Stats
Actions
Tags
From marketing
Strategic keyword research without expensive tools. Use when someone needs content strategy, topic ideas, SEO planning, or asks what should I write about. Uses the 6 Circles Method to expand from seed keywords, clusters into content pillars, and maps to a prioritized content plan. Triggers on: keyword research for X, content strategy for X, what topics should I cover, SEO strategy, content calendar, topic clusters. Outputs prioritized keyword clusters with content recommendations.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/marketing:keyword-researchThe summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
Most keyword research is backwards. People start with tools, get overwhelmed by data, and end up with a spreadsheet they never use.
Most keyword research is backwards. People start with tools, get overwhelmed by data, and end up with a spreadsheet they never use.
This skill starts with strategy. What does your business need? Who are you trying to reach? What would make them find you? Then it builds a content plan that actually makes sense.
No expensive tools required. Just systematic thinking.
Transform a business context into a prioritized content plan with:
Output format: Clustered keywords mapped to content pieces, prioritized by business value and opportunity.
SEED → EXPAND → CLUSTER → PRIORITIZE → MAP
Get these inputs before generating anything:
From the business context, generate 20-30 seed keywords covering:
Direct terms — What you actually sell
"AI marketing automation", "fractional CMO", "marketing workflows"
Problem terms — What pain you solve
"can't keep up with content", "marketing team too small", "don't understand AI"
Outcome terms — What results you deliver
"faster campaign execution", "10x content production", "marketing ROI"
Category terms — Broader industry terms
"marketing automation", "AI marketing", "growth marketing"
For each seed keyword, expand using 6 different lenses:
Products, services, and solutions you offer directly.
Example: "AI marketing automation", "marketing workflow templates", "fractional CMO services"
Pain points and challenges your audience faces.
Example: "marketing team overwhelmed", "can't measure marketing ROI", "content takes too long"
Results and transformations customers achieve.
Example: "automated lead generation", "consistent content publishing", "marketing that runs itself"
What makes you different from alternatives.
Example: "no-code marketing", "AI-first approach", "community-driven marketing"
Related areas where your audience spends time.
Example: "startup growth", "indie hackers", "solopreneur tools", "productivity systems"
People, tools, frameworks, concepts you want to be connected to.
Example: "Claude AI", "n8n automation", specific thought leaders, industry frameworks
For each seed, find variations using:
Question patterns:
Modifier patterns:
Comparison patterns:
Output: Expanded list of 100-200 keywords from seed terms
Group expanded keywords into content pillars using the hub-and-spoke model:
[PILLAR]
Main Topic Area
|
+-------------+-------------+
| | |
[CLUSTER 1] [CLUSTER 2] [CLUSTER 3]
Subtopic Subtopic Subtopic
| | |
Keywords Keywords Keywords
A pillar is a major topic area that could support:
Ask: "Could this be a complete guide that thoroughly covers the topic?"
Before finalizing pillars, run these 4 checks:
Most keyword research fails because pillars are chosen based on what the business WANTS to talk about, not what the market ACTUALLY searches for.
1. Search Volume Test Does this pillar have >1,000 monthly searches across its keyword cluster?
Example failure: "Claude marketing" (zero search volume) chosen as pillar because the product uses Claude. Market searches "AI marketing" instead.
2. Product vs. Market Test Is this pillar something the MARKET searches for, or something YOU want to talk about?
| Product-Centric (Wrong) | Market-Centric (Right) |
|---|---|
| "Our methodology" | "Marketing automation" |
| "[Your tool name] tutorials" | "[Category] tutorials" |
| "Why we're different" | "[Problem] solutions" |
| Features of your product | Outcomes people search for |
The market doesn't search for your product name (unless you're famous). They search for solutions to their problems.
3. Competitive Reality Test Can you actually win here?
Check the top 3 results for the pillar keyword:
Don't choose pillars where you have no realistic path to page 1.
4. Proprietary Advantage Test Do you have unique content, data, or expertise for this pillar?
| Advantage | Priority |
|---|---|
| Proprietary data others don't have | Prioritize highly |
| Unique methodology or framework | Prioritize highly |
| Practitioner experience (done it, not read about it) | Prioritize |
| Same info everyone else has | Deprioritize |
If you have 2,589 marketing workflows and nobody else does, "marketing workflows" should be a pillar. If you're writing about "AI marketing" with no unique angle, you're competing on equal footing with everyone.
Validation Output:
For each proposed pillar, document:
Pillar: [Name]
Search volume test: PASS/FAIL — [evidence]
Market-centric test: PASS/FAIL — [evidence]
Competitive test: PASS/FAIL — [evidence]
Proprietary advantage: YES/NO — [what advantage]
VERDICT: VALID PILLAR / DEMOTE TO CLUSTER / REMOVE
If a pillar fails 2+ tests, it's not a pillar. Either demote it to a single article within another pillar, or remove it entirely.
