AlsoAsked vs. AnswerThePublic: The Essential Comparison for Creators

This (1) article is designed to help you, the content creator, uncover the best tool for harnessing authentic user queries, filling content gaps, and elevating your SEO strategy.

Every creator faces the challenge of finding the right questions to answer—questions that resonate with your audience and drive meaningful engagement.

In this guide, we explore two popular keyword research tools, AlsoAsked and AnswerThePublic, and explain how each can reveal hidden content opportunities, boost your SEO performance, and strengthen your online authority.

Why Understanding User Queries Matters

Understanding what your audience is asking is the cornerstone of creating impactful content.

In my experience, leveraging real user queries has significantly improved click-through rates and boosted organic traffic, sometimes by as much as 20-30% and 25% respectively, although individual results will always vary.

When you directly address user questions, you not only build trust but also enhance your site’s click-through rates and organic traffic.

Here's an example of the organic traffic boost one of my articles experienced after using AlsoAsked.

In this and the following examples, I’m using real data from my work on an article about how to make money on Fansly.

Getting to Know AlsoAsked

What Is AlsoAsked and How Does It Work?

AlsoAsked is a tool designed to extract questions from Google’s “People Also Ask” section.

By mining these real user queries, it delivers a wealth of long-tail keyword ideas and uncovers content gaps.

This helps you craft posts, FAQs, or even entire course modules that directly answer what your audience is curious about.

How AlsoAsked Extracts Google’s People Also Ask

AlsoAsked queries Google and captures the “People Also Ask” data in a structured way.

This process lets you:

• Extract a hierarchy of related questions
• Visualize clusters of similar queries
• Export findings in CSV format for deeper analysis

This structured extraction means you can see how one question naturally leads to another—a conversation you can mirror in your content.

Key Functionalities of AlsoAsked

AlsoAsked offers a range of features designed to streamline your content research:

• Data Visualization: Clear visual maps of related questions highlight content opportunities at a glance.
• Clustering: Similar questions are grouped together, enabling you to cover topics comprehensively.

Understanding AnswerThePublic

What Is AnswerThePublic and How Does It Work?

AnswerThePublic takes a different approach by using Google autocomplete data to generate question maps and keyword ideas.

It captures common search queries as you type and transforms them into a visual representation of topics and subtopics.

This broader view can spark a range of content ideas beyond the specific queries found in People Also Ask.

Unique Features of AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic offers several distinct features:

• Visual Question Maps: Organized layouts of questions and phrases help you see potential topics and subtopics instantly.
• Keyword Ideation: In addition to questions, it suggests related keywords to bolster your overall SEO strategy.

You can also view the results in AnswerThePublic using the table view.

Data Sources and Methodologies: A Comparative Look

How the Tools Source Their Data

Both tools offer valuable insights, but they use different data sources:

AlsoAsked

• Sources data from Google’s People Also Ask
• Focuses on real, user-asked questions for pinpoint content gaps

AnswerThePublic

• Uses Google autocomplete data
• Captures a broader variety of queries, resulting in a wider scope of keyword ideas

Impact of Methodology on Insights

The different data sources influence the insights each tool provides:

• AlsoAsked yields highly targeted, long-tail questions that help fill specific content gaps.
• AnswerThePublic offers a broader array of ideas, making it ideal for brainstorming and identifying trending topics.

Quick Comparison Table

Cost Implications for Creators and Agencies

Both tools offer limited free versions, allowing you to perform three free queries per day.

When budget is a concern, consider the pricing models:

AlsoAsked

AlsoAsked's Basic plan is ideal for budget-conscious bloggers who need a few targeted searches per month, while the Pro plan is better for agencies or high-volume content creators.

AnswerThePublic

AnswerThePublic is slightly cheaper to start with, but scaling up can become more expensive.

