Free Ahrefs Keyword Research Template (Spreadsheet + CSV)
Download our free keyword research spreadsheet for Ahrefs workflows — search volume, intent, difficulty, and priority columns. Copy-paste or CSV.
Keyword lists in Ahrefs exports die in Downloads folders. This spreadsheet structure is what we use before anything hits a content brief — one row per target keyword, with intent, parent topic, and a priority score you can defend in a stakeholder meeting.
Download the spreadsheet: keyword-research.csv — ten sample rows included. Delete samples and paste your export, or build from scratch.
Column Reference
| Column | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Keyword | Exact query you want to rank for. No comma-stuffed variants in one cell. |
| Search Volume | Monthly average from your tool. Record tool name and pull date in Notes. |
| Keyword Difficulty | Competition score (0–100). Use one tool consistently — do not mix Ahrefs KD with Semrush PKD. |
| CPC | Proxy for commercial value. High CPC + informational intent often means mixed SERP — check manually. |
| Search Intent | Informational, Commercial, Transactional, Navigational. Override the tool if SERP tells a different story. |
| Parent Topic | Cluster hub this keyword belongs to. Drives internal linking and content brief scope. |
| Priority Score | Your weighted score (see formula below). Sort descending to build the queue. |
| SERP Features | Featured snippet, PAA, video, local pack, AI overview — affects click opportunity. |
| Current Ranking | Position today, or "Not ranking" / strikethrough if new target. |
| Target URL | Existing page to optimize, or planned URL for new content. |
| Status | Target, Ranking, Monitoring, Deprioritized. |
| Notes | SERP observations, cannibalization flags, brief links, refresh dates. |
Priority Score Formula
We use a simple 0–100 score: normalize volume (0–40 pts) + inverse difficulty (0–30 pts) + business relevance (0–30 pts, manual). Example: volume 1900 in a niche where max volume is 8000 → ~9.5 pts; KD 44 → ~17 pts; high business fit → 28 pts → Priority Score ≈ 55. Adjust weights to match your site — transactional sites weight CPC and relevance higher.
Sample Rows
| Keyword | Volume | KD | CPC | Intent | Parent Topic | Priority | SERP Features | Ranking | Target URL | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| technical seo audit | 1900 | 44 | $12.50 | Informational | Technical SEO | 82 | FS, PAA | 18 | /guides/technical-seo | Target |
| keyword research template | 720 | 28 | $4.80 | Transactional | Keyword Research | 88 | None | Not ranking | /templates/keyword-research-template | Target |
| ahrefs vs semrush | 8100 | 58 | $15.30 | Commercial | SEO Tools | 68 | PAA | Not ranking | /compare/ahrefs-vs-semrush | Target |
| what is domain rating | 4400 | 38 | $3.10 | Informational | Link Building | 70 | PAA, KP | 7 | /glossary/domain-rating | Ranking |
| link building email template | 1100 | 32 | $7.90 | Transactional | Link Building | 85 | None | Not ranking | /templates/link-building-outreach-email | Target |
Full methodology in our keyword research guide. Validate intent by searching each keyword in an incognito window — tools misclassify mixed SERPs constantly.
Related Resources
Google Search Console vs Ahrefs (GSC vs Ahrefs) — 2026 Comparison
GSC vs Ahrefs compared: clicks, impressions, backlinks, and keyword data. When free Search Console is enough and when Ahrefs is worth paying for.
Semrush vs Moz: Which SEO Tool Is Better in 2026?
Hands-on Semrush vs Moz comparison: pricing, keyword data, site audits, DA vs Authority Score, and which tool fits freelancers vs agencies.
Keyword Research Guide 2026: Find Low-Competition Opportunities That Convert
A complete keyword research framework for 2026. Learn seed keyword expansion, search intent analysis, keyword difficulty filtering (KD < 30), topic clustering, and how to turn keyword data into content briefs.