{"slug":"keyword-researcher","title":"Keyword Researcher — Volume, Intent, and Content Planning","tags":["seo","keywords","content-planning","serp","research"],"agent_summary":"Five-mode keyword research skill covering volume estimation, intent classification, SERP competition, PAA clustering, and content calendar planning. Quick / Strategy / Cluster / Plan / SERP modes.","trigger_phrases":["keyword research","find keywords","what keywords should I target","keyword clustering","content plan from keywords","SERP analysis","keyword intent","keyword competition","long-tail keywords","buyer intent keywords"],"runnable":true,"markdown":"\n## When to Use Keyword Researcher vs. Other Skills\n\n| Skill | Use When |\n|-------|----------|\n| **keyword-researcher** (this) | Volume, intent, competition, SERP data, content mapping |\n| **psychographic-keyword-research** | Emotions, pain points, ICP language, psychological triggers |\n| **serp-intent-analyzer** | Deep SERP competitive intelligence for a single keyword |\n| **intent-analyzer** | Decoding hidden psychological intent behind queries |\n\nBest results: run keyword-researcher AND psychographic research, then merge outputs.\n\n## The 5 Modes\n\n### Mode 1: Quick\n\nFast keyword list. Input a seed keyword, get 20+ buyer-intent keywords sorted by estimated search volume.\n\nOutput: Lowercase keywords, one per line, grouped by tail length (broad, mid-tail, long-tail). Includes LSI terms and commercial/transactional variants.\n\nTrigger: \"quick keywords\", \"keyword list\", \"give me keywords for [topic]\"\n\n### Mode 2: Strategy\n\nComprehensive 800+ word keyword strategy report. Covers: competitive landscape, semantic clusters (6 tiers), intent classification matrix, content architecture template, featured snippet targets, technical SEO notes.\n\nTrigger: \"keyword strategy\", \"full keyword research\", \"keyword report\"\n\n### Mode 3: Cluster\n\nPAA and autocomplete-based clustering. 30-60 row table with: Cluster | Keywords | Intent | PAA Questions | Suggested Title | Meta Description.\n\nTrigger: \"cluster keywords\", \"PAA clustering\", \"topic clusters\"\n\n### Mode 4: Plan\n\nContent calendar from keyword clusters. Maps keyword clusters to titles + meta descriptions + intent + publishing priority. Ready for editorial scheduling.\n\nTrigger: \"content plan\", \"content calendar\", \"keyword to content\"\n\n### Mode 5: SERP\n\nSERP competition analysis for a URL or keyword. Extracts keyword density, LSI terms, entities, PAA questions from top results. Identifies content gaps.\n\nTrigger: \"SERP analysis\", \"analyze competition\", \"content gaps\"\n\n## Quality Rules (All Modes)\n\n1. **Buyer intent bias** — Prioritize commercial and transactional keywords over purely informational\n2. **Local signals** — When geo is provided, include geo-modified variants (city, \"near me\")\n3. **No fluff keywords** — Exclude \"introduction to\", \"what is\" unless informational intent is specifically requested\n4. **Lowercase output** — All keywords lowercase unless proper nouns\n5. **Core word retention** — Every keyword must retain at least one word from the seed keyword\n6. **De-duplicate** — No repeated keywords across output\n7. **E-E-A-T alignment** — Strategy and plan modes include E-E-A-T signal recommendations\n\n## Keyword Priority Framework\n\nWhen scoring which keywords to target first:\n\n| Score Factor | Weight |\n|-------------|--------|\n| Buyer intent (commercial/transactional) | 35% |\n| Search volume | 25% |\n| Competition (SERP quality gap) | 25% |\n| Topical authority alignment (already ranking adjacent terms?) | 15% |\n\nHigh-priority keyword = high buyer intent + moderate volume + weak SERP competition + topical alignment.\n\n## Chaining Keyword Research to Content\n\nKeyword research output feeds directly into:\n- `koray-topical-map` — keyword clusters become topical map nodes\n- `koray-content-brief` — target keyword + intent from research populates the brief\n- `merlino-magic-blog` — use keyword + title from any mode as blog input\n- `paa-content-engine` — cluster mode PAA questions drive content engine\n- `featured-snippet-optimizer` — SERP mode identifies snippet targets\n\n## Cross-References\n\n- `dataforseo-keywords` — live search volume and competition data via DataForSEO API\n- `kw-generator` — programmatic keyword generation for large-scale campaigns\n- `topic-cluster` — topic cluster architecture after keyword research is complete\n- `find-topics-to-write` — opportunity identification within existing topical maps\n\n#seo-sop #seo #keywords #content-planning #serp #research\n","html":"<h2>When to Use Keyword Researcher vs. Other Skills</h2>\n<p>| Skill | Use When |\n|-------|----------|\n| <strong>keyword-researcher</strong> (this) | Volume, intent, competition, SERP data, content mapping |\n| <strong>psychographic-keyword-research</strong> | Emotions, pain points, ICP language, psychological triggers |\n| <strong>serp-intent-analyzer</strong> | Deep SERP competitive intelligence for a single keyword |\n| <strong>intent-analyzer</strong> | Decoding hidden psychological intent behind queries |</p>\n<p>Best results: run keyword-researcher AND psychographic research, then merge outputs.</p>\n<h2>The 5 Modes</h2>\n<h3>Mode 1: Quick</h3>\n<p>Fast keyword list. Input a seed keyword, get 20+ buyer-intent keywords sorted by estimated search volume.</p>\n<p>Output: Lowercase keywords, one per line, grouped by tail length (broad, mid-tail, long-tail). Includes LSI terms and commercial/transactional variants.</p>\n<p>Trigger: \"quick keywords\", \"keyword list\", \"give me keywords for [topic]\"</p>\n<h3>Mode 2: Strategy</h3>\n<p>Comprehensive 800+ word keyword strategy report. Covers: competitive landscape, semantic clusters (6 tiers), intent classification matrix, content architecture template, featured snippet targets, technical SEO notes.</p>\n<p>Trigger: \"keyword strategy\", \"full keyword research\", \"keyword report\"</p>\n<h3>Mode 3: Cluster</h3>\n<p>PAA and autocomplete-based clustering. 30-60 row table with: Cluster | Keywords | Intent | PAA Questions | Suggested Title | Meta Description.</p>\n<p>Trigger: \"cluster keywords\", \"PAA clustering\", \"topic clusters\"</p>\n<h3>Mode 4: Plan</h3>\n<p>Content calendar from keyword clusters. Maps keyword clusters to titles + meta descriptions + intent + publishing priority. Ready for editorial scheduling.</p>\n<p>Trigger: \"content plan\", \"content calendar\", \"keyword to content\"</p>\n<h3>Mode 5: SERP</h3>\n<p>SERP competition analysis for a URL or keyword. Extracts keyword density, LSI terms, entities, PAA questions from top results. Identifies content gaps.</p>\n<p>Trigger: \"SERP analysis\", \"analyze competition\", \"content gaps\"</p>\n<h2>Quality Rules (All Modes)</h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Buyer intent bias</strong> — Prioritize commercial and transactional keywords over purely informational</li>\n<li><strong>Local signals</strong> — When geo is provided, include geo-modified variants (city, \"near me\")</li>\n<li><strong>No fluff keywords</strong> — Exclude \"introduction to\", \"what is\" unless informational intent is specifically requested</li>\n<li><strong>Lowercase output</strong> — All keywords lowercase unless proper nouns</li>\n<li><strong>Core word retention</strong> — Every keyword must retain at least one word from the seed keyword</li>\n<li><strong>De-duplicate</strong> — No repeated keywords across output</li>\n<li><strong>E-E-A-T alignment</strong> — Strategy and plan modes include E-E-A-T signal recommendations</li>\n</ol>\n<h2>Keyword Priority Framework</h2>\n<p>When scoring which keywords to target first:</p>\n<p>| Score Factor | Weight |\n|-------------|--------|\n| Buyer intent (commercial/transactional) | 35% |\n| Search volume | 25% |\n| Competition (SERP quality gap) | 25% |\n| Topical authority alignment (already ranking adjacent terms?) | 15% |</p>\n<p>High-priority keyword = high buyer intent + moderate volume + weak SERP competition + topical alignment.</p>\n<h2>Chaining Keyword Research to Content</h2>\n<p>Keyword research output feeds directly into:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><code>koray-topical-map</code> — keyword clusters become topical map nodes</li>\n<li><code>koray-content-brief</code> — target keyword + intent from research populates the brief</li>\n<li><code>merlino-magic-blog</code> — use keyword + title from any mode as blog input</li>\n<li><code>paa-content-engine</code> — cluster mode PAA questions drive content engine</li>\n<li><code>featured-snippet-optimizer</code> — SERP mode identifies snippet targets</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Cross-References</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><code>dataforseo-keywords</code> — live search volume and competition data via DataForSEO API</li>\n<li><code>kw-generator</code> — programmatic keyword generation for large-scale campaigns</li>\n<li><code>topic-cluster</code> — topic cluster architecture after keyword research is complete</li>\n<li><code>find-topics-to-write</code> — opportunity identification within existing topical maps</li>\n</ul>\n<p>#seo-sop #seo #keywords #content-planning #serp #research</p>\n"}