Pillar: AI Marketing Automation
Clusters:
Not all keywords are equal. Score each cluster by:
High: Direct path to revenue
Medium: Indirect path
Low: Brand awareness only
High opportunity signals:
Low opportunity signals:
Fast (3 months):
Medium (6 months):
Long (9-12 months):
| Business Value | Opportunity | Speed | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | High | Fast | DO FIRST |
| High | High | Medium | DO SECOND |
| High | Medium | Fast | DO THIRD |
| Medium | High | Fast | QUICK WIN |
| High | Low | Any | LONG PLAY |
| Low | Any | Any | BACKLOG |
For each priority cluster, assign:
| Type | When to Use | Word Count |
|---|---|---|
| Pillar Guide | Comprehensive topic coverage | 5,000-8,000 |
| How-To Tutorial | Step-by-step instructions | 2,000-3,000 |
| Comparison | X vs Y, Best [category] | 2,500-4,000 |
| Listicle | Tools, examples, tips | 2,000-3,000 |
| Use Case | Industry or scenario specific | 1,500-2,500 |
| Definition | What is [term] | 1,500-2,500 |
| Intent | Keyword Signals | Content Approach | CTA Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Informational | what, how, why, guide | Educate thoroughly | Newsletter, resource |
| Commercial | best, vs, review, compare | Help them decide | Free trial, demo |
| Transactional | buy, pricing, get, hire | Make it easy | Purchase, contact |
Tier 1 (Publish in weeks 1-4): Highest priority, category-defining Tier 2 (Publish in weeks 5-8): High priority, supporting pillars Tier 3 (Publish in weeks 9-12): Medium priority, depth content Tier 4 (Backlog): Lower priority, future opportunities
# Keyword Research: [Business Name]
## Top Opportunities
1. [Keyword/cluster] — [Why it's an opportunity]
2. [Keyword/cluster] — [Why it's an opportunity]
3. [Keyword/cluster] — [Why it's an opportunity]
## Quick Wins (3-month potential)
- [Keyword] — [Why quick]
- [Keyword] — [Why quick]
## Long-Term Plays (6-12 months)
- [Keyword] — [Strategy needed]
## Start Here
[Specific first piece of content to create and why]
## Pillar: [Topic Name]
**Priority:** [Critical / High / Medium / Low]
**Content pieces:** [Number]
| Cluster | Priority | Intent | Content Type | Target |
|---------|----------|--------|--------------|--------|
| [name] | [H/M/L] | [type] | [format] | [date] |
## Month 1
- Week 1-2: [Flagship piece] — [Target keyword cluster]
- Week 3: [Supporting piece] — [Target keyword cluster]
- Week 4: [Supporting piece] — [Target keyword cluster]
## Month 2
- Week 5-6: [Second pillar piece] — [Target keyword cluster]
...
Circle 1 (What you sell): AI marketing consultant, AI marketing strategy, AI marketing audit, marketing automation setup
Circle 2 (Problems): startup marketing overwhelm, no time for marketing, marketing not working, can't hire marketing team
Circle 3 (Outcomes): automated lead generation, consistent content, marketing ROI, scalable marketing
Circle 4 (Positioning): AI-first marketing, no-code marketing, startup-focused marketing
Circle 5 (Adjacent): startup growth strategies, product-led growth, indie hacker marketing
Circle 6 (Entities): Claude AI marketing, n8n marketing automation, HubSpot alternatives
Pillar 1: AI Marketing Strategy (Priority: Critical)
Pillar 2: Marketing Automation (Priority: High)
Pillar 3: Fractional Marketing (Priority: Medium)
1. "What is AI Marketing?" (Do First)
2. "AI Marketing Tools 2025" (Do Second)
3. "Marketing Automation for Startups" (Quick Win)
This skill provides strategic direction, not:
The output is a prioritized plan. Execution is separate.
If the user needs data validation:
keyword-research identifies WHAT to write about.
Then:
The keyword research creates the content strategy. Other skills execute it.
A good keyword research output:
If the output is "here's 500 keywords, good luck" — it failed.
npx claudepluginhub 0xobat/claude-skills --plugin marketingPlan a content strategy, topic clusters, editorial roadmap, and content mix for traffic, authority, and lead generation. Use when deciding what to publish, what topics to prioritize, or how to structure a content program.
Researches, expands, and clusters keywords using the 6 Circles Method for content strategy planning. Useful for topic ideation, seed keyword expansion, and funnel mapping.
Organizes keywords into SEO topic clusters, builds pillar content strategies, content hubs, and internal linking plans for search optimization.