Any experience using SERP for keyword search?

I know there are tools for keyword or "phrase" research
but I just can't understand using them

I've read tons, and seen plenty of vids, but just isn't working for me

so I understand a method some use is simply using
"SERPs"

in my case it's for article marketing via
DIRECTORIES

so no WEBSITE to rank, just trying to get
as much "article exposure" as possible for affiliate marketing
it may not be as good as traditional KWR, but at this point
I'll take just about anything

can anyone give me an idea of hwo they might conduct their
"search" or what number of SERPs are too high
or too low competition?

and I know there are other ways of increasing serps by linking and other
things, but for the purposes of this thread, I'm focusing on the article
itself and the title

Hal~!