User Interface and Workflow Efficiency

The usability of each tool affects how quickly you can integrate insights:

AlsoAsked

• Features a streamlined interface focused on delivering specific question clusters quickly
• Ideal for direct, actionable insights without overwhelming data

AnswerThePublic

• Delivers engaging, colorful visualizations that spark creative thinking
• May feel more overwhelming if you need precise, targeted data

In my workflow, I often start with AlsoAsked to drill down on exact queries, then use AnswerThePublic to supplement with broader trends.

Which Tool Fits Your Content Strategy?

Tailoring Your Choice to Your Needs

The choice between tools depends on your specific content goals:

• If you need detailed, niche topics: AlsoAsked is ideal for uncovering specific user queries.
• If you need broad inspiration: AnswerThePublic is perfect for generating diverse content ideas across various formats.

Actionable Insights for Different Strategies

Consider your content format:

• Multi-language Blogs: The precision of AlsoAsked can help tailor content to different language audiences.
• Video Tutorials and Courses: AnswerThePublic’s visual maps can serve as a creative tool to structure your video or course modules around trending questions.

Both tools empower you to build stronger topical authority by ensuring your content directly addresses your audience’s needs.

For a deeper dive into content optimization, check out my guide on SEO for Beginners.

Use Cases: AlsoAsked vs. AnswerThePublic for Different Creators

Fitness YouTuber

AlsoAsked

A fitness YouTuber creating content about "at-home workouts" could use AlsoAsked to find specific questions like:

• "What are the best at-home workouts for beginners?"
• "How to do at-home workouts without equipment?"
• "What are effective at-home workouts for weight loss?"
• "What is the best time for at home workout?"
• "What are good at home workouts to build muscle?"

This helps them create highly targeted videos that address specific audience concerns, potentially leading to a series of videos on "At-Home Workouts for Beginners," "No-Equipment Workouts," etc.

AnswerThePublic

The same YouTuber could use AnswerThePublic to brainstorm broader content ideas around "fitness" or "workout routines."

This could lead to videos on:

• "Are short workouts effective?"
• "How to stay motivated to workout?"
• "Which workout routine is best for me?"
• "When to do cardio vs. strength training?"

These broader topics can attract a wider audience and help establish the YouTuber as a fitness authority.

If you're a YouTube creator, check out my guide on leveraging YouTube-specific tools to generate content ideas and boost SEO—VidIQ vs. TubeBuddy.

Affiliate Marketer Promoting Travel Gear

AlsoAsked

‍An affiliate marketer promoting travel gear on a blog or website could use AlsoAsked to discover questions like, for example:

• "How to choose the best travel backpack?"
• "What is the best way to pack a suitcase efficiently?"
• "How to clean a travel backpack?"
• "What are the most durable travel accessories?"
• "Where to buy reliable travel gear online?"

They could then create in-depth blog posts, reviews, or comparison guide that answer these questions, naturally weaving in their affiliate links to relevant products.

For more tips on optimizing your affiliate content strategy, check out my guide on affiliate marketing for creators.

AnswerThePublic

‍The same affiliate marketer could use AnswerThePublic to explore broader topics around "travel packing tips" or "best travel gear."

Resulting in content like:

• "What are the essential items for carry-on luggage?"
• "Which travel gadgets are actually worth buying?"
• "How to pack for a backpacking trip?"
• "Why is it important to have travel insurance?"
• "Will this backpack be allowed as carry-on?"

This helps them attract a wider audience interested in travel preparation, providing ample opportunities to promote relevant affiliate products.

To discover creative ideas for affiliate content and learn how to choose the right products to promote, see my guides on finding ideas for affiliate content and choosing affiliate products.

Online Course Creator (Photography)

AlsoAsked

A course creator teaching "beginner photography" could use AlsoAsked to find questions like, for example:

• "What are the best camera settings for beginner photographers?"
• "How to take good photos with a smartphone?"
• "What is aperture in photography?"
• "How does ISO affect photo quality?"

These questions could directly inform the content of their course modules, ensuring they address common beginner struggles.

AnswerThePublic

The same creator could use AnswerThePublic to explore broader topics around "photography techniques" or "photo editing."

