How To Find Most Searched Keywords On YouTube

If you’re chasing the most searched keywords on YouTube, you’re not alone—but you might be aiming at the wrong target.

While it’s tempting to go after the highest-volume keywords, doing so can easily bury your content in a sea of competition. In this guide, you’ll learn why search volume alone doesn’t guarantee success, what actually matters when choosing keywords, and how to find the right ones to help you rank, grow your channel, and generate leads for your business.

Is the Most Searched Keyword Really the Best One?

The short answer? No.

Trying to rank for the most searched keywords straight out of the gate is a fast track to getting lost. These high-volume keywords are often dominated by large, established channels.

Instead, start small. Focus on low-competition, long-tail keywords—search terms that still get consistent monthly traffic but are far less competitive. If you can dominate these smaller keywords first, you build authority and increase your chances of ranking for more competitive ones down the road.

Does YouTube Tell You Search Volume?

Unfortunately, YouTube doesn’t show exact keyword search volume inside its Creator Studio. While YouTube Analytics offers deep insights into your content’s performance and your audience, it doesn’t provide robust keyword research features.

This is why many creators turn to third-party tools.

Why Most YouTube Keyword Tools Miss the Mark

Popular tools like TubeBuddy and VidIQ offer keyword suggestions and scoring systems, but those metrics can be misleading. Their suggestions often focus only on volume without accounting for actual competition or your chances of ranking.

Just picking a few keywords from these tools and stuffing them into your metadata won’t help your videos rank. That’s not how YouTube works anymore.

The Tool That Actually Works

For real keyword research that helps you find searchable, rankable keywords, try using the Keyword Magic Tool from Semrush. You can access it at herokeywordtool.com and get a two-week free trial.

Here’s how it works:

Search for a topic like “discipline teenager”
Filter the results to show only questions
Increase the word count to find long-tail keywords (8+ words)
Look for phrases with at least 10 monthly searches

Those long, specific questions are your goldmine. They’re easier to rank for and attract people who are actively looking for your expertise.

Autosuggest Isn’t Enough

YouTube’s autocomplete can spark ideas, but it’s limited. It rarely shows full, in-depth questions—the kind that real users are typing into search. And it certainly doesn’t show search volume.

That’s why keyword research tools that allow question filtering and word count control are far more powerful.

Real Examples of This Strategy in Action

Take Nicholeen Peck, for example. Her videos rank for competitive phrases like “discipline teenager” not because she targeted that phrase directly, but because she built authority by answering dozens of specific, long-tail questions related to that topic.

Another creator, Jay Townsend, ranks for terms like “become politician” and “how to run for office” by using this same strategy. His success didn’t come from keyword tools or search scores—it came from targeting specific, consistent questions over time.

How to Use the Keyword Magic Tool

Go to herokeywordtool.com
Enter a broad topic (e.g. “construction management” or “how to teach discipline”)
Filter for:
- Questions
- 8+ words
- Search volume ≥ 10
Organize your keyword list by:
- Number of words (longer is better)
- Search volume (lowest to highest)

Start by creating videos for the most specific, least competitive questions. As you build authority, gradually go after the bigger keywords.

Can I Trust VidIQ or TubeBuddy’s Keyword Scores?

The scores you see in these tools aren’t exactly lies—but they are misleading. They’re often based on outdated SEO checklists. Completing their recommended steps might give you a score of 100, but that doesn’t mean your video will rank.

Here’s proof: A video by Nicholeen Peck titled “How to discipline a child that lies and steals” received 821 views in 7 days and ranked at the top of YouTube search—despite VidIQ giving it a low score of 32.

The takeaway? Focus on modern keyword strategy, not tool-generated scores.

How Do You Know If a Keyword Is Too Competitive?

Forget the competition score in most tools. Instead, use this simple two-step filter:

Number of words – Longer is usually less competitive.
Monthly search volume – At least 10 searches/month is enough.

Organize your keywords in a spreadsheet. Prioritize long-tail, low-volume keywords and build from there.

Final Thoughts

Finding the most searched keywords on YouTube isn’t about chasing numbers—it’s about understanding intent, targeting long-tail questions, and building topical authority.

By using tools like the Keyword Magic Tool, ignoring misleading keyword scores, and focusing on what real people are asking, you can: