{"slug":"dataforseo-keywords","title":"DataForSEO Keywords API — Volume, CPC, and Competition Data","tags":["seo","keywords","dataforseo","api","keyword-research"],"agent_summary":"Uses DataForSEO's Keywords Data endpoints to pull real search volume, CPC, competition scores, historical trends, and keyword suggestions. Batch to 1000 per request at $0.075/task.","trigger_phrases":["DataForSEO keywords","search volume API","keyword volume data","keyword data API","CPC data","keyword competition score","batch keyword research","DataForSEO keyword data"],"runnable":true,"markdown":"\n## DataForSEO Keywords API Overview\n\nDataForSEO provides keyword data from Google Ads keyword planner data via API. Unlike scraping, this gives reliable, consistent volume data at scale.\n\n**Cost:** $0.075 per task. Batch to 1,000 keywords per request to minimize cost.\n**API group:** Keywords Data\n**Primary endpoints:** Google Keyword Overview, Keyword Suggestions, Keywords for Site, Keyword Ideas\n\n## Primary Endpoints\n\n### Keyword Overview (Volume + CPC + Competition)\n\nPOST to `https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/search_volume/live`\n\nReturns for each keyword:\n- `search_volume` — monthly average (12-month average)\n- `competition` — 0-1 score (AdWords competition, useful as SEO proxy)\n- `cpc` — cost per click (indicates commercial intent)\n- `search_volume_trend` — monthly volume by month for last 12 months\n- `categories` — Google's category classification for the keyword\n\nBatch format: up to 1,000 keywords in a single request body.\n\n```json\n[\n  {\n    \"keywords\": [\"roof replacement tampa\", \"roof repair sarasota\", \"new roof cost florida\"],\n    \"location_name\": \"United States\",\n    \"language_name\": \"English\"\n  }\n]\n```\n\n### Keyword Suggestions\n\nPOST to `https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/keywords_for_keywords/live`\n\nInput: 1-10 seed keywords. Returns up to 100 related keyword suggestions per seed with volume and competition.\n\nUse for: expanding a seed keyword list from an existing core set.\n\n### Keywords for Site\n\nPOST to `https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/keywords_for_site/live`\n\nInput: a domain or URL. Returns keywords Google Ads considers relevant to that site. Use for:\n- Competitor keyword discovery\n- Identifying what your site is already associated with\n- Expanding keyword universe from existing content\n\n### Keyword Ideas\n\nPOST to `https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/ad_traffic_by_keywords/live`\n\nReturns estimated clicks, impressions, and CTR projections at different bid levels. Use for: prioritizing keywords by traffic potential vs. competition cost.\n\n## Location and Language Targeting\n\nSpecify location for geo-specific volume:\n```json\n\"location_code\": 1023191  // Sarasota, FL\n\"location_name\": \"Sarasota,Florida,United States\"\n```\n\nFull location code list at: `https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/locations`\n\n## Interpreting Competition Score\n\nDataForSEO's `competition` field (0-1) reflects AdWords competition, not organic SEO competition. It correlates with commercial intent:\n\n| Competition Score | Interpretation |\n|-----------------|----------------|\n| 0-0.30 | Low commercial intent; mostly informational |\n| 0.30-0.70 | Mixed intent; some commercial |\n| 0.70-1.00 | High commercial intent; strong buyer traffic |\n\nFor SEO keyword targeting, combine: high volume + high competition score (strong buyer signal) + weak SERP (from SERP analysis).\n\n## Workflow Integration\n\nStandard keyword research workflow using DataForSEO:\n\n1. Generate seed keywords from `keyword-researcher` Quick mode\n2. Batch seed list (up to 1,000) to DataForSEO Keywords Overview endpoint\n3. Filter results: volume > 100/month, competition > 0.30 for buyer-intent targets\n4. Sort by: high volume first, then high competition\n5. SERP-check top 20 results via `dataforseo-serp` endpoint\n6. Identify gaps: high volume + high competition + weak SERP competition\n7. Map gaps to content briefs via `koray-content-brief`\n\n## API Key Setup\n\nAPI key stored at `D:/Ecosystem/secrets/MASTER_API_KEYS.env`. Authentication: HTTP Basic Auth with login + password (not API key header).\n\n```\nAuthorization: Basic base64(login:password)\n```\n\n## Cross-References\n\n- `keyword-researcher` — keyword strategy framework that consumes DataForSEO data\n- `dataforseo-serp` — SERP data to complement keyword volume data\n- `dataforseo-content-analysis` — on-page analysis via DataForSEO\n- `rapidapi-tools` — alternative autocomplete and PAA data for free-tier research\n\n#seo-sop #seo #keywords #dataforseo #api #keyword-research\n","html":"<h2>DataForSEO Keywords API Overview</h2>\n<p>DataForSEO provides keyword data from Google Ads keyword planner data via API. Unlike scraping, this gives reliable, consistent volume data at scale.