> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.hiveku.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Research SEO Keywords

> Find keyword opportunities with search volume, difficulty, and intent data

Pick the right keywords before you write. Keywords Explorer gives you search volume, difficulty, intent, and related terms in one view — so you know what's worth ranking for before you invest in content.

<Info>
  Path: **Marketing > SEO > Tools > Keywords Explorer**
</Info>

## Three Ways to Research

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="AI Chat" icon="wand-magic-sparkles">
    Describe what you want in plain English
  </Card>

  <Card title="Keywords Explorer UI" icon="magnifying-glass">
    Enter a seed keyword, browse ranked suggestions
  </Card>

  <Card title="Bulk research" icon="list">
    Paste a list, get data for each
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="AI Chat">
    The fastest way. From any page, open the AI chat and describe what you want:

    ```
    Find 20 low-difficulty keywords about web design for small businesses.
    Minimum 100 monthly searches, KD under 40.
    ```

    The AI pulls data, filters, and returns a ranked list you can add to your content calendar with one click.

    Follow up naturally:

    * *"Group these into topic clusters"*
    * *"Show me the ones with commercial intent"*
    * *"Find another 10 related to local SEO"*
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Keywords Explorer UI">
    Best for visual browsing and filtering.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open Keywords Explorer">
        Go to **Marketing > SEO > Tools > Keywords Explorer**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Enter a seed keyword">
        Type a broad term related to your business (e.g., `web design`). Set your country and language.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Review suggestions">
        The tool returns related keywords with metrics: volume, difficulty, CPC, intent. Sort by any column.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Apply filters">
        Narrow by KD range, volume range, intent type, or exclude branded terms. Save the filtered set as a segment.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Bulk research">
    Have a candidate list already? Paste it for metrics in one shot.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Click Bulk Analyze">
        In Keywords Explorer, click the **Bulk** tab.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Paste your keywords">
        One per line, or upload a CSV. Up to 10,000 keywords per batch.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Export results">
        Once processing completes (usually under a minute), download the enriched CSV with volume, difficulty, CPC, and intent per keyword.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Understanding the Metrics

Not every keyword is worth chasing. These numbers tell you which ones are.

* **Search volume** — average monthly searches. Shown globally or per country. Low-volume terms can still be valuable if intent is strong.
* **Keyword difficulty (KD)** — a 0-100 score estimating how hard it is to rank on page one. Rough bands: **0-30 easy**, **30-60 medium**, **60+ hard**.
* **CPC** — average cost per click in Google Ads. High CPC usually means high commercial intent — advertisers pay for those clicks.
* **Search intent** — what the searcher actually wants. Four buckets:
  * **Informational** — "how to design a logo"
  * **Navigational** — "hiveku login"
  * **Commercial** — "best web design agency"
  * **Transactional** — "buy web hosting"

<Tip>
  Low-volume long-tail keywords (50-500 searches, KD under 30) are often easier wins than chasing high-volume competitive terms. Ten ranking pages at 200 searches each beats one page stuck on page three for a 10,000-search keyword.
</Tip>

## A Research Workflow for New Sites

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start with seed keywords">
    List 5-10 broad terms that describe what you do. These are your starting points, not your targets.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Expand with Keywords Explorer">
    Run each seed through the tool. Collect the related suggestions into a single working list (export to CSV as you go).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter by difficulty">
    New sites with little authority should target **KD under 40**. Established sites can push toward 60. Anything higher requires serious link-building and patience.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Filter by volume">
    Set a floor — typically **100+ monthly searches**. Lower is fine for hyper-specific commercial terms, but don't spend a 2,000-word article on a keyword nobody searches.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Group by topic clusters">
    Bundle related keywords into clusters of one **pillar** (broad, high-volume) plus 5-10 **supporting** (specific, long-tail). Each cluster becomes a content hub.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Export your plan">
    Download the final list as CSV. Use it to brief writers, plan your editorial calendar, and populate [Rank Tracker](/how-tos/track-rankings) once pages go live.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Prerequisites

For best results, have [Google Search Console connected](/how-tos/connect-gsc) first. GSC data layered onto keyword research shows where you're already getting impressions — often the fastest route to first rankings is improving pages you almost rank for.

## Verify It Worked

Export a keyword list of 20-30 candidates. Spot-check three keywords by Googling them (incognito, correct country). The SERP should match the intent classification the tool assigned, and the competing pages should look beatable for the difficulty score given.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="No data for a keyword">
    The term may be too obscure or misspelled. Try broader variations — if `quantum beekeeping supplies` returns nothing, try `beekeeping supplies` and filter from there.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Keyword difficulty seems wrong">
    KD is an estimate based on backlink profiles of top-ranking pages. Always sanity-check by actually viewing the SERP. If top results are thin content from low-authority sites, the keyword is easier than the score suggests.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Search volume looks off">
    Volumes vary dramatically by country and locale. Double-check your country and language filters. Also note: seasonal keywords (e.g., `halloween costumes`) show annualized averages that understate peak-season volume.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Keyword blocked by big competitors">
    Check the SERP features. If every top-10 position is Amazon, Wikipedia, or a major brand with a featured snippet, you're unlikely to crack it regardless of KD score. Move on to long-tail variations you can actually rank for.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Data feels stale">
    Our keyword index refreshes on a regular cycle. For very new trends (less than 30 days old), check Google Trends alongside the tool data.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## What's Next?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Track Rankings" icon="chart-line" href="/how-tos/track-rankings">
    Monitor your positions for the keywords you just picked
  </Card>

  <Card title="Content Pillars" icon="sitemap" href="/how-tos/content-pillars">
    Turn your keyword clusters into a content strategy
  </Card>
</CardGroup>