Featured In
Get Your Hands on this Free SEO Keyword Research Template
Quick Answer: Why this template matters
Over the years I’ve found a good SEO keyword research template in Excel is worth its weight in gold. With the right tool, you can take charge of your keyword list, get a handle on search volumes, keyword difficulty and all that jazz, map search intent, and lay out a content plan that actually drives organic traffic and converts your target audience. I’ve worked with massive B2B SaaS brands, local businesses, and content agencies. The teams that get the best results are the ones who have their keyword research process locked in with the right tools and templates. And I’m giving you a free keyword research template (Excel + Google Sheets compatible).
Why an Excel Template for Keyword Research?
Let’s get to the why. There are tons of keyword research tools out there – Ahrefs, SEMrush, SurferSEO, Google Ads Keyword Planner and more – but the humble spreadsheet still holds its own for a few good reasons.
Why This Template Actually Works
- ✓All your data in one place
- Keywords, search volumes, keyword difficulty, commercial intent metrics – it’s all in one place.
- ✓Flexible, like a puzzle
- Sort, filter, and tag keywords based on search intent, topic, or funnel stage.
- ✓Team collaboration, no fuss
- Share your template with writers, strategists, or clients – no logins or passwords needed.
- ✓Pull data in, or out
- Grab data from Google Ads, pull in CSV files from your favourite tool, and it just plugs in.
Now I know what you’re thinking: if you want to actually optimise your research process, make better decisions about your target keywords and create content that ranks, then you’re going to want to get comfortable with a powerful,customizable spreadsheet.
What’s Included in Our SEO Keyword Research Excel Template
No email required, no need to sign up for something you don’t want. This isn’t some half-baked CSV with three columns – I’ve built this to match the way I actually do things in my agency.
Explaining the Columns
| Column | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Keyword | The search term or phrase you want to rank for. |
| Search Volume | Average monthly searches from Google Ads Keyword Planner, and other tools. |
| Keyword Difficulty | How competitive it is going to be to rank for this keyword. |
| Search Intent | Why people are searching for this – informational, commercial, transactional, or navigational. |
| Commercial Intent | Is this keyword likely to drive revenue or get you some conversions? |
| Current Rank / URL | Where you currently rank for this keyword, and the URL that URL is on. |
| SERP Features | Any features like featured snippets, People Also Ask, images etc that you see in the search results. |
| Topic / Cluster | Where does this keyword fit in with your content plan. |
| Notes | Any extra context, insights, or related keyword ideas that come up. |
If you want to keep your workflow consistent, pair this sheet with my SEO Analysis Report Template (for turning findings into a clean plan) and the Keyword Rank Tracker Template (for tracking what moved after you publish).
Download Your Free SEO Keyword Research Template (Excel & Google Sheets)
You can find the Google Sheets Version Here: Google Sheets Version .
Download Now – No Email Required, I Promise
Bryan’s Pro SEO Tip > Add your own sheets for content calendar planning, keyword mapping and tracking position changes over time.
Getting the Most out of Excel for Keyword Research
- ✓Automate your metrics > Use Excel formulas to brighten up your highest search volume, find gaps, or flag commercial intent keywords.
- ✓Get data from Google Ads Keyword Planner > Pull in fresh data for your targeted keywords with a couple of copy-paste actions.
- ✓Compare paid and organic results > Get a handle on which keywords are working for you in paid campaigns, and refine your organic strategy.
- ✓Use Google Sheets for team collaboration > Share your template with your team, no emailing files back and forth.
When you treat your keyword research template like a living document, you get better results, faster.
If you’re also trying to get content to land in AI answers and “zero-click” style results, this pairs nicely with my Answer Engine Optimization Checklist .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use this template with Google Sheets?
Absolutely! Just upload the Excel file to Google Sheets, and you’re ready to go.
How do I choose which keywords to target?
Go for a mix of keywords with high search volume and those with clear commercial intent. Balance high competition with some that have less search volume for quicker wins. Never forget search intent, how people search, and your overall search optimisation strategy.
Can I add more guidance or custom columns?
Of course, customise this template to fit your effective keyword research process. Add columns for search terms from Google Auto Suggest, keyword selection criteria, or even notes on target keyword variations.
How often should I update my keyword list?
At least quarterly, but if your niche is moving fast, check in monthly. Search terms change quickly, new trends emerge and people search differently over time – all great opportunities to optimise.
Get Expert SEO Help or a Custom Template
Need more than a template?Want a really in-depth keyword research process tailored to your one-of-a-kind business, or need help mapping some keywords to pillar pages and content strategies?
Book a Free SEO Strategy SessionWhat Ive learned is that it comes down to the right research process, tools & templates separating sites that rank from those that are stuck in neutral.
If you want examples of what “great” looks like once you’ve picked your keywords, check out my SEO Content Writing Samples.
Check back for a fresh update
SEO is a moving target, but the importance of doing some actual keyword research never goes away. Follow this template, take a walk through my step-by-step guide, and figure out how to tighten up your process for some actual results.
Got questions or need another nudge in the right direction? Fire off a comment or shoot me a message. I’ve got plenty of practical expertise to go around
Want even more on keyword research?
Have a look at our guides on search intent, various keyword research tools & actually creating content that gets ranked in search engines.
A good research template is basically the ace up every top SEO expert’s sleeve. Get your hands on one & start crushing those rankings. – Bryan Reynolds
