous when i say it in my head but its just a feeling you get

Probably based on experience. I've been interested in, and practicing SEO for quite a while

Like alex becker days, OMG machines, warrior forum, things like that

Keyword Intuition

One of my favourite ways to find keywords is literally the google suggest round robyn method (i know its spelt with an “i” but its my moms name so thats badass)

I could automate this process, I think there are tools out there that do it for you..

BUTTTTT

Again, another ridiculous thought my brain conjures up is that i wonder if each user who uses this method manually might get slightly different results

Either based on location..cookies..personalized data..whatever

I’m not thinking the results are drastically different - but i bet there’s enough nuance there that will produce different results for your intuition and SEO spidey sense to start tingling when you see a keyword that interests you.

So if im using someone elses snapshot (is that even the right use of that word?) or an automated method to get these keywords then I have a negative feeling towards that because I value the potential outliers that might come from doing it manually.

Either by way of the different results being personalized like I just mentioned..

OR

And this is something that’s heavily embraced in the music making process (and all art I’m sure) - the happy accidents.

Numerous times I’ve discovered really interesting keyword ideas I wouldn’t have thought of if I hadn’t fat fingered a different letter or combo of letters in the search query bar.

Finding the Bangers the Tools Filter Out

To take it one step further into bizarro world - sometimes I think about how things aren’t actually as hard as they seem, and the things that are obvious you might not give a chance because if it's simple and obvious then how could that possibly provide the results im looking for?

Achievement is supposed to come from hard work and using fancy tactics!

Yes, and the opposite can also be true.

The longer I’m alive, the more I see most answers are hiding in plain sight.

So if you have this type of mindset when doing keyword research (the one where you try to follow the obvious signs and not think too hard about them/make them more complicated than they need to be)

Then you’d embrace the path that’s been laid out in front of you and go full send.

And if you’re using keyword tools to filter based on a certain volume or difficulty score I think you’re missing some potential bangers.