The Keyword Research tool helps you simplify and supercharge keyword analysis. It provides vital SEO and SEM metrics—like Search Volume (SV), Cost per Click (CPC), and Keyword Difficulty (KD)—and supplements them with search intent insights, competitor data, traffic potential, and more.
With interactive charts and customizable reports, you can easily design an efficient keyword strategy to optimize both paid and organic performance.
👣Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Entering Keywords
- Go to the Keyword Research tool in your dashboard.
- Enter one or more keywords separated by commas.
- (Optional) Import from file → Upload a .csv or .txt file containing your keywords. The file should include one keyword per line, with no headers or additional columns.
2. Reviewing Results in the Keyword Lists Tab
From your entered keywords, the tool generates a detailed report with the following fields:
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Keyword → The term used for the project.
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Search Intent → Categorized as:
- Navigational → Searching for a specific website.
- Informational → Searching for general information.
- Commercial → Comparing products/services.
- Transactional → Searching for a specific product/brand.
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SV (Search Volume) → Average monthly searches over the past 12 months.
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KD (Keyword Difficulty) → Competitiveness for organic ranking on a scale of 1–100 (higher = harder).
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CPC (Cost per Click) → Average USD cost advertisers pay per ad click.
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PPCD (PPC Difficulty) → Competitiveness for paid ads on a scale of 1–100 (higher = harder). Unlike KD, which estimates how difficult it is to rank organically, PPCD reflects how competitive (and costly) it is to bid on the keyword in paid campaigns. Use KD when planning SEO strategy and PPCD when planning SEM/PPC strategy.
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Comp Score → A composite score used to prioritize keywords. Results in this tab are automatically sorted by Comp Score by default.
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Updated → Date the search was last refreshed.
💡 You can sort SV, KD, and CPC in ascending or descending order by clicking the column header.
Stats Cards (SEO > Keywords)
At the top of the Keywords view, you'll find summary stats cards:
- #1 Rankings → Number of keywords ranking in position #1. The percentage shown represents the share of total keywords (not ranked keywords).
- Average Rank → The mean SERP position across the keyword set, displayed in decimal format.
- Top 5 Rankings → Number of keywords ranking in the top 5. The percentage shown represents the share of total keywords (not ranked keywords).
- Page 1 → Number of keywords ranking on page 1. The percentage shown represents the share of total keywords (not ranked keywords).
- AIO Citations → Number of keywords cited in AI Overviews. The percentage shown represents the share of total keywords (not ranked keywords).
3. Reviewing Results in the History Tab
The History tab displays the same metrics as the Keyword Lists tab, allowing you to track updates and changes over time.
4. Exporting Data
Use the Export option to download results into a .csv file for further analysis.
❓ FAQs
How does the Keyword Research tool help with SEO and SEM?
💡 It simplifies analysis by providing SV, CPC, and KD, plus additional metrics like search intent, related keywords, and AdWords data.
What metrics are provided for keyword analysis?
⚡ SV, KD, CPC, PPCD, Comp Score, and Search Intent, along with historical trends, competitor analysis, and traffic potential estimates.
How is search intent determined?
✅ It’s classified into four types: Navigational, Informational, Commercial, and Transactional, based on the query’s purpose.
How accurate are Search Volume (SV) figures?
💡 They represent the average monthly searches over 12 months, sourced directly from Google databases.
How is CPC determined?
⚡ CPC reflects the average USD advertisers pay per ad click, based on Google Ads data.
What historical data is available?
✅ The tool provides trend analysis, showing seasonality and long-term changes in keyword performance.
How does competitor analysis work?
💡 It shows which keywords competitors rank for and provides performance metrics, helping you identify gaps and opportunities.
Why don’t some keywords show historical search volume?
⚡ Google restricts data for sensitive terms (e.g., adult, drugs, political).
⚡ Low-volume keywords may not have enough data.
⚡ Other tools may show results because they supplement sources, while OTTO only pulls directly from Google.
Closing Note
✅ With the Keyword Research tool, you can uncover high-value keywords, evaluate competition, and refine your SEO + SEM strategy with confidence. If you need assistance, our team is always here to help.