How this YouTube keyword tool works
When you type into YouTube's search box, it suggests ways to finish your search. These suggestions reflect what people search for on YouTube, worded the way they search. This tool collects up to 40 of them for your keyword and for common variations such as "how to", "best" and "for", which makes it a quick YouTube keyword generator built on real searches.
It also shows the top 10 videos ranking on YouTube for your keyword, with the title, channel, views, publish date, length and whether each one is a Short. That puts demand and competition on one screen, which is the core of YouTube keyword research.
A plain note about search volume
YouTube does not publish search volumes. Next to each suggestion, we show the Google monthly search volume for the same phrase as a guide to demand. It is not a YouTube number, and you should not read it as one.
Use the column to compare phrases. A phrase with solid Google volume has real interest behind it. A suggestion with no Google volume can still be worth a video, because it comes straight from YouTube's own search box.
How to choose a keyword for your video
- Start with the suggestions. They use the words viewers actually type. A suggestion that matches your video closely beats a broad term.
- Compare demand. Use the Google volume column to see which wording has more interest, then pick the most specific phrase that still has demand.
- Check who ranks. If the top videos come from very large channels with huge view counts, a smaller channel may do better with a more specific phrase.
- Look at the dates. If the top videos are several years old, a fresh, up-to-date video gives viewers something better.
- Match the format. If most top results are Shorts, a Short may fit. If they are long tutorials, plan a full video.
What the top 10 videos tell you
The list of top videos is your competition. Before you record, use it to answer four questions:
- Who ranks? A mix of large and small channels suggests a keyword where a new video can compete.
- What do the titles promise? Note the words and angles the top titles share, then look for an angle they miss.
- How long are the videos? Length shows how much depth viewers expect on the topic.
- How many views do they have? When several videos on the same topic have strong view counts, people are clearly watching it, which backs up the demand guide.
Where to use your keyword
- Title. Put the main phrase in your title in a natural way, near the start if it reads well.
- Description. Use the phrase and one or two close variations in the first lines, which viewers see first.
- In the video. Say the keyword out loud. YouTube creates automatic captions, and saying the topic clearly helps viewers know they are in the right place.
- Chapters and tags. Use related suggestions as chapter names. Tags play only a small role, so do not spend long on them.
Keyword tips for new and small channels
A new channel rarely wins the broadest searches straight away, because the top results for those often come from established channels with large audiences. Longer, more specific phrases are a better start. The suggestions list is full of them, from beginner searches to questions about one narrow problem.
Aim each video at one clear search, and make sure the title, thumbnail and first few seconds deliver what that search asks for. As your channel grows, move toward broader topics, and connect related videos with playlists, cards and end screens so viewers keep watching.
Turn suggestions into a content plan
Export the list to CSV and group the suggestions by topic. Each group can become one video, and related groups can become a playlist or a series. "How to" suggestions make good tutorials, and "best" suggestions make good reviews and comparisons. Suggestions change as interests shift, so run your main topics again from time to time.
The same topics often get searched on Google too. Check whether Google shows videos for your keyword with the SERP checker, and find blog angles on the same topic with the keyword generator.