Keyword Research Systems Skill

When to Use

• Kicking off a new product/vertical SEO plan.
• Validating which clusters justify net-new content.
• Refreshing legacy keyword maps with updated volumes/intent.

Framework

1. Seed Intake – capture ICP, problems solved, solution terms.
2. Expansion Sources – combine auto-suggest, People Also Ask, competitor URLs, forums.
3. Classification – assign funnel stage + intent (informational, commercial, transactional, navigational).
4. Scoring – evaluate search volume, keyword difficulty, SERP click potential, seasonality.
5. Prioritization – stack rank via ICE/RICE or weighted scoring tied to business impact.

Templates

• Cluster worksheet Topic → Intent → Page Type → Owner.
• SERP teardown table (result type, schema, search feature presence).
• Opportunity score calculator (volume * intent-fit / difficulty).

Tips

• Map 1 pillar page for every 4-6 cluster articles to support internal linking.
• Track query freshness to schedule refresh cadences.
• Align with paid search data to spot immediate conversion opportunities.

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