YouTube Keyword Research Without vidIQ: A Practical Method

If you have ever searched “best YouTube keyword tool” you already know how this goes.

You get a list of extensions, dashboards, scores, little green arrows. And yeah, vidIQ is popular for a reason. It is convenient. It is fast. It makes you feel like you are doing real research.

But you do not need it.

Not because tools are bad, but because the core of YouTube keyword research is not a score. It is intent. It is the specific phrasing people use when they are stuck, curious, or ready to buy something. And you can pull that out of YouTube itself if you do it in a structured way.

This is the practical method I use when I am not using vidIQ. It is slower than clicking one button, but it is also… more real. You end up with keywords you can actually build videos around, not just a spreadsheet of phrases that look nice.

And since ai.mc1.me is basically built around reviewing tools and workflows that help creators move faster, this kind of “no tool required” process fits nicely. You can use it even if you are just starting and you have zero budget.

What “keyword research” on YouTube actually means (quick reset)

YouTube is not Google. Similar, but not the same.

On YouTube, a “keyword” is usually a whole topic plus an implied format. People are not just searching “Notion”.

They search:

“Notion tutorial for beginners”
“Notion vs Obsidian”
“Notion templates for students”
“How to use Notion as a CRM”
“Notion AI worth it”

Those are keywords, yes. But they are also video ideas with a promise attached.

So the goal is not to find the highest volume term.

The goal is to find:

The phrasing real viewers use
The angle they expect (tutorial, review, comparison, fix, list, etc)
A version you can realistically rank for, as a smaller channel

That is it. Everything else is extra.

The no vidIQ method (overview)

Here is the workflow before we dive in:

Build a seed list (your core topics)
Pull “real searches” from YouTube autocomplete
Confirm demand using the search results page
Steal structure from “suggested videos” and “chapters”
Expand with Google results (YouTube carousel and “People also ask”)
Validate with comments and community posts (pain points = keywords)
Pick the right keyword type for your channel size
Turn keywords into titles, thumbnails, and a filming outline

You can do this in about 45 minutes for one strong video idea. Faster once you get used to it.

1. Start with a seed list that is not random

Open a notes app. Or Google Sheets. Whatever.

Write 5 to 10 seed topics that your channel is truly about. Not broad like “AI”. More like:

“AI voice generators”
“ChatGPT prompts for freelancers”
“WordPress AI plugins”
“Short form video editing apps”
“YouTube automation tools”
“Branded link shorteners”

If you publish in the AI tools and SaaS space (like we do over at ai.mc1.me), your seed topics are usually tool categories plus outcomes.

Not “email marketing software”. More like “email marketing software for creators” or “best email tool for newsletters”.

That little shift matters because it aligns with intent.

2. Use YouTube autocomplete like a keyword oracle (because it is)

Go to YouTube.

Type one seed phrase. Do not hit enter yet.

Just watch the dropdown suggestions.

Those suggestions are not guesses. They are aggregated searches.

Do this properly:

Type: ai voice
Then add a space and a letter: ai voice a
Then ai voice b
Then ai voice for
Then ai voice generator
Then ai voice generator for youtube
Then ai voice generator free
Then ai voice generator vs

You are basically forcing YouTube to show you long tail variations.

Collect 20 to 50 suggestions per seed topic. Fast and messy. You can clean later.

Tip: Use an incognito window so your own watch history does not bias suggestions too much.

Example list you might pull (realistic):

ai voice generator for youtube
ai voice generator free no watermark
ai voice generator like elevenlabs
ai voice generator for faceless videos
ai voice generator for shorts
best ai voice generator 2026
how to make ai voice sound human
elevenlabs alternatives
murf ai vs elevenlabs
text to speech for youtube monetization

That is already a content calendar hiding in plain sight.

3. Validate demand by reading the search results page (not just looking)

Now hit enter on a promising phrase.

And then do the most important step: scan the results like a human.

You are looking for signals:

A. Are there recent videos ranking?

If the top results are all 4 to 8 years old, that can mean:

low competition, or
low demand, or
topic is outdated

If you see videos from the last 6 to 18 months ranking, that is usually a good sign the keyword is alive.

Moreover, if you’re considering creating content such as viral YouTube thumbnails, understanding how to integrate AI tools effectively can be beneficial. For instance, using AI-generated voices in your videos can enhance viewer engagement.

B. Are small channels showing up?

Look at view counts vs subscriber counts (roughly).

If you see a 2k subscriber channel ranking in the top 5 for a keyword, you can probably compete if your video is tighter and more current.

C. Is the format consistent?

If the top results are all “top 5 tools” list videos, YouTube expects that format.

If you publish a 45 minute documentary style video, it might not match intent, even if the keyword is perfect.

