How to Do Keyword Research in Ahrefs: A Compact SEO Workflow

Keyword research does not need to start with a giant spreadsheet or a complicated SEO model. A compact workflow is often enough: create a keyword list, choose a few strong seed keywords, check what the site already ranks for, study competitors, and then select keywords that are realistic for the site’s current authority.

This guide turns the Loom walkthrough into a practical process you can follow inside Ahrefs. The example in the video uses a credit-related website, but the same steps work for almost any niche.

1. Create a Keyword List in Ahrefs

Start in Ahrefs Keywords Explorer and create a new keyword list for the project. Give it a simple name based on the niche or website, such as “credit score” for a credit repair site.

The point of the list is to keep your research organized from the beginning. Instead of collecting random keywords across different reports, you can save promising ideas into one place and review them later when you are ready to prioritize.

2. Start With Seed Keywords

Seed keywords are broad terms that describe the industry, niche, product, or service. They are not necessarily the final keywords you will target. Their job is to help Ahrefs generate more keyword ideas.

If the site already exists, use the website itself as your first source. Look at the H1, H2s, service descriptions, navigation labels, and repeated phrases. In the Loom example, terms such as “credit score,” “credit repair,” and “credit analysis” were pulled from the site because they describe the broader topic.

A good starting range is three to seven seed keywords. That is usually enough to generate a useful set of ideas without making the research too broad.

3. Check Low-Hanging-Fruit Keywords

Before building a keyword plan from scratch, check whether the site already ranks for anything. In Ahrefs Site Explorer, enter the domain and open the organic keywords report.

Low-hanging-fruit keywords are keywords where the site already has some visibility but is not ranking high enough to get meaningful traffic. For example, a keyword ranking on page two or page three may be easier to improve than a completely new keyword where the site has no traction.

If a site only ranks on pages four, five, six, or lower, those keywords may still be useful context, but they are not always quick wins. The closer a keyword is to the top 10, the more realistic it usually is to improve with better content, internal links, and supporting backlinks.

4. Use Competitor Keywords for More Ideas

Competitor research is another strong source of keyword ideas. Enter a competing domain into Site Explorer, open the organic keywords report, and look for terms that are relevant to your business.

The goal is not to copy every competitor keyword. The goal is to understand what Google already rewards in the niche. If competitors are getting traffic from certain topics, service pages, comparisons, or guides, those areas may deserve a place in your content plan.

This step is especially useful when your own site has little ranking data. Competitors can show you the topics that already have search demand and the types of pages that are currently winning.

5. Generate Matching and Related Keyword Ideas

After adding seed keywords, use Ahrefs keyword idea reports such as matching terms and related terms. These reports expand your original topics into more specific search queries.

At this stage, keep the list broad enough to explore the niche, but do not save everything. Look for keywords that have a clear connection to the website, a realistic intent match, and enough search demand to justify content creation.

For a service business, pay close attention to intent. A keyword with lower volume but stronger commercial intent can be more valuable than a broad informational keyword with much higher volume.

6. Check Keyword Difficulty Against the Site’s Strength

Keyword difficulty should not be read in isolation. A keyword can look attractive because it has volume, but if every top-ranking page belongs to a much stronger domain, it may be unrealistic for a newer or weaker site.

A practical check is to look at the domains ranking in the top 10. If at least a few low-authority or comparable sites are already ranking, the keyword may be realistic. If the entire first page is dominated by very strong sites, you may need to build authority first or target a more specific variation.

This is where keyword research becomes strategic. You are not just choosing keywords with volume. You are choosing battles the site can actually win.

7. Choose the Best Keywords to Target

The best keyword is usually the one that balances relevance, traffic potential, intent, and ranking realism. In the Loom, the final selection process focuses on finding keywords that are both relevant to the site and possible to rank for based on the strength of the current SERP.

Use these questions before selecting a target keyword:

• Is the keyword directly relevant to the page or business?
• Does the search intent match what the page can satisfy?
• Is there enough search demand or business value?
• Are comparable domains ranking in the top 10?
• Can the page naturally link to a service, product, or conversion path?

8. Turn the Research Into a Content Plan

Once you have a shortlist, separate keywords by page type. Some keywords belong on service pages. Others are better suited for blog posts, comparison pages, guides, or supporting informational content.

For example, a homepage or service page should usually target a core commercial keyword. Informational keywords can become blog posts that explain the topic and internally link back to the main service page.

This structure helps the site build topical relevance while still supporting the pages that matter most for leads and revenue.

Final Takeaway

A compact keyword research workflow should answer one question: which keywords can this site realistically rank for and benefit from?

Start with seed keywords, check existing rankings, study competitors, expand the list with related ideas, and then filter by relevance, difficulty, and intent. That gives you a keyword plan that is practical instead of just large.

For more on choosing keywords that can generate actual business value, see high-intent SEO keywords. You may also find this guide on validating a product idea useful when connecting keyword research to demand validation.