Keyword Research Spreadsheet Template
This keyword research spreadsheet gives you one place to record every keyword you are considering, what the searcher wants, which page should rank for it and how important it is. It suits beginners doing their first keyword list as well as freelancers planning a client site. Download the CSV, open it in Excel or Google Sheets, delete the example rows and fill in your own keywords using data from your SEO tool and Google Search Console.
How to use this spreadsheet
- Download and open the sheet. Download the CSV and open it in Excel or Google Sheets. Delete the example rows but keep the header row.
- Collect keywords. Add seed keywords, ideas from your keyword tool and queries from the Search Console Performance report.
- Add intent and tool data. Check each results page to label intent, then copy volume and difficulty from the same tool for every row.
- Map keywords to pages. Group similar keywords into clusters and give each cluster one target URL, existing or planned.
- Set priorities and act. Mark High, Medium or Low priority, then work through the High rows first.
Columns in this spreadsheet
| Column | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Keyword | The exact search phrase, in lower case, one per row. |
| Search intent | Informational, navigational, commercial or transactional. Check the live results page to confirm. |
| Monthly volume (from tool) | Estimated monthly searches from your keyword tool. Treat it as a rough range, not an exact count. |
| Keyword difficulty (from tool) | Your tool's difficulty score. Scores differ between tools, so only compare scores from the same tool. |
| Current rank | Your current position, from Search Console or a rank tracker. Leave blank or write "Not ranking". |
| Target URL | The one page that should rank for this keyword, existing or planned. |
| Cluster/topic | The group this keyword belongs to. Keywords with the same intent and similar results usually share one page. |
| Priority | High, Medium or Low, based on business value, intent and how realistic ranking is. |
| Notes | Anything useful: SERP features, competitor pages, content ideas or reasons for the priority. |
Example rows
Illustrative entries showing how to fill the sheet in. Replace them with your own data.
| Keyword | Search intent | Monthly volume (from tool) | Keyword difficulty (from tool) | Current rank | Target URL | Cluster/topic | Priority | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| home baking classes | Commercial | Example: 1,000–10,000 (from your tool) | Example: medium (tool score) | Not ranking | https://example.com/baking-classes/ | Baking classes | High | Example row. Main service page; results show a map pack, so also work on the Google Business Profile. |
| baking classes near me | Commercial / local | Example: 1,000–10,000 (from your tool) | Example: medium (tool score) | Not ranking | https://example.com/baking-classes/ | Baking classes | High | Example row. Same intent as the row above, so it targets the same page. |
| eggless cake baking course online | Transactional | Example: 100–1,000 (from your tool) | Example: low (tool score) | Example: 18 | https://example.com/courses/eggless-cakes/ | Online courses | High | Example row. Close to page one; improve the course page content and internal links. |
| how to make bread at home | Informational | Example: 1,000–10,000 (from your tool) | Example: high (tool score) | Not ranking | https://example.com/blog/bread-at-home/ | Bread basics | Medium | Example row. Planned blog guide; link to the bread workshop page. |
| why is my cake dense | Informational | Example: 100–1,000 (from your tool) | Example: low (tool score) | Not ranking | https://example.com/blog/cake-problems/ | Cake troubleshooting | Low | Example row. Cover as a section of a wider cake problems guide rather than a separate page. |
Filling it in
- Start with seed topics from your products, services and customer questions List what you sell and what people ask before buying, then expand each seed in your keyword tool.
- Add queries you already get impressions for The Search Console Performance report shows real queries for your site, including ones you never targeted.
- Check intent on the live results page Search the keyword and look at what ranks. If the top results are guides, a sales page will struggle, and the reverse is also true.
- Copy volume and difficulty from one tool only Different tools estimate differently. Mixing sources makes the numbers impossible to compare.
- Give each keyword exactly one target URL Two of your pages aiming at the same intent can compete with each other. Decide which page owns it.
Grouping and prioritising
- Group keywords whose results pages overlap If the same pages rank for two keywords, one page can usually target both. Put them in the same cluster.
- Rate priority on value first, volume second A low-volume keyword with buying intent can be worth more than a popular informational one.
- Flag quick wins Keywords where you already rank around positions 8–20 often improve fastest with better content and internal links.
- Review the sheet every few months Update ranks, add new queries from Search Console and retire keywords that no longer fit the business.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid tool to use this spreadsheet?
No. Google Search Console is free and shows real queries, clicks and positions for your site. Free or trial versions of keyword tools can supply volume and difficulty estimates.
How accurate is search volume?
Volumes are estimates, and tools often disagree. Use them to compare keywords against each other rather than as exact traffic forecasts.
Should every keyword get its own page?
No. Keywords with the same intent and similar results are usually best served by one page. Create separate pages only when the intent is clearly different.
What is a good keyword difficulty score?
There is no universal good score because each tool calculates it differently. Compare difficulty with your own site's strength and with the pages that currently rank.
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