DataForSEO Keywords API — Volume, CPC, and Competition Data

DataForSEO Keywords API Overview

DataForSEO provides keyword data from Google Ads keyword planner data via API. Unlike scraping, this gives reliable, consistent volume data at scale.

Cost: $0.075 per task. Batch to 1,000 keywords per request to minimize cost. API group: Keywords Data Primary endpoints: Google Keyword Overview, Keyword Suggestions, Keywords for Site, Keyword Ideas

Primary Endpoints

Keyword Overview (Volume + CPC + Competition)

POST to https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/search_volume/live

Returns for each keyword:

• search_volume — monthly average (12-month average)
• competition — 0-1 score (AdWords competition, useful as SEO proxy)
• cpc — cost per click (indicates commercial intent)
• search_volume_trend — monthly volume by month for last 12 months
• categories — Google's category classification for the keyword

Batch format: up to 1,000 keywords in a single request body.

[
  {
    "keywords": ["roof replacement tampa", "roof repair sarasota", "new roof cost florida"],
    "location_name": "United States",
    "language_name": "English"
  }
]

Keyword Suggestions

POST to https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/keywords_for_keywords/live

Input: 1-10 seed keywords. Returns up to 100 related keyword suggestions per seed with volume and competition.

Use for: expanding a seed keyword list from an existing core set.

Keywords for Site

POST to https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/keywords_for_site/live

Input: a domain or URL. Returns keywords Google Ads considers relevant to that site. Use for:

• Competitor keyword discovery
• Identifying what your site is already associated with
• Expanding keyword universe from existing content

Keyword Ideas

POST to https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/ad_traffic_by_keywords/live

Returns estimated clicks, impressions, and CTR projections at different bid levels. Use for: prioritizing keywords by traffic potential vs. competition cost.

Location and Language Targeting

Specify location for geo-specific volume:

"location_code": 1023191  // Sarasota, FL
"location_name": "Sarasota,Florida,United States"

Full location code list at: https://api.dataforseo.com/v3/keywords_data/google_ads/locations

Interpreting Competition Score

DataForSEO's competition field (0-1) reflects AdWords competition, not organic SEO competition. It correlates with commercial intent:

| Competition Score | Interpretation | |-----------------|----------------| | 0-0.30 | Low commercial intent; mostly informational | | 0.30-0.70 | Mixed intent; some commercial | | 0.70-1.00 | High commercial intent; strong buyer traffic |

For SEO keyword targeting, combine: high volume + high competition score (strong buyer signal) + weak SERP (from SERP analysis).

Workflow Integration

Standard keyword research workflow using DataForSEO:

1. Generate seed keywords from keyword-researcher Quick mode
2. Batch seed list (up to 1,000) to DataForSEO Keywords Overview endpoint
3. Filter results: volume > 100/month, competition > 0.30 for buyer-intent targets
4. Sort by: high volume first, then high competition
5. SERP-check top 20 results via dataforseo-serp endpoint
6. Identify gaps: high volume + high competition + weak SERP competition
7. Map gaps to content briefs via koray-content-brief

API Key Setup

API key stored at D:/Ecosystem/secrets/MASTER_API_KEYS.env. Authentication: HTTP Basic Auth with login + password (not API key header).

Authorization: Basic base64(login:password)

Cross-References

• keyword-researcher — keyword strategy framework that consumes DataForSEO data
• dataforseo-serp — SERP data to complement keyword volume data
• dataforseo-content-analysis — on-page analysis via DataForSEO
• rapidapi-tools — alternative autocomplete and PAA data for free-tier research

#seo-sop #seo #keywords #dataforseo #api #keyword-research