AI Skill Report Card
Conducting SEO Keyword Research
SEO/SEM Keyword Research Process
Quick Start14 / 15
Phase 1 (3-4 hours): Take current snapshot
1. SEMRush domain overview → export top 100 keywords
2. Google Analytics → organic traffic analysis (3-month period)
3. Search Console → query performance data
4. Competitor analysis → top 3 competitors' keyword profiles
Phase 2 (1 hour): Develop strategy
5. Gap analysis → identify keyword opportunities
6. Content mapping → match keywords to existing/planned content
7. Priority matrix → high-volume, low-competition targets
Recommendation▾
Make Quick Start more actionable by providing exact templates or formulas (e.g., 'Export CSV with columns: keyword, volume, difficulty, CPC')
Workflow15 / 15
Phase 1: Current Snapshot (3-4 hours)
Progress:
- Domain Analysis: SEMRush domain overview, export top 100 organic keywords
- Traffic Analysis: Google Analytics organic traffic (last 90 days)
- Search Performance: Search Console query data with impressions/CTR
- Competitor Research: Identify 3 main competitors, analyze their top keywords
- Technical Audit: Site speed, mobile-friendliness, indexing issues
Key Metrics to Capture:
- Current organic traffic volume
- Top 20 performing keywords (traffic + conversions)
- Keyword ranking positions
- Click-through rates by query
- Competitor keyword gaps
Phase 2: Strategy Development (1 hour)
Progress:
- Opportunity Identification: High-volume, low-competition keywords
- Content Mapping: Match target keywords to existing content
- Priority Matrix: Score keywords by traffic potential vs difficulty
- Content Gaps: Identify missing content for target keywords
Priority Scoring Formula:
Priority Score = (Search Volume × CTR Estimate × Conversion Rate) / Keyword Difficulty
Phase 3: Execution
Editorial Calendar:
- Map 1-3 target keywords per piece of content
- Create content clusters around pillar topics
- Plan 4-8 weeks of keyword-optimized content
Technical Optimization:
- Title tags: Primary keyword in first 60 characters
- Meta descriptions: Include target keyword naturally
- H1 tags: One per page with primary keyword
- Internal linking: 2-3 contextual links per 1000 words
Backlinking Strategy:
- Resource page outreach for high-authority links
- HARO (Help a Reporter Out) responses
- Industry publication guest posts
- Competitor backlink analysis and replication
Phase 4: Reporting
Monthly KPIs:
- Organic traffic growth (%)
- Keyword ranking improvements
- Click-through rate changes
- Conversion rate from organic traffic
- New keywords ranking in top 100
Recommendation▾
Add concrete input/output pairs showing actual keyword data with numbers (e.g., 'Input: fitness website → Output: home gym equipment (22K vol, 45 KD, $2.30 CPC)')
Examples16 / 20
Example 1: E-commerce Site Input: Online fitness equipment store Output:
- Primary targets: "home gym equipment" (22K/month), "adjustable dumbbells" (8K/month)
- Long-tail opportunities: "best home gym equipment for small spaces" (1.2K/month)
- Content plan: Equipment buying guides, workout videos, space planning tools
Example 2: Local Service Business Input: Denver HVAC contractor Output:
- Primary targets: "Denver HVAC repair" (1.8K/month), "furnace repair Denver" (950/month)
- Local modifiers: "emergency HVAC Denver", "24/7 furnace repair"
- Content plan: Seasonal maintenance guides, cost breakdowns, service area pages
Recommendation▾
Reduce length by removing some explanatory text and focus on the methodology - assumes Claude knows SEO basics
Best Practices
Keyword Selection:
- Target 1-3 keywords per page (avoid keyword stuffing)
- Balance head terms (high volume) with long-tail (high intent)
- Consider seasonal trends and local modifiers
- Prioritize buyer-intent keywords for commercial pages
Content Optimization:
- Use keywords naturally in content (aim for 1-2% density)
- Include semantic variations and related terms
- Optimize for featured snippets with structured content
- Create comprehensive, authoritative content (1500+ words for competitive terms)
Technical Implementation:
- Ensure fast page load speeds (<3 seconds)
- Mobile-first optimization
- Clean URL structure with target keywords
- Proper schema markup for rich snippets
Common Pitfalls
- Keyword Cannibalization: Multiple pages targeting same keyword
- Over-Optimization: Stuffing keywords unnaturally into content
- Ignoring Search Intent: Targeting keywords that don't match user goals
- Neglecting Long-tail: Focusing only on high-volume, competitive terms
- No Content Plan: Doing research without execution strategy
- Forgetting Local SEO: Missing location modifiers for local businesses
- Outdated Data: Using old keyword research without refreshing insights
SEMRush Access Note: Use company account credentials, focus on organic research and position tracking modules for most comprehensive data.