Finding content ideas can be tough. You sit in front of your screen, trying to think of the right keywords. You want to write something useful. Something people are searching for. But where do you begin?
My answer is- Answer The Public.
It doesn’t just give you keywords, but shows you real questions people ask online. Questions starting with “why,” “how,” “what,” and more. These are long-tail keywords—very specific, often less competitive, and full of search intent.
Instead of writing a post around a broad topic like “SEO,” you could write about “how to structure blog posts for SEO” or “what is semantic SEO and how does it work.” These are the kinds of terms that get real attention. People searching for them usually look for answers. And if your content helps, they’ll stay longer, trust you more, and even share your work.
I’ve often used Answer The Public to develop content that ranks and connects. In this blog post, I’ll show you how to use Answer The Public to detect long-tail content ideas step-by-step.
What is Answer The Public?
Answer The Public is a free keyword research tool. It shows you what real people are searching for on the internet. Instead of giving you a list of short, basic keywords, it gives you full questions and phrases. These come directly from search engines like Google.
For example, if you type in the word “fitness,” you won’t just see “fitness tips” or “fitness programs.” You’ll get results like “how to start fitness training at home” or “why is fitness important for students.” These longer phrases are called long-tail keywords. They are more specific and often easier to rank for.
This keyword research tool groups these content ideas into different types. You’ll see questions starting with “how,” “what,” “why,” and more. It also shows keywords using prepositions like “for,” “with,” or “near.” There’s a section for comparisons like “fitness vs yoga” or “best fitness app for beginners.”
Answer The Public presents everything in a visual map, but you can also switch to a simple list view. It helps you quickly spot useful topics for your blog, YouTube channel, or podcast.
Answer The Public: Pros & Cons
Here are the pros and cons of using Answer the Public,
Pros
Cons
How I Use Answer The Public—My Step-by-Step Approach
I use Answer The Public frequently to get traffic-generating content ideas on various topics. It’s a simple yet powerful tool for keyword research.
In this section, I’ll cover my exact steps. You’ll see how I use Answer The Public to spot long-tail keywords and turn them into blog topics that bring steady traffic.
Step 1: Pick a Seed Keyword
The first thing you should do when using Answer The Public is choose a seed keyword. It is short; a basic word or phrase describes the topic. It doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, the simpler, the better.
Let’s say you want to write about healthy eating. Then, your seed keyword could be something like “nutrition”, “healthy food”, or “meal planning.” These are broad terms and help Answer The Public to collect many related questions that people are searching for.
When picking a seed keyword, you should keep two things in mind:
- Is it relevant to my content?
Pick words that match the theme of your blog or website. There’s no point searching for something off-topic.
- Is it too narrow or too specific?
If you use a particular keyword like “low carb breakfast recipes with avocado,” the tool might not show many results. That’s why I stick with something general first. You can always narrow it down later.
I usually type the seed keyword into Google first. This gives me a quick feel for what’s ranking and what people are asking. Then I take that word and plug it into Answer The Public.
This step is very crucial. If you choose a weak or off-topic seed keyword, the rest of your keyword research won’t help much. But when you start with the right seed, you will get awesome results. You’ll see dozens (sometimes hundreds) of practical questions, phrases, and ideas you can turn into blog posts.
So, before researching, spend a minute thinking about your topic. Then pick a clean, explicit seed keyword—and let the tool do the heavy lifting.
Step 2: Analyze Suggested Long-Tail Keywords
Answer The Public suggests a big list of questions and phrases matching your main keyword. These are real things people are typing into search engines. This is where the fun begins.
Look at each category carefully,
- People Also Ask: User queries from Google Search
- Questions: queries starting with who, what, how, etc.
- Prepositions: phrases like “for,” “with,” and “without.”
- Comparisons: terms such as “vs,” “versus,” “better than.”
- Alphabetical: A, B, C variations that reveal unique angles.