This is the part that keyword tools do not tell you well. They give numbers, but not the vibe.

4. Use “suggested videos” as keyword expansions (this is underrated)

Open the top 3 videos ranking for your keyword.

Now look at the right sidebar suggested videos (or below, on mobile).

Those suggestions are basically YouTube saying: “viewers who wanted this also wanted that”.

Write down 10 to 20 related phrases.

You will often find better long tail keywords there than in autocomplete.

Also, check the chapters inside those videos.

Creators accidentally hand you keyword ideas in chapter titles:

“Pricing breakdown”
“Best settings”
“Voice cloning”
“Avoid copyright”
“Monetization rules”
“My workflow”

Those chapter phrases can become:

future videos
sections in your own video
or even exact-match search terms people use

5. Use Google as a second lens (YouTube shows up differently there)

Open Google and search the same keyword.

Example: ai voice generator for youtube

Now look for:

the YouTube video carousel
“People also ask”
related searches at the bottom

This is useful because Google surfaces adjacent intent, especially “how to” questions.

So instead of only tool keywords, you might get problem keywords like:

“how to add ai voice to video”
“is ai voice monetized on youtube”
“text to speech copyright”

Those are gold. Because they are not just “what tool”. They are “I have a problem, help me”.

And problem keywords convert viewers into subscribers way better.

6. Mine comments for phrasing people actually use (steal the words, not the idea)

Go back to the top ranking videos for your keyword.

Open the comments. Sort by Top.

Then scan for patterns:

What are people confused about?
What are they asking repeatedly?
What are they comparing it to?
What are they afraid of? (copyright, monetization, pricing)

You will see comments like:

“Does this work for Shorts?”
“Can you use this voice for monetization?”
“How do you make it less robotic?”
“Is there a free alternative?”
“What about languages?”

Each of those is a keyword variation.

And importantly, it is phrased like a real viewer would phrase it.

That matters for titles.

7. Pick the right keyword type (based on your channel size)

This is where most people mess up.

They go after huge keywords too early.

Instead, pick from these buckets:

If you are a small channel (0 to 5k subs)

Focus on long tail, high intent keywords that can easily be optimized using tools like ClickRank:

“how to ___ in [tool]”
“[tool] for [use case]”
“[tool] alternatives for [budget]”
“[problem] fix”
“[tool] setup tutorial 2026”

These rank because fewer creators target them, and viewers watch longer because it matches exactly what they need.

If you are mid sized (5k to 50k)

Mix long tail with comparisons:

“[tool] vs [tool]”
“best [category] for [audience]”
“is [tool] worth it”

Comparisons are powerful because they pull in buyers.

If you are large (50k+)

You can target broader terms, but still with an angle:

“best AI tools”
“YouTube automation”
“make money with AI”

Even then, the winning videos usually have a specific hook and proof.

8. Turn the keyword into a title that a human would click

Do not write titles like:

“AI Voice Generator For YouTube Keyword Research 2026”

No one talks like that.

Instead, keep the keyword, but wrap it in a promise.

Examples (same keyword, better packaging):

“Best AI Voice Generator for YouTube (I Tested 7 So You Don’t Have To)”
“How I Make Faceless YouTube Videos With AI Voice (Step by Step)”
“Your AI Voice Sounds Robotic. Fix It Like This.”
“ElevenLabs Alternatives: 5 Tools That Actually Sound Human”

You still rank thanks to on-page SEO optimization, but you also get clicks.

Because you are writing for a person, not a bot.

A simple spreadsheet layout (so you do not lose your mind)

If you want to track this without overcomplicating it, make columns like:

Keyword	Intent type	Format	Competing videos are recent?	Small channels ranking?	My angle
ai voice generator for faceless videos	tool + use case	tutorial / demo	yes	yes	show full workflow + monetization notes
elevenlabs alternative free	comparison + budget	list	yes	mixed	focus on “sound human” tests
how to make ai voice sound human	problem	tutorial	yes	yes	settings + scripts + pacing

That is enough. You do not need 20 columns.

Images to include in the post (WordPress friendly)

Add screenshots as you follow the process. It makes this kind of post feel real and not theoretical.

Here are good, relevant images to insert:

Image 1: YouTube autocomplete suggestions

Take a screenshot of the YouTube search bar dropdown while typing a seed phrase.

Image 2: YouTube search results page analysis

Screenshot the results for one long tail keyword, showing video recency and formats.

Image 3: Suggested videos sidebar

Screenshot suggested videos list next to a top ranking video.

Image 4: Google People Also Ask for the same keyword

Screenshot PAA questions for your topic.

Replace the URLs with your uploaded media URLs in WordPress. The filenames above are just placeholders so it is easy to map.

