Blog Post

You’ve done the research.
You have a list of keywords longer than a Monday to-do list. Now what?

If your next move is “start writing from the top,” you’re doing it wrong.

Keyword research is step one. But keyword prioritization? That’s where the strategy lives.

In this post, I’ll walk you through how I prioritize keywords for SEO and content creation—so you’re not just choosing keywords, but choosing the right ones.

• Why prioritizing keywords beats chasing volume
  
• My go-to criteria for evaluating keyword opportunities
  
• How I align keywords with funnel stage and business goals
  
• The tools I use to streamline prioritization
  
• What to avoid when choosing which keywords to go after first
  

A keyword list without a plan is just digital clutter.

You don’t have unlimited resources. So the real question becomes:
Which keywords are worth your time, budget, and effort?

Prioritizing helps you:

• Focus on what can actually drive results
  
• Avoid wasting time on unrankable or low-value terms
  
• Map keywords to content types and funnel stages more effectively
  

This is how I go from data dump to content roadmap.

Here’s the exact framework I use—whether I’m working with 50 keywords or 5,000.

First things first: if a keyword doesn’t relate to what you offer or solve, it’s not a priority.

Ask:

• Does this keyword align with my product/service?
  
• Would someone searching this potentially become a customer?
  

If the answer is no, I file it away or drop it completely.

Next, I look at why someone is searching that keyword.

• Informational = awareness/education
  
• Commercial = evaluation/comparison
  
• Transactional = ready to buy/act
  

Each keyword must align with a funnel stage. This affects content format, CTA, and where it fits in your strategy.

Learn more about mapping by intent:
Content Mapping by Funnel Stage

Some keywords are worth the climb. Others aren’t.

I check:

• Difficulty scores in Ahrefs or SEMrush
  
• Domain/page authority of ranking sites
  
• SERP features that might block visibility (like ads, videos, or snippets)
  

If you’re a new or growing site, go for low to mid-competition terms first.
You can build authority and go after harder targets later.

Yes, search volume still matters. But I don’t chase it blindly.

Here’s how I treat it:

• 100–2,000 monthly searches? Often the sweet spot
  
• Under 100? Still valid if the intent is high and content can rank
  
• Over 5,000? Proceed with caution—usually more competitive
  

And remember: a cluster of 10 low-volume, high-converting keywords beats one high-volume dud.

See how I organize these in clusters here:
Keyword Clustering Strategy

I always check if I already rank (even poorly) for a keyword.

Using Google Search Console, I:

• Spot keywords where I’m on page 2–3
  
• Refresh or optimize existing content to improve position
  
• Prioritize “almost-there” terms over starting from scratch
  

This is the low-hanging fruit most teams ignore.
Here’s how I do it:
How to Identify Keyword Gaps

Not every keyword will bring traffic that converts.

So I ask:

• Is the person behind this query likely to need what I offer?
  
• Can I tie this keyword to a product, service, or offer?
  
• What would the logical next step be after they land?
  

High conversion potential > high search volume. Always.

Some keywords make great landing pages. Others belong in blog posts. Some require visuals or case studies.

I tag each keyword by:

• Content format (guide, comparison, tool page, video, etc.)
  
• Funnel stage
  
• CTA type
  

This way, I know what to create and why—before anyone starts writing.

Need to see how I map this visually? Start here:
Content Mapping Basics

• Google Search Console – for current performance and opportunities
  
• Ahrefs / SEMrush – for search volume, difficulty, and SERP analysis
  
• Google Keyword Planner – for idea validation
  
• Conductor Explorer – for keyword-to-page alignment and tracking
  
• Sheets or Airtable – for filtering, tagging, and tracking keyword progress
  

I don’t overcomplicate it. One sheet. Seven columns. Strategic decisions.

Let’s clear this up:

* Chasing volume only – Traffic ≠ leads
* Targeting head terms too early – You’ll burn time and budget
*  Ignoring the SERP – If 8 of 10 results are YouTube videos, maybe you need a video too
* Trying to “rank for everything” – You can’t. So don’t try.

Keyword prioritization is about making smart trade-offs.

Good SEO isn’t about how many keywords you target.
It’s about how well you prioritize the ones that matter.

With the right prioritization strategy, you:

• Reduce wasted content efforts
  
• Create better-aligned pages
  
• Generate faster wins
  
• Build toward long-term authority
  

So don’t let your keyword list gather dust. Sort it. Score it. Use it to build something that earns traffic and delivers value.

Want to learn how I turn these priorities into a real content roadmap?
How to Build a Content Strategy Around Keyword ResearchAnd if you’re ready to go from rankings to revenue:
From Keywords to Conversions