- Related: other relevant terms often overlooked
Instead of scanning everything at once, I take things slowly. I look at the results by categories like “what,” “how,” “why,” and “where.” Grouping makes it easier to find useful content ideas. For example, if my seed keyword is “freelance writing,” I might see queries like:
- “How to get freelance writing clients”
- “What is freelance writing?”
- “Why choose freelance writing as a career?”
- “What are high paying freelance writing jobs?”
These are long-tail keywords. They’re longer, more detailed phrases, having less competition. That makes them easier to rank for, especially if your blog is still growing.
Prepare a list of keywords that sound interesting or helpful. Ask yourself:
- Can I answer this clearly in a blog post?
- Is this question something my audience would ask?
- Does this keyword match what I want to write about?
You should also check for intent. Some questions are about learning (like “what is”), while others are about doing (like “how to start”). Focus more on the “how” and “why” types because they’re action-based. These usually bring in readers who are ready to dive deep into content.
If you see a lot of similar phrases, that’s a good sign. This means that people are interested in that topic from many angles. I might turn those into a series of blog posts or create one big guide that covers all of them.
At this point, I haven’t even thought about writing yet. I’m just collecting interesting keywords. I want to find hidden gems – questions that might not get thousands of searches, but will bring the right kind of readers.
This step helps you shape your content strategy and keeps your writing focused on what people want to know.
Step 3: Export data
Once I’ve picked the long-tail keywords that catch my eye, it’s time to export the data. This step might seem small, but it saves a lot of time later.
Answer The Public has a handy download option. Click on the Download CSV option on the top side of your results. You can use Excel or Google Sheets to open CSV files. It includes all the keyword suggestions grouped by type—questions, prepositions, comparisons, and more.
I always use this download option, even if I don’t plan to use all the keywords right away. Having everything saved gives me a resource I can come back to later. It’s like building a personal idea bank.
Open the file and go through it line by line. Highlight or mark the keywords you like best. Also, add your thoughts next to them, like “good for a how-to guide” or “suits my email list.” This will help you stay organized while planning upcoming blog posts.
If you are working on multiple blog posts or topic clusters, sort the keywords into tabs—one for each content idea. This way, you can make sure that you are not scrambling for ideas later.
Exporting the data also helps if you want to share it with a teammate, editor, or client. Instead of copying and pasting links, you can send the full customized list.
Step 4: Scan for Gaps
After exporting the keyword data, spend time looking for gaps.
What does it mean?
Go through the list of questions and phrases from Answer The Public and compare them with what’s already published online. I type some of the long-tail keywords into Google and check the top results.
I ask myself:
- Is this topic well covered?
- Is the content helpful or just superficial?
- Are there any important questions left unanswered?
If I find a keyword with poor or thin content ranking on the first page, that’s a content gap—and a huge opportunity. It means I can create something better, more helpful, and more detailed.
Sometimes I find questions no one is answering. These are my favorites. They’re often low-competition and perfect for driving long-tail traffic.
I also check my blog. Have I written about this topic before? If so, can I update the post or add a new section? If not, is it worth turning into a brand-new article?
Scanning for gaps isn’t just about beating other blogs. It’s about finding what’s missing—what readers still need.
This step helps me shape blog posts that feel fresh, useful, and different from the rest. And that’s what makes content stand out.
Step 5: Prioritize Low-Competition Ideas
Once you’ve scanned the keyword list and found some strong options, focus on the ones with low competition.
Why? Because low-competition keywords are easier to rank for. They may not bring huge traffic, but they often bring the right kind of traffic—people who are truly looking for answers.
Here’s how I find them.
First, I took some of the long-tail keywords from my list and searched for them on Google. I look at the top results. Are they from big websites? Are they well-written and detailed? Or are they short, outdated, or not even answering the exact question?
If the top results look weak, that’s a green light. It means there’s room for a better post—something more helpful, clearer, and more direct.
Next, I use tools like Semrush, Ubersuggest, or Moz’s free keyword checker. These tools give me a rough idea of how hard or easy it is to rank for each phrase. I aim for low to medium difficulty scores.
