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Just got our SEO keyword analysis report — how should I filter and prioritize the keywords?

TTuğçe U***Expert
Job title
Production planning
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Electrical-electronics
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40-person manufacturing company
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Jan 2023
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174
#1

We are an eight-person team manufacturing and selling office furniture online. Last week, the outsourced project we commissioned wrapped up, and we received a comprehensive 1,400-row SEO keyword analysis spreadsheet. It includes estimated monthly search volumes, keyword difficulty scores, and relevant pages, but we have no idea where to start.

We have a monthly content budget of around 15,000 TL. With this budget, we can get at most 15 to 20 high-quality product descriptions or informational guides produced per month. Should we target the high-volume, generic keywords sitting at the top of the list, or focus on lower-volume terms with direct commercial intent?

What criteria should we use to filter down such a massive list during the first three months? I'd like to hear from anyone who has executed a similar report before—what was your filtering logic?

PPolat T***VeteranCommunity member
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Dec 2023
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363
Most Helpful#2

Short answer: Start by filtering your list based on commercial search intent and existing page matches on your site, not by search volume. In the first quarter, optimizing category and product pages with high-intent, long-tail keywords will yield returns much faster than broad informational queries.

First, split the 1,400 keywords into three buckets based on intent: informational, product research, and direct transactional. For the first three months, do not spend your budget on generic informational terms. Instead of broad terms like "office chair," target keywords that convert directly to cart adds, such as "mesh desk chair with lumbar support" or "executive desk set prices."

Second, map out pages that already exist on your site. Optimizing an existing category page takes far less time than writing a brand-new blog post and getting it indexed. Identify the first 30-40 terms from the sheet that align with your current pages, then update your metadata, heading hierarchy, and category filter copy.

Finally, push high-difficulty keywords to future quarters. If your site has limited domain authority, ranking for low-difficulty, mid-volume specific terms in the early months will build authority much faster.

Edit: asked below, I wrote the answer in the second message.

OOkan K***Member
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Store associate
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Healthcare services
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8-person team
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Aug 2023
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5
#3

When filtering a list like this, we always use a 3-part filter: 1) Commercial intent: Is the user ready to pull out their wallet when searching this term? 2) Existing URL status: Do you already have a live product or category page that satisfies this query? 3) Value per click: If the SERP is packed with ads, that keyword converts—bump it to the top.

KKader K***Member
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Store Manager
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Printing
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8-person team
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Feb 2022
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#4

On our own e-commerce store, we picked only 35 keywords initially out of a 900-word report. All of them were long-tail with clear buying intent. By the end of three months, we hit the top 5 for 22 of those keywords, and organic revenue saw a solid rebound compared to the previous quarter.

SSultan T***Member
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Social media manager
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Insurance
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8-person team
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Nov 2024
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19
#5

Don't trust keyword difficulty scores blindly. Most tools calculate those scores based purely on broad backlink profiles. Search the target query yourself on Google; if page one is completely dominated by giant marketplaces and legacy brands, push that keyword to the very bottom of your list.

MMurat K***Member
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Doki · Log management setup · 2025

#6

definitely dont delete keywords that show zero or 10 search volume. people searching for custom sizes or bulk b2b furniture orders usually search with very specific queries. low volume but high aov keywords are total lifesavers in the first three months.

TTuğçe E***MemberCommunity member
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Sep 2022
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343
#7

Open your sheet and filter for rows containing "price" "prices", "wholesale", "buy", or "models". You'll probably be left with around 100-150 keywords. Use your 15,000 TL budget to rewrite the descriptions for the main category pages matching those terms, then monitor the results.

MMetin G***MemberCommunity member
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Sep 2024
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219
#8

The biggest mistake beginners make is starting with blog posts. An SEO keyword analysis isn't done just to order articles. The primary job of that data is structuring your site architecture. If your categories don't properly reflect the hierarchy in your keyword list, writing content is just an exercise in futility.

edit: I wrote something wrong above, sorry about that.

AAhmet Y***Expert
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Field sales representative
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Consulting
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regional distributor
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Oct 2023
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#9

Does the report highlight which keywords are driving direct traffic to your competitors? Specifically, can you see where boutique manufacturers of a similar scale are gaining organic traction? If that breakdown is missing, narrowing down the list might take a bit longer.

EEmrahMember
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chain store
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Feb 2024
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108
#10

I'm a small business, let me explain from my side. A competitor's ranking might come from years of accumulation, not just their content.

Hope this helps.

YYağmur E***Expert
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Country Manager
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E-commerce
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boutique agency
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115
#11

We experienced almost the exact same thing last year. The biggest time-waster for us was not knowing who had the final say.

Solutions that work at a small scale collapse when you grow; I learned this late. Good luck with that.

BBeyza D***Member
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Sales Manager
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E-commerce
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a company within a holding
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Jul 2023
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197
#12

Generally correct, but one part is missing. Start with a small trial; don't commit to everything at once.

Hope this helps.

MMert B***ExpertCommunity member
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Sep 2024
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129
#13

Timely topic. Speed is a threshold issue; if you're already fast, making it faster changes nothing.

When making decisions, write down the worst-case scenario too, not just the best. Hope this helps.

HHilal K***Member
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Business Owner
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regional distributor
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#14

Yes, thats exactly how it is with seo keyword analysis. Just because everyone does it doesnt mean its right.

Good luck with that.

MMeryem S***Member
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two-branch business
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Mar 2026
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398
#15

Here's how it went for us. Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.

The real issue isn't the number but what it's based on. If I were you I'd go this route.

HHakanNew member
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Real estate office
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Sep 2024
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34
#16

If you're going this route, sort this out first. Hasty decisions become decisions you have to fix six months later.

Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right. If you post the result here, it will help others too.

KKemal Ç***Member
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Plastic
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Doki · Interface design · 2023

#17

Timely topic.

MMustafa G***Member
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Purchasing manager
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Furniture manufacturing
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medium-sized business
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Dec 2022
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72
#18

You're right.

KKadir A***MemberCommunity member
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Aug 2024
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99
#19

I went through the same thing two years ago. Just because everyone does it doesn't mean it's right.

If I were you, I'd go this route.

ÖÖmer C***Member
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Software team lead
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Packaging
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workshop
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Sep 2025
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74
#20

We need to take it step by step. The answer varies greatly by industry; there is no one-size-fits-all rule.

When making a decision, first look at what data you have on hand. Good luck with that.

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