Mangools simplifies keyword research through its KWFinder tool, which combines difficulty scoring with SERP analysis in one interface. You'll find thousands of keyword opportunities, validate their commercial potential, and export organized lists for content planning. Unlike enterprise tools that overwhelm beginners, Mangools presents data in digestible chunks with visual difficulty indicators.
The platform excels at finding low-competition keywords that larger tools miss, making it particularly valuable for newer sites or budget-conscious marketers. You'll need basic familiarity with keyword research concepts and a Mangools subscription to access the full dataset.
What You'll Need
A Mangools Basic plan or higher for unlimited keyword suggestions and SERP analysis. The free version limits you to 5 searches per 24 hours, which won't sustain serious research. You'll also want a seed keyword list or topic ideas, plus access to Google Analytics if you plan to validate existing traffic patterns.
Step 1: Configure Your Research Parameters
Time: 5 minutes | Tool: Mangools KWFinder Open KWFinder and enter your seed keyword in the search box. Set your target location and language in the dropdown menus — this affects both search volume and competition data. The location setting particularly matters for local businesses or region-specific content. Choose "Suggestions" from the dropdown next to your keyword rather than "Autocomplete" for broader keyword discovery. Autocomplete only shows Google's suggestions, while Suggestions pulls from Mangools' full database. Set the difficulty filter to 1-30 if you're targeting easier keywords, or leave it unfiltered for comprehensive results. Click "Find keywords" to generate your initial list. The platform typically returns 500+ suggestions for most seed terms, organized by search volume and difficulty score.
Step 2: Analyze Keyword Difficulty Scores
Time: 10 minutes | Tool: Mangools KWFinder Review the difficulty scores in the green-orange-red color system. Mangools calculates difficulty from 1-100 based on the top 10 ranking pages' domain authority and page authority. Green (1-30) indicates easier targets, orange (31-60) requires established authority, and red (61-100) demands significant resources. Don't just sort by difficulty — look for keywords with reasonable search volume (100+ monthly searches) combined with manageable competition. A keyword with 500 monthly searches and 25 difficulty often outperforms one with 5,000 searches and 65 difficulty for newer sites. Click individual keywords to view detailed SERP analysis. The right panel shows each ranking page's domain rating, page authority, and social shares. Look for SERPs with multiple pages under DR 30 — these indicate genuine opportunities rather than temporary ranking fluctuations.
Step 3: Examine SERP Features and Intent
Time: 15 minutes | Tool: Mangools KWFinder Study the SERP preview for each target keyword by clicking the search icon next to difficulty scores. This opens a live Google results preview showing featured snippets, People Also Ask boxes, and other SERP features. Keywords triggering multiple features require more comprehensive content to compete effectively. Evaluate search intent by examining the ranking pages' titles and meta descriptions. Informational keywords show how-to guides and explanatory content, while commercial keywords display product pages and buying guides. Match your content strategy to the dominant intent — don't create product pages for purely informational keywords. Note pages from your direct competitors in the top 10. If established industry players dominate with thin content, you can likely outrank them with superior depth and user experience. But if every result shows extensive, well-optimized content, consider pivoting to related long-tail variations.
Step 4: Discover Question-Based Keywords
Time: 10 minutes | Tool: Mangools KWFinder Switch to the "Questions" filter in the keyword type dropdown to find question-based keywords. These often have lower competition and align perfectly with featured snippet opportunities. Question keywords also reveal specific user pain points and information gaps in your niche. Sort question keywords by search volume to prioritize the most valuable opportunities. Look particularly for "how to," "what is," and "why" questions related to your expertise. These keywords often convert better than generic terms because they indicate specific search intent. Export promising question keywords to a separate list for FAQ content, blog posts, or dedicated landing pages. Questions with 50+ monthly searches and sub-20 difficulty scores represent goldmine opportunities for newer sites seeking quick wins.
Step 5: Build Keyword Lists and Analyze Trends
Time: 10 minutes | Tool: Mangools SERPWatcher Save your best keywords to custom lists within KWFinder using the star icon. Create separate lists for different content clusters or business objectives — primary targets, secondary keywords, and long-tail opportunities work well as starting categories. Named lists help organize keywords for content planning and progress tracking. Click individual keywords to view 12-month search trend data in the detail panel. Seasonal keywords show clear peaks and valleys, while evergreen topics maintain consistent volume. Plan content timing around trend patterns — publish seasonal content 2-3 months before peak search periods. Switch to SERPWatcher to track your chosen keywords' ranking positions over time. Add your domain and competitor domains to monitor relative performance. This baseline tracking proves essential for measuring your keyword research success.
Step 6: Export and Prioritize Your Keyword Portfolio
Time: 10 minutes | Tool: Mangools KWFinder Export your curated keyword lists using the "Export" button above the results table. Choose CSV format for spreadsheet analysis or integration with other tools. The export includes search volume, difficulty, CPC data, and 12-month trends for comprehensive planning. Sort your exported keywords by a custom priority score combining search volume and difficulty. Calculate this as search volume divided by difficulty score — higher numbers indicate better opportunity-to-effort ratios. Focus initial content efforts on keywords scoring above 10 using this formula. Group related keywords into content clusters for topic-based optimization. Keywords sharing root terms or search intent often work better as comprehensive pages rather than separate posts. This clustering approach aligns with Google's preference for topical authority over keyword targeting.
Pro Tips
Set up keyword alerts in SERPWatcher to monitor when competitors lose rankings on your target keywords. These drops create temporary opportunities for quick ranking improvements. Also, use the "Related keywords" section at the bottom of KWFinder results to discover semantically related terms that larger tools often miss.
Common Pitfalls
Don't chase high-volume keywords with unrealistic difficulty scores for your domain authority. A 50 DR site won't rank for keywords where the entire first page consists of 80+ DR domains. Also, avoid ignoring search trends — seasonal keywords require different content strategies than evergreen topics.
Expected Results
After completing this process, you'll have 50-100 validated keywords organized by priority and search intent, plus baseline ranking data for progress measurement. Most users identify 10-15 immediate content opportunities and a pipeline of 20-30 secondary targets for future development.
Quick Facts
About Mangools
Beginner-friendly SEO toolset with keyword-first approach
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