Free Keyword Research Template — Organize Your Keyword Strategy
Keyword research spreadsheet template with intent classification, volume data, and priority scoring. Downloadable CSV included.
Keyword lists in Ahrefs exports die in Downloads folders. This spreadsheet structure is what we use before anything hits a content brief — one row per target keyword, with intent, parent topic, and a priority score you can defend in a stakeholder meeting.
Download the spreadsheet: keyword-research.csv — ten sample rows included. Delete samples and paste your export, or build from scratch.
Column Reference
| Column | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Keyword | Exact query you want to rank for. No comma-stuffed variants in one cell. |
| Search Volume | Monthly average from your tool. Record tool name and pull date in Notes. |
| Keyword Difficulty | Competition score (0–100). Use one tool consistently — do not mix Ahrefs KD with Semrush PKD. |
| CPC | Proxy for commercial value. High CPC + informational intent often means mixed SERP — check manually. |
| Search Intent | Informational, Commercial, Transactional, Navigational. Override the tool if SERP tells a different story. |
| Parent Topic | Cluster hub this keyword belongs to. Drives internal linking and content brief scope. |
| Priority Score | Your weighted score (see formula below). Sort descending to build the queue. |
| SERP Features | Featured snippet, PAA, video, local pack, AI overview — affects click opportunity. |
| Current Ranking | Position today, or "Not ranking" / strikethrough if new target. |
| Target URL | Existing page to optimize, or planned URL for new content. |
| Status | Target, Ranking, Monitoring, Deprioritized. |
| Notes | SERP observations, cannibalization flags, brief links, refresh dates. |
Priority Score Formula
We use a simple 0–100 score: normalize volume (0–40 pts) + inverse difficulty (0–30 pts) + business relevance (0–30 pts, manual). Example: volume 1900 in a niche where max volume is 8000 → ~9.5 pts; KD 44 → ~17 pts; high business fit → 28 pts → Priority Score ≈ 55. Adjust weights to match your site — transactional sites weight CPC and relevance higher.
Sample Rows
| Keyword | Volume | KD | CPC | Intent | Parent Topic | Priority | SERP Features | Ranking | Target URL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| technical seo audit | 1900 | 44 | $12.50 | Informational | Technical SEO | 82 | FS, PAA | 18 | /guides/technical-seo | Target |
| keyword research template | 720 | 28 | $4.80 | Transactional | Keyword Research | 88 | None | Not ranking | /templates/keyword-research-template | Target |
| ahrefs vs semrush | 8100 | 58 | $15.30 | Commercial | SEO Tools | 68 | PAA | Not ranking | /compare/ahrefs-vs-semrush | Target |
| what is domain rating | 4400 | 38 | $3.10 | Informational | Link Building | 70 | PAA, KP | 7 | /glossary/domain-rating | Ranking |
| link building email template | 1100 | 32 | $7.90 | Transactional | Link Building | 85 | None | Not ranking | /templates/link-building-outreach-email | Target |
Full methodology in our keyword research guide. Validate intent by searching each keyword in an incognito window — tools misclassify mixed SERPs constantly.
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