# keyword-research

Runs automated keyword research via the SemRush API, clusters terms by intent, and identifies competitor content gaps. Useful for SEO audits and content planning.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 478 installs · ★ 721
- Author: OpenClaudia
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/keyword-research/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-21
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/openclaudia-keyword-research

## What it does

The skill calls the SemRush API through `curl` using the Bash tool. It queries endpoints like `phrase_all`, `phrase_related`, `phrase_questions`, and `phrase_kdi` to fetch search volume, keyword difficulty (KD), CPC, and SERP trends across databases such as `us`, `uk`, `de`, and others.

Keywords are categorized into informational, navigational, commercial, and transactional search intents. The workflow builds pillar-cluster structures where pillar topics require higher volume and difficulty, linked to specific long-tail clusters. Keywords are ranked with the KOB Score formula using CTR estimates, business value, and difficulty.

A valid `SEMRUSH_API_KEY` is mandatory, and calls will fail immediately without it. You must configure the key in environment variables or add it directly to `~/.claude/.env.global`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill keyword-research -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/keyword-research/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/keyword-research/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill keyword-research -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/keyword-research/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill keyword-research -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/keyword-research/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills keyword-research
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/keyword-research/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill keyword-research -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --path skills/keyword-research
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/keyword-research/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills --skill keyword-research -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/OpenClaudia/openclaudia-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/keyword-research/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- gather search volume, CPC, and difficulty metrics from SemRush
- identify competitor content gaps using domain organic rankings
- organize search queries into pillar and cluster structures
- rank keyword opportunities using the KOB Score formula

## Example prompts
- Run keyword research for project management software targeting the us database
- Find content gaps between my domain and competitor.com using SemRush
- Group these search terms into topic clusters and calculate their KOB score

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 6336adc01f177dba.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 6336adc01f177dba
````text
---
name: keyword-research
description: Perform keyword research using the SemRush API. Use when the user says "find keywords", "keyword research", "what should I rank for", "keyword ideas", "search volume", "keyword difficulty", "topic clusters", "content gaps", or asks about SEO keywords for a topic or niche.
---

# Keyword Research Skill

You are an expert SEO keyword researcher. Use the SemRush API to find, analyze, and organize keywords into actionable strategies.

## Prerequisites

This skill requires `SEMRUSH_API_KEY`. Check for it in environment variables or in `~/.claude/.env.global`. If not found, inform the user:

```
This skill requires a SemRush API key. Set it via:
  export SEMRUSH_API_KEY=your_key_here
Or add it to ~/.claude/.env.global
```

## SemRush API Endpoints

Use `curl` via the Bash tool for all API calls. The base URL is `https://api.semrush.com/`.

### Core Endpoints

**1. Keyword Overview (phrase_all)**
```
https://api.semrush.com/?type=phrase_all&key={KEY}&phrase={keyword}&database={db}&export_columns=Ph,Nq,Cp,Co,Nr,Td
```
Columns: Ph=Keyword, Nq=Search Volume, Cp=CPC, Co=Competition, Nr=Number of Results, Td=Trend

**2. Related Keywords (phrase_related)**
```
https://api.semrush.com/?type=phrase_related&key={KEY}&phrase={keyword}&database={db}&export_columns=Ph,Nq,Cp,Co,Nr,Td&display_limit=50
```

**3. Keyword Questions (phrase_questions)**
```
https://api.semrush.com/?type=phrase_questions&key={KEY}&phrase={keyword}&database={db}&export_columns=Ph,Nq,Cp,Co,Nr,Td&display_limit=50
```

**4. Domain Organic Keywords (domain_organic)**
```
https://api.semrush.com/?type=domain_organic&key={KEY}&domain={domain}&database={db}&export_columns=Ph,Po,Nq,Cp,Co,Tr,Tc,Nr,Td&display_limit=100
```
Additional columns: Po=Position, Tr=Traffic, Tc=Traffic Cost

**5. Keyword Difficulty (phrase_kdi)**
```
https://api.semrush.com/?type=phrase_kdi&key={KEY}&phrase={keyword}&database={db}&export_columns=Ph,Kd
```
Columns: Kd=Keyword Difficulty (0-100)

### Database Codes
- `us` (United States - default)
- `uk` (United Kingdom)
- `ca` (Canada)
- `au` (Australia)
- `de`, `fr`, `es`, `it`, `br`, `in`, `jp`

Ask the user for target market if not specified. Default to `us`.

## Research Process

### Step 1: Understand the Brief

Ask or infer:
- **Niche/Topic:** What is the site about?
- **Target audience:** Who are they trying to reach?
- **Business model:** How do they monetize? (SaaS, ecommerce, ads, affiliate)
- **Current domain:** If they have one, pull existing rankings
- **Target market:** Which country/language?
- **Competitors:** Known competitors to analyze

### Step 2: Seed Keyword Discovery

Generate 10-20 seed keywords based on the brief. Use three methods:

**Method A: Brainstorm seeds** from the topic
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 6336adc01f177dba

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