What is the Alphabet Soup Method?

The alphabet soup method of keyword research is a strategic way to find keywords related to a potential topic. Search engines often utilize autocomplete to predict what people are searching for. This autocomplete is informed in part by previous user activity. 

By analyzing autocomplete results, you can get a feel for the types of keywords that people are using as they search for a particular topic.

Instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall to find additional long-tail keywords, bloggers often use the alphabet soup method to help them analyze the autocomplete results systematically.

Here’s how it works:

How to Use Alphabet Soup for Keyword Research

1. Identify Topic

The first step is to identify the general topic that you want to research. It will be a short phrase of a couple of words. For example, I might look for “kindergarten morning work” as my potential topic.

2. Type Topic Into Search Engine

Most people utilize the alphabet soup method on Google, but you can also try it on Pinterest! This is a great way to look for keywords that can perform well on both platforms.

3. Add the Letter A

Now it’s time to start the alphabet soup method! Add the letter A to the end of the search query, as if you’re starting a new word. Take note of any autocomplete results that sound like a good fit for new blog content.

4. Continue Through the Alphabet

That’s all there is to it! Continue through the alphabet until you’ve taken note of any other keywords that fit the needs of your upcoming blog content.

5. Record Your Keyword Ideas

Be sure to keep track of these keyword ideas so you can find them later! Once you start searching for another letter of the alphabet, those autocomplete results disappear. So it’s helpful to keep a spreadsheet or Airtable base open as you use the alphabet soup method. This is a great way to come up with blog post ideas for the whole year!

Save Time on Alphabet Soup Keyword Research

If this process seems time-consuming, you’re not alone! I totally see how the alphabet soup method for keyword research can feel overwhelming. It’s especially frustrating when you have to backtrack to find the ideas that sounded good earlier in the alphabet but that you forgot to write down. No one has time for that!

There are many helpful keyword research websites that can essentially do the alphabet soup method for you. You can get a tidy list of keyword options in seconds without having to type every letter in the alphabet.

Keyword Sheeter

One of my favorite websites is Keyword Sheeter. If you type in your topic and then click “Start Sheeting” you can see how it basically goes through keyword options in an alphabet soup fashion. The list isn’t very organized, but it’s a great way to get a lot of ideas quickly.

Answer Socrates

Answer Socrates is another great place to get an alphabetical list of keyword ideas instead of spending time on alphabet soup. You only get one free search per day, which is one downside of this website. However, you can click on “letters” and see the keyword ideas grouped in alphabetical order. This is much easier to read than the Keyword Sheeter list.

Answer the Public

Another option that’s similar to Answer Socrates is Answer the Public. If you type in your search term, you’ll be able to find the “alphabeticals” section where the results are then grouped by letter.

No matter which option you choose, I’m sure these will make it much easier for you to do keyword research with alphabet soup!

More Places to Find Blog Topics and Keywords

If you liked these keyword research website suggestions, you’ll love my free guide with 37 of the best places to find blog post ideas! It’s full of some of my favorite places to find relevant blog post topics that will actually get noticed on Google.

Your potential blog readers are leaving clues about what they’d like to read about! Alphabet soup is one method of finding some of these clues. My guide is full of even more places to discover what your audience would like to read on your website.

Just fill out the information below and I’ll send it straight to your inbox!

Save These Keyword Research Tips

Be sure to save these keyword research tips so you can come back to them later. Just add the pin below to your favorite blogging board on Pinterest.

The post Alphabet Soup Keyword Research: A Time-Saving Guide appeared first on Stephanie Royer Solutions.

Where to Find Teacher Blog Post Ideas

Another hurdle in blogging is discovering blog post ideas that will help teachers find you on Google and Pinterest. While that’s a topic for another post, the resources below are a great starting point for writing the type of content that teachers are looking for!

1. Social Media

Social media can inspire so many different blog post ideas for your teacher website! When you see a post in a Facebook group that draws a lot of comments or questions from the teacher community, check out the comments to see if there’s a topic that would make a helpful blog post. If you are active on social media and one of your posts has received a lot of engagement, consider expanding on that topic and writing a full blog post.

2. Google

Do you want teachers to be able to find you on Google? If so, it would be a good idea to use Google to help you come up with your blog post topics! The search bar is free and it can give you a lot of insight into what teachers are looking for when they turn to Google.

 If you have a general idea of what you’d like to blog about, try typing that term into the search bar followed by the letter “a”. Did any possible blog post ideas pop up? Repeat with “b”, “c”, and so on until you’ve gone through the alphabet!

3. Your TPT Store

If you have a TPT storefront, it can be a wealth of inspiration when it comes to blog post topics. For example, take some time to think about the pain points that your products can help with. Then you can create blog posts centered around those common problems! At the end of your post, you’ll be able to provide your readers with a solution that they can find in your TPT shop! 

4. Your Email List

Do you collect email addresses on your teacher blog? Your email list can also serve as inspiration for upcoming blog posts! Whether you receive a lot of replies from a recent email or you send out a survey, you can gather helpful information about the type of content that your blog visitors would enjoy.

5. ChatGPT

I don’t recommend just asking a robot to give you a list of 50 teacher blog post ideas. How do you truly know if those ideas are something your blog readers would be interested in? Instead, use some of the other resources in this list to get a general idea of the topic you’d like to blog about. 

Then ask ChatGPT to create a table of contents for a comprehensive book on that topic. You’ll find all sorts of blog post ideas from that one prompt, and they will all fit together in one cohesive content pillar for your blog!

6. Pinterest

Did you know that you can learn a lot about your blog readers through your analytics on Pinterest? For example, you can open up the details of a pin and take a closer look at the boards your pin has been saved to. Browse some of those boards to look at some of the other pins. I’m not encouraging you to be a copycat, but those pins can give you a glimpse into additional topics that your blog readers find interesting at the moment.

7. Your Calendar

A calendar can provide so much inspiration for blog posts! You can provide fun ideas for teachers to use in their classrooms for particular holidays or share what you’ve done in your classroom in the past. Bonus points if you have TPT products that will help your blog readers replicate those ideas in their own classrooms!

8. SEO Tools

Don’t worry! I’m not going to link to an expensive SEO tool! In fact, many of those popular tools provide either free limited access to their platform or a separate free tool that you can use to find blog post inspiration. 

Ahrefs Keyword Generator is a great option. You can type in the general idea that you want to write about and see what pops up! You’ll likely be able to find some blog post inspiration from that list.

9. Search Bars

Google isn’t the only search bar that can inspire blog post ideas! Check out the autocomplete options on places like Pinterest and YouTube. Use a general keyword and work your way through the alphabet, just like you did with Google.

10. Forums

The most successful blogs are those that focus on the pain points of their readers. If you’re creating a blog to help teachers, it’s a good idea to go straight to the source to discover how you can help! Forums are an excellent way to discover specific questions and pain points that your readers might be experiencing in the classroom. 

37 Places to Find Blog Post Ideas: A Free Guide

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to finding blog post topics for FREE! I have put together a guide with 37 places to find blog post ideas. This guide is written with TPT sellers in mind, so you can rest assured that these tips will be applicable to you and your blog. 

Be sure to grab your free copy of this guide for finding blog post topics!

Save These Tips for Teacher Bloggers

If you’d like to come back to these ideas later or share them with a blogging friend, be sure to save this post! Just add the pin below to your favorite board on Pinterest. You’ll be able to quickly find this free guide whenever you’re feeling stumped!

The post Free Places to Find Teacher Blog Post Ideas appeared first on Stephanie Royer Solutions.