How to Cluster Keyword Sets Using SEMrush's New Tool

One of the questions I frequently get asked is how to cluster keyword sets. In this article, we will explore the new clustering tool inside the SEMrush keyword manager and learn how to cluster existing keyword sets and create keyword clusters from scratch.

Before we start, if you don't have a SEMrush account, you can take advantage of the free 14-day trial by following the link in the description below.

Accessing the Clustering Tool

1. Once you are inside SEMrush, navigate to the SEO toolkit.
2. Click on the Keyword Manager.

Creating a Cluster from Scratch

1. In the Keyword Manager, you will see two options: creating a list from scratch or clustering an existing keyword list.
2. To create a cluster from scratch, enter the seed keywords into the provided box. These should be descriptive and indicative of the services or products you offer.
3. Select the desired keyword database, such as United States.
4. As an optional step, you can enter your domain or a competitor's domain to pull in additional keyword ideas.
5. Click "Create List" and wait for the report to generate.

Once the report is ready, you will land on a page with three tabs: Clusters, Mind Map, and Table views. In the Clusters tab, you will see the clusters organized across different keywords. You can use filters and explore the clusters in more detail. SEMrush provides an intent scale, keyword difficulty percentage, and aggregate search volume for each cluster. You can also see the URLs that are ranking for each seed keyword.

Explore each cluster and identify keywords that have low competition and high ranking potential. These keywords could be quick win opportunities for your business. You can check if the ranking URLs have dedicated pages for those keywords. This will help you determine if you need a dedicated page or if you can include the keyword variations in existing pages.

Using Filters and Alternative Views

SEMrush's clustering tool offers various filters and alternative views to help you better analyze and organize your keyword sets.

1. Filters: You can set filters based on search volume or difficulty range, as per your requirements. This feature allows you to refine the keyword list and focus on specific clusters.
2. Mind Map: If you prefer a visual representation, switch to the Mind Map view. Here, you can see clusters organized under seed topics, making it easier to identify patterns.
3. Table View: The Table view resembles the Keyword Magic tool in SEMrush. This view helps you find long-tail queries that may not have been grouped into clusters. You can check the top competitors for each keyword and see if they have dedicated pages or relevant content.

Clustering Existing Keyword Lists

Aside from creating clusters from scratch, you can also use SEMrush to cluster existing keyword lists.

1. Paste your existing keyword list into the keyword manager.
2. Click on the "Cluster" button.
3. SEMrush will generate clusters based on the keywords you provided.
4. Explore the clusters and identify keywords that align with your goals.

By utilizing this functionality, you can easily organize your keyword lists and identify valuable clusters to target.

In conclusion, SEMrush's new clustering tool provides valuable insights into keyword sets. Whether you are creating clusters from scratch or clustering existing keywords, this tool can aid in keyword research and strategy development. Take advantage of the free 14-day trial and start leveraging the clustering tool to optimize your SEO efforts.