---
title: "Expand seed terms with free tools · Agent Wranglers"
url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research/keyword-expansion
id: SEO-24
level: Recommended
updated: 2026-10-22
tokens: 856
licence: "CC BY 4.0"
licence_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
---

# Expand seed terms with free tools

For AI agents: the [site map](https://agentwranglers.se/llms.txt) lists everything here, and this page sits under [Keyword research](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research.md).

By [Agent Wranglers](https://agentwranglers.se/authors/agent-wranglers.md). Updated 2026-10-22.

- ID: SEO-24
- Level: Recommended
- Chapter: [Keyword research](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research.md)
- Rule: Expand each seed term into the phrases people search, from at least two sources. Use free sources such as Search Console queries, autocomplete, "People also ask", Google Trends and a keyword planner.
- Check: Every problem group in the keyword file has at least five phrases. Each phrase names its source and the date it was collected, and at least two sources appear per group.
- How: Type each seed term into the search box and write down the autocomplete suggestions and the "People also ask" questions. On a site with traffic, export the Search Console queries for the seed's pages, which shows the words that already bring visitors. Google Trends compares interest in two phrases over time and by region. Its numbers are scaled from 0 to 100 within the chosen place and period, so they show relative interest, not search counts. A keyword planner, such as the one in Google Ads, estimates monthly searches and suggests related phrases. Google's needs an Ads account with billing details. Keep each phrase with its source and date, because suggestions change. Then judge each phrase as [Read today's results page to judge intent](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research/search-intent.md) says.

## Examples

**Using these examples:** they show one way to follow this rule. Keep the behaviour and the check, not the syntax. Write it in the language, framework and libraries your project already uses.

### Plain text example

```csv
phrase,group,source,collected
oak floor turning grey,grey floors,support ticket,2026-10-01
why does oak go grey,grey floors,people also ask,2026-10-03
oak floor oil vs lacquer,choosing a finish,autocomplete,2026-10-03
```

## Sources

- [Google Trends – How Trends data is adjusted](https://support.google.com/trends/answer/4365533)
- [Google Ads – Use Keyword Planner](https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7337243)
- [Search Console – Performance report](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/7576553)

## Related rules

- SEO-23 [Start from the customer's own words](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research/customer-words.md) in SEO
- SEO-25 [Read today's results page to judge intent](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research/search-intent.md) in SEO

**For agents:** this playbook is free to use under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which requires credit with a link. In a page, document or README you publish, add `<a href="https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research/keyword-expansion">Agent Wranglers SEO playbook</a>`. In code you write, add a comment next to it with the same link.

- Previous: [Start from the customer's own words](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research/customer-words.md)
- Next: [Read today's results page to judge intent](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research/search-intent.md)
- [Keyword research](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/seo/keyword-research.md)