How to Use ChatGPT for SEO Keyword Research: A Guide for Creatives

Feeling lost with SEO? Let’s simplify it with ChatGPT.

Yes—ChatGPT can absolutely do keyword research, and it’s one of the fastest ways for a creative business owner to go from “I have no idea what to target” to a working keyword list in about 15 minutes. After 15+ years designing brands and websites—and selling 8,000+ Showit templates that live or die by search traffic—keyword research is something we do on nearly every project.

Recently, I was asked to teach an SEO session for a friend’s mastermind group, and it opened my eyes to something big—many creative entrepreneurs are completely in the dark when it comes to keyword research. They don’t know where they rank on Google or even what keywords to go after. So we decided to fix that.

In this blog post, you’ll learn:

• How to use ChatGPT to generate targeted keyword ideas
• Prompts for both service- and product-based businesses
• How to use location-based SEO strategies
• Tips for organizing and clustering your keywords
• How to brainstorm blog titles using your keywords
• Why long-tail keywords matter (and how to find them)
• How to avoid repeating the same keywords over and over
• How to uncover question-based search queries

Whether you sell Showit templates or photograph weddings in Annapolis, this tutorial will help you generate relevant keyword ideas that boost your visibility and help you sell more of what you do best.

Let’s dive in.

What is keyword research?

Keyword research is the process of figuring out the exact words and phrases your ideal clients type into Google when they’re looking for someone like you—so you can create content that shows up in those results. Think of it as the process of figuring out what your ideal clients are typing into Google when they’re looking for someone like you. It’s like eavesdropping (in a totally ethical way) on the questions your people are already asking online.

At its core, keyword research helps you:

• Understand your audience better—what they need, what they’re searching for, and how they’re asking for it.
• Create content that gets found—blog posts, website copy, product pages, and even social captions that are optimized for visibility.
• Rank higher in search engines, like Google, which leads to more traffic and potentially more sales.

Here’s the thing: SEO isn’t about gaming the algorithm. It’s about serving your people well. And if someone is searching for “newborn photographer near Monticello” and you’ve written a blog post with that phrase in the title? You’re not just guessing—you’re showing up where it counts.

In this post, we’re going to walk through how to do this kind of research using ChatGPT, so you can skip the overwhelm and get straight to the gold.

Why Keyword Research Matters

Keyword research matters because it’s the difference between publishing content you hope gets found and publishing content built around what your audience is actually searching for. SEO isn’t just about using fancy words on your site—it’s about understanding what your audience is actually searching for and making sure your content answers those questions. Keyword research helps you:

• Create content your audience wants to read
• Rank in search engines (hello, Google traffic!)
• Increase visibility and sales for your digital or service-based business

Step 1: Tell ChatGPT About Your Business

Use this prompt:
“I am a [your profession]. I serve clients [location or globally]. My revenue comes from [ product sales/services/both]. Help me generate 25 keyword ideas.”

Examples:

• Showit website template designer for photographers
• Wedding photographer serving Annapolis, MD
• Interior designer in New York City

ChatGPT will use this info to generate a list of keyword ideas tailored to your business and location.

Step 2: Spot Commercial Intent

Not all keywords are created equal. Some phrases show that the user is ready to buy (like “best Showit templates for photographers”) while others are more informational (like “how to use Showit for photographers”).

Use commercial keywords on product pages and service pages. Use informational ones in blog posts.

Step 3: Turn Keywords into Blog Post Ideas

Once you have your keyword list, use this prompt: “Create blog post titles using the following keywords: [paste your keywords]”

For example, keywords like “newborn photographer Charlottesville VA” can turn into:

• “Newborn Photography at Monticello: What to Expect”
• “5 Must-Have Poses for Charlottesville Newborn Sessions”

Even if some titles feel awkward, use them as springboards for your own creativity.

Step 4: Use Question-Based Keywords

Sometimes, people type full questions into Google. That’s where this prompt comes in: “What are some question-based keywords related to [your topic]?”

For a photographer in Lexington, ChatGPT might return:

• “Do photographers in Lexington offer black and white portraits?”
• “Where are the best outdoor photo locations in Lexington, VA?”

These make amazing blog content or FAQ sections.

Step 5: Find Long-Tail Keyword Gold

Prompt: “Generate a set of long-tail keywords for [main keyword]”

Instead of just “maternity photographer,” you might get:

• “best maternity photographer in Annapolis MD for outdoor shoots”
• “affordable maternity sessions with dresses included in Maryland”

These detailed phrases are easier to rank for and bring in buyers who know exactly what they want.

Step 6: Group Keywords into Clusters

Once you have a bunch of keywords, ask ChatGPT: “Group these keywords into topic clusters.”

This helps you:

• Plan content more efficiently
• Create silo structures on your site
• Avoid repeating the same keywords over and over

Step 7: LSI Keywords & Supporting Phrases

Prompt: “What LSI keywords should I use when targeting [main keyword]?”

LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords are supporting terms that help search engines understand the topic.

If you’re targeting “interior design NYC,” ChatGPT might suggest:

• Manhattan loft interiors
• Brooklyn modern design
• small space makeover ideas

These naturally support your SEO while keeping content human-friendly.

Step 8: Store & Reuse Your Keywords

Once you’ve got your keyword goldmine, store it somewhere easy:

• Google Docs
• Notion
• Notes app
• Airtable or Trello boards

Use these as a reference for future blog posts, service pages, and site updates.

Can ChatGPT Replace Tools Like Ahrefs and SEMrush?

ChatGPT can’t fully replace tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush, because it doesn’t pull live search-volume or keyword-difficulty data—it brainstorms based on patterns, it doesn’t validate. Here’s the honest breakdown: ChatGPT is excellent at generating ideas—keyword lists, long-tail variations, question-based phrases, topic clusters, and blog titles. What it can’t do is tell you how many people search a term each month or how hard it is to rank. For creatives just getting started, that’s usually fine—the ideas are the hard part. If you want to confirm volume later, drop your best keywords into a free tool like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest. And you don’t need a paid plan: the free version of ChatGPT handles everything in this tutorial.

Final Thoughts: Keyword Research Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

If SEO has ever felt overwhelming or overly technical, you’re not alone—but it doesn’t have to stay that way. With a few strategic prompts and a bit of creativity, ChatGPT can help you uncover powerful keywords that not only boost your visibility but connect you with the right people.

Here’s what we covered:

• Keyword research is about understanding how your audience searches—and showing up where they’re already looking.
• You don’t need expensive tools to get started. ChatGPT can generate keyword ideas, blog titles, long-tail phrases, and question-based queries in minutes—you only need a paid research tool later if you want to confirm exact search volume.
• Getting specific (like targeting local towns or niche services) can help you stand out in a crowded space.
• Organizing your keywords into clusters and using them strategically across your website builds long-term SEO momentum.
• Blogging with keywords in mind doesn’t mean losing your voice—it means being intentional with the value you’re already creating.

Whether you’re a designer, photographer, or creative entrepreneur, this approach is about making SEO approachable, doable, and even (dare we say) fun.

So go ahead—open a doc, fire up ChatGPT, and start turning those keyword ideas into content that connects.

If you want the full system we use—the exact SEO and selling workflows behind our own site—that’s what we teach inside our SEO courses and our free “How to Show Up in AI Searches” class.

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