I also look at the search volume. I don’t mind if it’s small. Even 30 or 50 searches a month can be worth it—especially if the topic fits my audience and the keyword shows strong intent.
I mark all the easy wins first. These are the keywords I want to write about soon. They help me build momentum, get some quick wins, and slowly grow my traffic over time.
By starting with low-competition ideas, you can avoid fighting for space on crowded search results. You will get a better chance to be seen—and that’s what helps small blogs grow steadily.
What I’ve Learned Using Answer The Public
How to Convert Long-Tail Queries into Content
Long-tail keywords are only useful if you know what to do with them. You can collect hundreds of search queries, but they won’t help until you turn them into content people want to read. That’s where the real work begins.
In this section, I’ll show you how I turn long-tail questions into blog posts that get clicks. The goal is to match the reader’s need with a clear and helpful answer. It just needs to make sense, solve a problem, or simply explain something.
Let’s look at how to turn search phrases into content that works.
1. Pick the Right Question to Answer
Not every search query is worth your time. Pick a question that matches your topic and show clear intent.
If a phrase looks confusing or too broad, skip it. Go for specific ones like “How to grow tomatoes on a balcony.” It is better than just “tomatoes.”
2. Decide on the Content Format
The format should fit the question.
- If someone searches for “best laptops for writers,” a list post works great.
- For “how to fix a leaky tap,” write a step-by-step guide.
- For “why do cats knead,” try a short explainer.
If you find many similar questions, group them into one big post. That saves time and creates more value.
3. Use the Query in the Title or Heading
Let the reader see their question reflected in your content. If the query is “how to start a blog,” that should be your blog title or main heading.
Use the exact words when possible. Keep it natural. Don’t try to be clever at the cost of clarity.
4. Structure Your Answer Clearly
People read fast to get a summary of things. Your content should be simple enough to understand quickly.
- Use subheadings
- Divide your content into smaller paragraphs
- Use bullet points where it helps
- Keep your sentences simple and direct
If your answer includes steps, number them. Add relevant visuals, including images, charts, and infographics. These things will make your answer clearer.
5. Add related questions as subtopics
Once you’ve answered the main question, don’t stop there. Use other related questions from your list to build your article.
Let’s say your main keyword is “how to compost at home.” You could also include:
- “What can I compost?”
- “How long does it take to compost?”
- “Does compost smell?”
Answer these questions in small sections. This will enhance your content and keep readers longer on the page.
6. Focus on being useful
Your goal is to help, not impress. Write as if you were explaining something to a friend. Avoid unnecessary details, lengthy introductions, or complex words.
People come to your post looking for an answer. Give it to them—quickly and clearly.
7. End with a simple summary
Finish with your concluding thoughts. Repeat main points and give your suggestions if any. Ask readers to try something or leave comments with their questions and thoughts.
Best Answer The Public Alternatives
These are the best Answer The Public alternatives for question-based keywords,
1. Semrush Keyword Magic ━ In Semrush, the Keyword Magic tool and question filter provide deep metrics. You can place filters for intent, volume, and difficulty. It combines the utility of Answer The Public with analytical data.
2. AlsoAsked ━ A free tool that mines Google’s People Also Ask data. It shows questions exactly as searchers see them. Also Asked reveals deeper layers of queries. It’s great for clustering topics visually.
3. Keyword Tool.io ━ It takes autocomplete suggestions from Google, YouTube, Amazon, and Bing. The free version doesn’t have the volume data, but it offers plenty of inspiration.
4. QuestionDB ━ This tool collects real user questions from Reddit and StackExchange. It shows both conversational and niche phrases – perfect for unique angles, and audience-specific, low-competition keywords.
5. Keywords Everywhere ━ This browser extension shows search volume and CPC right on Google. Keywords Everywhere (paid) plugs the data directly into the SERP experience. It is useful when manually exploring autocomplete or PAA.