</p>\n<p><strong>Cost:</strong> $0.075 per task. Batch to 1,000 keywords per request to minimize cost.\n<strong>API group:</strong> Keywords Data\n<strong>Primary endpoints:</strong> Google Keyword Overview, Keyword Suggestions, Keywords for Site, Keyword Ideas</p>\n<h2>Primary Endpoints</h2>\n<h3>Keyword Overview (Volume + CPC + Competition)</h3>\n<p>POST to <code>https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/search_volume/live</code></p>\n<p>Returns for each keyword:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><code>search_volume</code> — monthly average (12-month average)</li>\n<li><code>competition</code> — 0-1 score (AdWords competition, useful as SEO proxy)</li>\n<li><code>cpc</code> — cost per click (indicates commercial intent)</li>\n<li><code>search_volume_trend</code> — monthly volume by month for last 12 months</li>\n<li><code>categories</code> — Google's category classification for the keyword</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Batch format: up to 1,000 keywords in a single request body.</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-json\">[\n  {\n    \"keywords\": [\"roof replacement tampa\", \"roof repair sarasota\", \"new roof cost florida\"],\n    \"location_name\": \"United States\",\n    \"language_name\": \"English\"\n  }\n]\n</code></pre>\n<h3>Keyword Suggestions</h3>\n<p>POST to <code>https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/keywords_for_keywords/live</code></p>\n<p>Input: 1-10 seed keywords. Returns up to 100 related keyword suggestions per seed with volume and competition.</p>\n<p>Use for: expanding a seed keyword list from an existing core set.</p>\n<h3>Keywords for Site</h3>\n<p>POST to <code>https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/keywords_for_site/live</code></p>\n<p>Input: a domain or URL. Returns keywords Google Ads considers relevant to that site. Use for:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Competitor keyword discovery</li>\n<li>Identifying what your site is already associated with</li>\n<li>Expanding keyword universe from existing content</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Keyword Ideas</h3>\n<p>POST to <code>https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/ad_traffic_by_keywords/live</code></p>\n<p>Returns estimated clicks, impressions, and CTR projections at different bid levels. Use for: prioritizing keywords by traffic potential vs. competition cost.</p>\n<h2>Location and Language Targeting</h2>\n<p>Specify location for geo-specific volume:</p>\n<pre><code class=\"language-json\">\"location_code\": 1023191  // Sarasota, FL\n\"location_name\": \"Sarasota,Florida,United States\"\n</code></pre>\n<p>Full location code list at: <code>https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/locations</code></p>\n<h2>Interpreting Competition Score</h2>\n<p>DataForSEO's <code>competition</code> field (0-1) reflects AdWords competition, not organic SEO competition. It correlates with commercial intent:</p>\n<p>| Competition Score | Interpretation |\n|-----------------|----------------|\n| 0-0.30 | Low commercial intent; mostly informational |\n| 0.30-0.70 | Mixed intent; some commercial |\n| 0.70-1.00 | High commercial intent; strong buyer traffic |</p>\n<p>For SEO keyword targeting, combine: high volume + high competition score (strong buyer signal) + weak SERP (from SERP analysis).</p>\n<h2>Workflow Integration</h2>\n<p>Standard keyword research workflow using DataForSEO:</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Generate seed keywords from <code>keyword-researcher</code> Quick mode</li>\n<li>Batch seed list (up to 1,000) to DataForSEO Keywords Overview endpoint</li>\n<li>Filter results: volume > 100/month, competition > 0.30 for buyer-intent targets</li>\n<li>Sort by: high volume first, then high competition</li>\n<li>SERP-check top 20 results via <code>dataforseo-serp</code> endpoint</li>\n<li>Identify gaps: high volume + high competition + weak SERP competition</li>\n<li>Map gaps to content briefs via <code>koray-content-brief</code></li>\n</ol>\n<h2>API Key Setup</h2>\n<p>API key stored at <code>D:/Ecosystem/secrets/MASTER_API_KEYS.env</code>. Authentication: HTTP Basic Auth with login + password (not API key header).</p>\n<pre><code>Authorization: Basic base64(login:password)\n</code></pre>\n<h2>Cross-References</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><code>keyword-researcher</code> — keyword strategy framework that consumes DataForSEO data</li>\n<li><code>dataforseo-serp</code> — SERP data to complement keyword volume data</li>\n<li><code>dataforseo-content-analysis</code> — on-page analysis via DataForSEO</li>\n<li><code>rapidapi-tools</code> — alternative autocomplete and PAA data for free-tier research</li>\n</ul>\n<p>#seo-sop #seo #keywords #dataforseo #api #keyword-research</p>\n"}