Introduction to AnswerThePublic: A Powerful SEO Tool
In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, staying ahead of user search behavior is crucial—and that’s exactly where AnswerThePublic shines. This unique SEO tool helps marketers, bloggers, and content creators tap directly into the minds of users by uncovering the actual questions people are asking on search engines.
AnswerThePublic works by collecting autocomplete data from search engines like Google and Bing. It then transforms this data into a visually rich map of user queries, grouped by categories such as “what,” “how,” “why,” and “can.” These insights give you a crystal-clear view of what your target audience is curious about, enabling you to create highly relevant, user-focused content.
Unlike traditional keyword research tools that only show you search volume and competition, AnswerThePublic provides context—revealing the intent behind a search. This makes it an ideal tool for developing blog post ideas, FAQs, product descriptions, or even entire content strategies based on real user questions.
The free version allows limited daily searches, while the Pro plan offers advanced features like unlimited searches, regional and language filtering, report saving, and team collaboration. Whether you’re an SEO beginner or a seasoned strategist, AnswerThePublic is a smart tool to have in your toolkit for uncovering long-tail keywords, identifying content gaps, and improving organic search performance.
If you’re looking to create content that truly answers your audience’s needs, AnswerThePublic is a great place to start.
AnswerThePublic works by collecting autocomplete data from search engines like Google and Bing. It then transforms this data into a visually rich map of user queries, grouped by categories such as “what,” “how,” “why,” and “can.” These insights give you a crystal-clear view of what your target audience is curious about, enabling you to create highly relevant, user-focused content.
Unlike traditional keyword research tools that only show you search volume and competition, AnswerThePublic provides context—revealing the intent behind a search. This makes it an ideal tool for developing blog post ideas, FAQs, product descriptions, or even entire content strategies based on real user questions.
The free version allows limited daily searches, while the Pro plan offers advanced features like unlimited searches, regional and language filtering, report saving, and team collaboration. Whether you’re an SEO beginner or a seasoned strategist, AnswerThePublic is a smart tool to have in your toolkit for uncovering long-tail keywords, identifying content gaps, and improving organic search performance.
If you’re looking to create content that truly answers your audience’s needs, AnswerThePublic is a great place to start.
How to Use Answer The Public to Earn Featured Snippets
Let me paint the picture for you. It’s September 2016, and Rob Bucci from STAT Search Analytics is stepping onto the MozCon stage. None of us in the audience quite knew what was coming, but what followed was a game-changer. His talk? It sparked what I can only describe as the beginning of the featured snippet gold rush.
It quickly became the highlight of the event. During breaks, it was all anyone could talk about—and even days later, people were still buzzing about it.
Now, smart SEOs had already realized that featured snippets were a massive, mostly untapped opportunity. But Bucci’s data-packed presentation hit hard. His deep dive into snippets shook many of us out of autopilot mode. It definitely woke me up.
Since that moment, I’ve been seriously diving into featured snippets—ok, obsessing might be the better word. I’ve tested tools, explored strategies, and looked for what actually works when it comes to grabbing those coveted snippet spots.
And here’s the good news: I’ve found a tool that helps. It’s called AnswerThePublic, and best of all—it’s free.
I’ve already seen solid results using it, including earning snippets like the one I landed for the query, “What is a business dashboard?”
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I use AnswerThePublic to find snippet-worthy content ideas—and how you can start earning more snippets too.
It quickly became the highlight of the event. During breaks, it was all anyone could talk about—and even days later, people were still buzzing about it.
Now, smart SEOs had already realized that featured snippets were a massive, mostly untapped opportunity. But Bucci’s data-packed presentation hit hard. His deep dive into snippets shook many of us out of autopilot mode. It definitely woke me up.
Since that moment, I’ve been seriously diving into featured snippets—ok, obsessing might be the better word. I’ve tested tools, explored strategies, and looked for what actually works when it comes to grabbing those coveted snippet spots.
And here’s the good news: I’ve found a tool that helps. It’s called AnswerThePublic, and best of all—it’s free.
I’ve already seen solid results using it, including earning snippets like the one I landed for the query, “What is a business dashboard?”
In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how I use AnswerThePublic to find snippet-worthy content ideas—and how you can start earning more snippets too.
How does it work?
As you dive into this tool, you’ll see we don’t track every topic under the sun. That’s because not everything has trend longevity.
We identify early trends along with their long-term business value before adding them to our database.
This generally happens in two phases: our techs scrape online sources and our analysts determine which trends show potential. We scrape hundreds of online sources–news sites, social media posts, comments on online forums, user behavior on marketplaces, and much more–to identify trends early. This allows us to discover hundreds of new trends every day.
Our analysts will then review these trends to see which ones have the potential to stay relevant long into the future. Those are the trends we add to our database.
For example, we discovered the trend “AI writing tool” in May of 2020. Over a year before it really started to take off:
We identify early trends along with their long-term business value before adding them to our database.
This generally happens in two phases: our techs scrape online sources and our analysts determine which trends show potential. We scrape hundreds of online sources–news sites, social media posts, comments on online forums, user behavior on marketplaces, and much more–to identify trends early. This allows us to discover hundreds of new trends every day.
Our analysts will then review these trends to see which ones have the potential to stay relevant long into the future. Those are the trends we add to our database.
For example, we discovered the trend “AI writing tool” in May of 2020. Over a year before it really started to take off:
How to Use Answer the Public Effectively
So, you’re sold on the power of AnswerThePublic—great! Now, how can you actually use it to level up your blog content?
Start by identifying your target keywords. While keyword research is a broad topic (and worth exploring in detail separately), use a mix of brainstorming, SEO tools, and niche exploration to build a solid keyword list.
