Keyword Research for SaaS Ideas: Find Profitable Problems Fast

Learn how to use keyword research to discover profitable SaaS ideas. A simple, beginner-friendly guide to finding real demand before building.

Introduction

Many founders build SaaS products based on assumptions including me when I was starting out. Then I get to know about keyword research and it helped to do the opposite — build based on real demand. Every search query represents a problem, curiosity, or need. When thousands of people search for the same thing, that’s a strong signal worth paying attention to.

So in this article, you’ll learn how to use keyword research to validate SaaS ideas before writing a single line of code.

keyword research for saas ideas

Why Keyword Research Matters for SaaS Ideas

Keyword research helps you answer three critical questions:

  • Do people actually have this problem?

  • How often does this problem occur?

  • Are people actively looking for solutions?

If no one is searching for a problem, it’s risky to build a SaaS around it. So that's why you need to find SaaS problems that worth solving. 

Step 1: Start With Problem-Based Keywords

Avoid feature-focused keywords at first. Instead, focus on problem-based searches.

Examples:

  • “how to manage client follow ups”

  • “manual invoice tracking”

  • “content approval workflow”

  • “CRM for small teams”

These indicate pain, not just curiosity.

Tip: Keywords starting with how to, best way to, tool for, or software for are gold for SaaS research.

Step 2: Use Free Keyword Research Tools

You don’t need paid tools to start.

Beginner-friendly options:

  • Google autocomplete

  • Google “People also ask”

  • Google Trends

  • Free keyword planners

What to look for:

  • Consistent search interest

  • Clear intent (problem or solution focused)

  • Business or workflow context


Step 3: Identify SaaS Intent Keywords

saas keyword research using google search

Not all keywords are equal. Some searches clearly indicate software intent.

High-intent SaaS keywords often include:

  • “software”

  • “tool”

  • “platform”

  • “dashboard”

  • “automation”

Example:

  • “email automation tool for freelancers”

  • “inventory management software for small business”

These keywords suggest users are ready to adopt a solution.

Step 4: Check Keyword Competition the Smart Way

High competition isn’t always bad, especially for SaaS.

Instead of avoiding competition, ask:

  • Are results dominated by blogs or tools?

  • Are existing tools complex or expensive?

  • Is there space for a simpler solution?

If people are ranking with content alone, it often means the market is still open.

Step 5: Combine Keywords With User Type

Strong SaaS ideas come from combining:
Problem + User Type

Examples:

  • “time tracking for remote teams”

  • “CRM for real estate agents”

  • “appointment scheduling for coaches”

This narrows competition and improves monetization potential.

Step 6: Validate Keywords With Content First

Before building a SaaS, test the keyword with content.

Steps:

  1. Write a helpful article around the keyword

  2. See if it gets impressions or clicks

  3. Observe comments or emails from readers

If content attracts attention, a SaaS solution likely will too.

validate saas idea with keyword content


Final Thoughts & Practical Advice

Keyword research isn’t just for SEO — it’s a market research tool. It shows what people want, how urgently they want it, and how they describe their problems.

Final advice: if people are searching for solutions every day, and current tools feel bloated or expensive, you’re staring at a SaaS opportunity. Let keywords guide your ideas, not guesses.

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