[SEO Basics Part 1] Keyword Analysis Method: The ABC Exploration Method

The most important thing in running a blog is ultimately what kind of content you write and how you write it. In other words, keyword analysis accounts for about 90% of the whole process. So at WPlaybook, I plan to share various tips I know in a series.

The ABC Keyword Analysis Method

There is a method called the ABC method used among foreign bloggers. You might be hearing it for the first time, but I think many are already familiar with it.

What is the ABC Keyword Analysis Method?

The ABC Method is a simple way to gather keywords by utilizing Google Search’s autocomplete feature. The method involves typing a desired keyword followed by each letter of the alphabet (from A to Z) into the Google search bar, then checking and recording the autocomplete suggestions that appear.

Since Google Search’s autocomplete stores what people frequently search for, you can reverse-engineer this to create blog posts!

The keywords collected this way reflect various users’ search behaviors and interests and can be very useful for blog content creation or SEO optimization. The ABC Method is especially effective for discovering new keyword ideas, understanding search trends on specific topics, and often helps uncover overlooked keywords.

Practical Application

The ABC method varies depending on whether you run a Korean, English, or another language blog.

Basic Korean Blog

For Korean-language blogs, this works like a Korean consonant-sequence method. Open Google, enter your target topic or keyword, then test auto-suggestions by adding consonants in sequence. For example, you can start with “WordPress” and check how suggestions change as you append Korean consonants.

A whole list of keywords pops up! Interestingly, the suggestions at the top are sorted in order of search volume. That makes sense—Google wants to autocomplete with the most frequently searched terms to provide more efficient results.

Applying the ABC Method to English Blogs Using International Google Versions

If you’re running an English-language blog, the ABC method becomes even more versatile. This is because searching in English from Korea produces different results compared to searches from other countries.

The reason is simple: search behavior and keyword trends vary by country, so Google shows different autocomplete suggestions depending on the region.

To prove this, let’s compare keyword suggestions from Korean Google and U.S. Google using a Google International Search URL Generator.

Google Korea vs. Google US

Below is what the autocomplete looks like on U.S. Google when applying the ABC method with the same keyword.

Below is what the autocomplete looks like on U.S. Google when applying the ABC method with the same keyword.

In the U.S., the most common suggestion starting with “a” is admin login, indicating a focus on administrative access. Interestingly, the third suggestion is WordPress alternatives—this suggests that users are actively looking for other website platforms, such as Wix or Google Sites.

As you can see, keyword suggestions vary significantly between countries, and even the same keyword can yield different results depending on the region.

In Closing

Today, we explored the ABC keyword analysis method—also known as the “ㄱㄴㄷ method” for Korean-language blogs. It’s a simple yet flexible strategy that can be applied in many ways. Be sure to try it out for yourself!