Next, head over to AnswerThePublic and start plugging in those keywords. If you’re using the free version, be aware of search limits—you might run into throttling. In that case, consider trying the Pro plan, even for just a month, to speed up your deep-dive research. Download your results as CSV files.
Soon you’ll have multiple CSVs, and organization becomes key. You can merge all data into one master sheet for easier access. I prefer combining everything in one file, either by adding separate sheets or aligning results with a “primary keyword” column. Choose what works best for your workflow.
Now comes the real work: cleaning the data. Filter out duplicates, irrelevant results, or terms that don’t make sense for your niche. The Pro plan offers built-in filters before download, but even if you’re doing it manually, be thorough.
Once you’ve removed clutter, flag unusual or unclear terms for extra research. For example, if you find a term like “Quizlet,” pause and check: Is it a tool, a brand, or something unrelated?
The next step? Competitor analysis. Google each keyword and check the top results. Is the content high-quality? Is the topic underserved? Too competitive? Use this to further refine your keyword list.
After filtering, compare these keywords with your existing content. Eliminate overlap or plan updates where relevant. A content audit might help here.
Finally, start crafting blog titles. Think beyond basics—get creative! Combine keywords into engaging headlines, expert roundups, or even interactive content ideas.
By the end, you’ll have a rich spreadsheet of hundreds (or thousands) of blog post ideas. Yes, it takes effort—but it sets you up with a long-term, research-driven content strategy. Let AnswerThePublic fuel your creativity and streamline your blog planning.
Start by identifying your target keywords. While keyword research is a broad topic (and worth exploring in detail separately), use a mix of brainstorming, SEO tools, and niche exploration to build a solid keyword list.
Next, head over to AnswerThePublic and start plugging in those keywords. If you’re using the free version, be aware of search limits—you might run into throttling. In that case, consider trying the Pro plan, even for just a month, to speed up your deep-dive research. Download your results as CSV files.
Soon you’ll have multiple CSVs, and organization becomes key. You can merge all data into one master sheet for easier access. I prefer combining everything in one file, either by adding separate sheets or aligning results with a “primary keyword” column. Choose what works best for your workflow.
Now comes the real work: cleaning the data. Filter out duplicates, irrelevant results, or terms that don’t make sense for your niche. The Pro plan offers built-in filters before download, but even if you’re doing it manually, be thorough.
Once you’ve removed clutter, flag unusual or unclear terms for extra research. For example, if you find a term like “Quizlet,” pause and check: Is it a tool, a brand, or something unrelated?
The next step? Competitor analysis. Google each keyword and check the top results. Is the content high-quality? Is the topic underserved? Too competitive? Use this to further refine your keyword list.
After filtering, compare these keywords with your existing content. Eliminate overlap or plan updates where relevant. A content audit might help here.
Finally, start crafting blog titles. Think beyond basics—get creative! Combine keywords into engaging headlines, expert roundups, or even interactive content ideas.
By the end, you’ll have a rich spreadsheet of hundreds (or thousands) of blog post ideas. Yes, it takes effort—but it sets you up with a long-term, research-driven content strategy. Let AnswerThePublic fuel your creativity and streamline your blog planning.
How to Access Answer The Public
The free version of AnswerThePublic doesn’t come with a strict limit on the number of searches you can perform per day. Instead, the availability of searches depends on the tool’s traffic and usage at any given time. During peak hours or periods of high demand, you may find that searches are temporarily throttled, meaning you could hit a limit even if you haven’t used it extensively that day. This can be frustrating if you’re in the middle of a research session.
To bypass these restrictions and unlock the platform’s full potential, you can upgrade to the Pro Plan, which currently costs $99 per month. This plan is designed for marketers, SEO professionals, and content creators who need greater flexibility and deeper insights.
With the Pro version, you get unlimited daily searches, which is a major advantage for anyone conducting frequent keyword or topic research. You can also customize results based on language and location—for instance, you can explore results in French for France, or French for Canada, depending on your target market.
Another standout feature of the Pro Plan is the ability to compare keyword data over time. This lets you run a report today and again in a few months to identify new trending suggestions, helping you stay on top of search trends in your niche.
You’ll also gain access to high-resolution visualizations, which are ideal for presentations or internal reporting. The platform allows you to save reports, making it easier to revisit data whenever needed. Additionally, the Pro Plan supports unlimited team members, making it a solid choice for collaborative marketing teams.
To improve usability, you can hide entire sections or individual keyword suggestions that don’t align with your goals—streamlining your reports and keeping your focus on relevant ideas.
For those serious about content and SEO strategy, the Pro version of AnswerThePublic offers not just convenience, but a powerful set of tools to explore user intent and discover new content opportunities without interruption.
To bypass these restrictions and unlock the platform’s full potential, you can upgrade to the Pro Plan, which currently costs $99 per month. This plan is designed for marketers, SEO professionals, and content creators who need greater flexibility and deeper insights.
With the Pro version, you get unlimited daily searches, which is a major advantage for anyone conducting frequent keyword or topic research. You can also customize results based on language and location—for instance, you can explore results in French for France, or French for Canada, depending on your target market.
Another standout feature of the Pro Plan is the ability to compare keyword data over time. This lets you run a report today and again in a few months to identify new trending suggestions, helping you stay on top of search trends in your niche.
You’ll also gain access to high-resolution visualizations, which are ideal for presentations or internal reporting. The platform allows you to save reports, making it easier to revisit data whenever needed. Additionally, the Pro Plan supports unlimited team members, making it a solid choice for collaborative marketing teams.
To improve usability, you can hide entire sections or individual keyword suggestions that don’t align with your goals—streamlining your reports and keeping your focus on relevant ideas.
For those serious about content and SEO strategy, the Pro version of AnswerThePublic offers not just convenience, but a powerful set of tools to explore user intent and discover new content opportunities without interruption.