Managing Keywords
Keyword Management is a powerful tool that helps you organize, track, and optimize the search terms most important to your business.
Why Keyword Management Matters
Keywords are the foundation of effective SEO. When properly organized and managed, your keyword strategy can:
- Drive targeted traffic to your website from search engines
- Improve content relevance by aligning with user search intent
- Organize your SEO efforts around specific domains and categories
- Track performance of important search terms over time
- Identify opportunities for content development and optimization
Getting Started with Keyword Management
Step 1: Access the Tool
- Log in to your dashboard
- Navigate to "Manage Keywords" in the configuration menu
Step 2: Understanding the Interface
The Keyword Management tool has three main sections:
1. Add Keywords Section
This is where you'll add new keywords to your account and organize them by domain and category.
2. Filter Section
Use these options to find specific keywords in your database based on domain, category, or search term.
3. Keyword Table
This displays your keywords with important information including:
- Keyword text
- Associated categories
- Domain
- Search volume
- Keyword difficulty
- Management options
Adding Keywords
Step 1: Select a Domain
- From the "Add Keywords" section, click the "Select Domain" dropdown
- Choose the website domain you want to add keywords for
- If you don't see your domain, you may need to set up a domain first
Step 2: Select a Category
- After selecting a domain, the "Select Category" dropdown will load with available categories
- Choose the appropriate category for your keywords
- Categories help organize keywords by topic, product type, or service area
Step 3: Enter Keywords
- In the keyword input field, type or paste your keywords
- You can enter multiple keywords by:
- Separating them with commas (keyword1, keyword2, keyword3)
- Placing each keyword on a new line
- Keep keywords clear and specific (e.g., "organic coffee beans" rather than just "coffee")
Step 4: Add the Keywords
- Click the "Add Keywords" button
- The system will process your keywords and add them to your account
- You'll see a success message when the keywords have been added
- Your new keywords will appear in the keyword table below
Tips for Adding Keywords
- Add related keywords in batches to save time
- Be specific with your keywords to target the right audience
- Use natural language as people would actually search
- Include variations like singular/plural forms where relevant
- Consider search intent (informational, navigational, transactional)
Managing Your Keywords
Filtering Keywords
To quickly find specific keywords in your database:
By Search Term
- Type any text in the search box at the top of the filter section
- Results will show keywords containing that text, or matching domains/categories
By Domain
- Use the "Domain" dropdown in the filter section
- Select a specific domain to view only keywords for that website
By Category
- Use the "Category" dropdown in the filter section
- Select a specific category to view only keywords in that group
Sorting Your Keywords
You can sort the keyword table by clicking on any column header:
- Keyword - Alphabetical order
- Category - Alphabetical by category name
- Domain - Alphabetical by domain name
- Volume - Numerical by search volume (low to high or high to low)
- Difficulty - Numerical by keyword difficulty score (low to high or high to low)
Click a column header once to sort ascending, and again to sort descending.
Removing Keywords
If you no longer want to track a keyword:
- Find the keyword in your table
- Click the trash icon in the far-right column
- Confirm the deletion when prompted
- The keyword and its data will be permanently removed from your account
Navigating Large Keyword Lists
If you have many keywords, the table uses pagination to keep performance fast:
- At the bottom of the table, you'll see page numbers
- Click any page number to jump to that page
- Use the "Previous" and "Next" buttons to move between pages
- Each page displays 20 keywords by default
Understanding Keyword Metrics
Keyword Volume
This number represents the average monthly searches for this keyword:
- High volume (1,000+): Many people search for this term
- Medium volume (100-1,000): Moderate search interest
- Low volume (1-100): Limited search interest
Higher volume generally means more potential traffic, but also more competition.
Keyword Difficulty
This score (0-100) indicates how hard it may be to rank for this keyword:
- Easy (0-30): Lower competition, easier to rank
- Moderate (31-60): Average competition, moderate effort to rank
- Hard (61-80): High competition, significant effort to rank
- Very Hard (81-100): Extremely competitive, very difficult to rank
Focus on a mix of difficulty levels – some easier terms for quick wins and some more competitive terms for long-term value.
Best Practices for Keyword Management
Organizing Keywords
- Group by intent: Keep keywords with similar user intentions in the same category
- Be specific with categories: Rather than "Products," use specific categories like "Coffee Makers" or "Espresso Machines"
- Review regularly: Update your keyword organization as your business evolves
Maintaining Your Keyword Database
- Audit quarterly: Review your keyword list every 3-4 months
- Remove irrelevant keywords: Delete keywords that no longer align with your business
- Add seasonal terms: Incorporate seasonal keywords when relevant
- Update categories: Reorganize keywords as your category structure changes
Strategic Keyword Planning
- Start with core terms: Focus on keywords directly related to your products/services
- Expand to related terms: Add terms your audience might use when researching
- Include long-tail variations: Add more specific, longer phrases (often less competitive)
- Balance difficulty levels: Include both easier and more challenging keywords
Frequently Asked Questions
How many keywords should I track?
Quality matters more than quantity. Start with highly relevant keywords per domain and expand as needed. Focus on terms that align closely with your business goals.
Can I import keywords in bulk?
The current version requires adding keywords through the interface, but you can add multiple keywords at once by separating them with commas or line breaks.
What if my keyword shows 0 volume?
Zero volume may indicate:
- Very low search interest (fewer than 10 searches per month)
- A very new term not yet tracked in databases
- A misspelling or unusual phrasing
Consider keeping these keywords if they're highly relevant to your business, as they might still drive some traffic.
How do I decide which keywords to focus on first?
Consider these factors:
- Relevance to your business
- Balance of search volume and difficulty
- Conversion potential (will searchers become customers?)
- Current rankings (prioritize terms where you're already on page 2 or 3)
Glossary of Terms
- Domain: The website where you want to rank for specific keywords
- Category: A grouping of related keywords for organizational purposes
- Keyword: A word or phrase that users type into search engines
- Search Volume: The average number of monthly searches for a specific keyword
- Keyword Difficulty: A score indicating how challenging it is to rank for a keyword
- Long-tail Keywords: Longer, more specific phrases with lower search volume but often higher conversion potential
- Search Intent: The purpose behind a user's search (informational, navigational, transactional, or commercial investigation)
Conclusion
Effective keyword management is a cornerstone of successful SEO. By organizing your keywords logically, monitoring important metrics, and regularly maintaining your keyword database, you'll build a strong foundation for improving your search visibility over time.
Remember that keyword management is an ongoing process. Search trends evolve, your business grows, and search engines update their algorithms. Stay engaged with your keyword strategy, make adjustments as needed, and use the insights you gain to guide your overall content and SEO approach.