• "How to edit photos like a professional?"
• "Which photography techniques are best for landscapes?"
• "Why are my photos blurry?"
• "What is the best photography style?"

These broader topics could inspire bonus modules, blog posts, or even ideas for future courses, expanding their reach and authority.

Once you've identified the key questions and content gaps, remember that if you're creating content for social media, it's important not only to address those gaps but also to optimize your posts for reach.

For actionable tips, check out my guide on hashtags for creators.

Implementing Actionable Insights into Your Content Planning

Step-by-Step Integration Example

Here’s how I integrate these tools into my content workflow:

1. Identify Core Questions: Enter a broad topic into AlsoAsked to extract a list of specific user queries.
   
2. Visual Brainstorming: Use AnswerThePublic to create a visual map of related topics, inspiring ideas for blog posts, videos, or course modules.
3. Cluster and Prioritize: Group similar questions together. Focus on those that are most relevant to your audience and align with your expertise.
4. Content Creation: Structure your content around these clusters. Consider building an FAQ section or dedicating individual posts to the most common questions.
5. Validate with Analytics: After publishing, monitor performance using tools like Google Analytics. Adjust your strategy based on the data to continuously improve your content.

Integrating these steps ensures that your content is both data-driven and genuinely helpful to your audience.

Additionally, AI tools like ChatGPT can help turn these questions into actionable outlines.

Case Study: Boosting Engagement with User-Driven Content

In a recent project, I discovered a niche cluster of questions using AlsoAsked.

I structured a blog post around these queries and supplemented it with broader insights from AnswerThePublic.

The result was a significant increase in organic traffic and higher engagement from readers who appreciated the depth of the answers provided.

By tapping into the authentic questions my audience was asking, I was able to create content that resonated deeply and improved the my site’s SEO performance.

This experience confirms that combining targeted and broad keyword research can transform your content strategy.

Exploring Alternative Keyword Research Tools

A Broader Look at the Keyword Landscape

While AlsoAsked and AnswerThePublic are powerful, there are several other tools that might complement your strategy:

• KeywordsPeopleUse: Focuses on generating long-tail keyword ideas using natural language queries.
• Frase: Combines keyword research with content optimization by providing actionable briefs.
• Ubersuggest & KWFinder: Offer extensive keyword data along with competitive analysis.
• SEMrush & Ahrefs: Provide robust, data-driven insights ideal for larger agencies or creators with comprehensive SEO needs.

When to Consider These Alternatives

If your content strategy requires both deep query analysis and a broader keyword view, consider integrating these tools.

For example, while AlsoAsked pinpoints specific questions, SEMrush or Ahrefs can provide detailed competitive insights and search volume data for a more rounded approach.

Creator Clarity Checkpoint

Before finalizing your content plan, ask yourself:

• Have I identified the core questions my audience is asking?
• Does my content address these questions in a clear, structured manner?
• Have I integrated insights from multiple tools to build a robust strategy?
• Am I tracking performance with analytics to iterate and improve?

This checkpoint helps ensure your content not only fills existing gaps but also evolves alongside your audience’s needs.

Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Choosing the right tool depends on your unique content goals.

Whether you lean toward the precision of AlsoAsked or the broad ideation offered by AnswerThePublic, each tool delivers actionable insights that can elevate your SEO strategy and build your authority online.

In my experience, blending both approaches has resulted in content that truly resonates—leading to increased traffic and deeper reader trust.

As you refine your content process, experiment with both tools and consider integrating alternative keyword research platforms to cover every angle.

Your Next Steps

1. Experiment: Start by using AlsoAsked to gather real user questions for your next blog post or course module.
2. Visualize: Use AnswerThePublic to brainstorm additional content ideas and visualize trending topics.
3. Integrate: Combine insights from both tools with data from Google Analytics to refine your SEO strategy.
4. Optimize: Monitor your content’s performance, iterate based on what resonates most with your audience, and keep refining your approach.

By following these steps, you’re not just collecting data—you’re building a content strategy that drives engagement, fosters trust, and ultimately helps you monetize your expertise.

Happy creating!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)