A practical example (so you can copy the process)

Let’s say your channel is about AI tools for creators.

Seed topic: “branded link shortener”

Step 1: Autocomplete pulls

Type:

branded link shortener
branded link shortener for instagram
branded link shortener free
bitly alternative
short links custom domain
how to track link clicks

Already you have keywords with clear intent: alternatives, free, tracking, Instagram use case.

Step 2: Search results check

Search: bitly alternative

You will likely see list videos, tool roundups, and some tutorials.

If the top videos are old, your angle can be:

“Bitly alternatives in 2026 (pricing changed a lot)” That “pricing changed” hook is real. Tools change pricing constantly.

Step 3: Suggested videos and chapters

You might find suggested topics like:

“UTM tracking explained”
“how to use custom domain”
“link cloaking vs redirect” Those are future videos.

Step 4: Comment mining

People often ask:

“Can I use my own domain?”
“Does this work with Shopify?”
“Can I see country and device?”

Now you can make videos targeting those exact questions.

And yes, this is the exact kind of tool category we cover on ai.mc1.me, because creators do not just want features. They want the workflow impact. Tracking, branding, trust, clicks.

Common mistakes when you do keyword research without tools

Mistake 1: Only picking broad keywords

“AI tools” is not a keyword you win early.

“Best AI tools for YouTubers” is better.

“Best AI tools for faceless YouTube channels” is even better.

Mistake 2: Ignoring format intent

If the keyword wants a tutorial, make a tutorial.

If the keyword wants a comparison, do a comparison.

You can be creative later. First, match what viewers expect.

Mistake 3: Not updating the angle

A lot of YouTube keywords are evergreen, but the examples get old.

If you make “best AI voice generators”, do it with:

current pricing
new features
current monetization rules
actual audio tests

That is how you beat older videos even if they have more views.

Quick closing thought (and a small CTA)

Doing YouTube keyword research without vidIQ is not about being anti tool. It is about learning the mechanics so you are not dependent on a score. For more insights on mastering your YouTube SEO using vidIQ tools, check out our detailed guide.

If you can pull keywords from autocomplete, validate them by reading the search page, and turn them into videos that match intent, you are already ahead of most creators.

And if you are into this whole “tools, workflows, creator efficiency” world, you will probably like what we publish on ai.mc1.me. We review AI and digital tools with a practical angle, what it does, what it costs, and whether it is actually worth adding to your stack.

Now pick one seed topic and do the method once. Just one.

You will come out with at least 10 video ideas that are way more publishable than a generic keyword list.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the core principle of YouTube keyword research beyond using tools like vidIQ?

The core of YouTube keyword research is understanding viewer intent and the specific phrasing people use when they are stuck, curious, or ready to buy something. It’s about capturing real search language directly from YouTube rather than relying on scores or extensions.

How does YouTube keyword research differ from traditional Google keyword research?

On YouTube, keywords are often full topics combined with an implied video format, such as tutorials, reviews, or comparisons. Viewers search for phrases like ‘Notion tutorial for beginners’ rather than just ‘Notion,’ so effective keyword research focuses on these complete phrases with clear content angles.

What is the ‘no vidIQ’ method for YouTube keyword research?

The no vidIQ method involves: 1) Building a seed list of core channel topics; 2) Using YouTube autocomplete to pull real search queries; 3) Validating demand by analyzing search results; 4) Leveraging suggested videos and chapters for structure; 5) Expanding with Google results including YouTube carousels and ‘People also ask’; 6) Checking comments and community posts for pain points; 7) Selecting keywords suitable for your channel size; and 8) Crafting titles, thumbnails, and outlines from these keywords—all without paid tools.

How do I properly use YouTube autocomplete to find valuable keywords?

Type your seed phrase into YouTube’s search bar but don’t hit enter. Add spaces followed by different letters or words (e.g., ‘ai voice a’, ‘ai voice b’, ‘ai voice generator free’) to reveal long-tail keyword variations. Collect 20 to 50 suggestions per seed topic using this method, ideally in an incognito window to avoid personalized bias.

How can I validate the demand and relevance of a YouTube keyword after finding it?

After entering a promising keyword into the search bar, scan the results page carefully. Look for recent videos (posted within the last 6 to 18 months), which indicate active interest. Also check if small channels are ranking with reasonable view counts compared to subscribers—this suggests achievable competition and genuine demand.

Why should my seed list focus on specific topics rather than broad terms?

A focused seed list aligns better with viewer intent by targeting niche areas within your channel’s theme. For example, instead of ‘AI,’ use ‘AI voice generators’ or ‘ChatGPT prompts for freelancers.’ This specificity helps uncover keywords that reflect what real viewers are searching for and enables you to create content that resonates effectively.