Keyword research / Semantic core
Grouped set of all target search queries, clustered and mapped to pages.
Full definition
Semantic core (keyword research / topic clusters) is a grouped set of search queries your site optimizes for. Distributed across pages (1 query cluster = 1 page).
Why it matters
Without keyword research, you write content blindly — you may find that: - Client target queries have no matching pages - Secondary queries have 10 duplicate pages - Main commercial queries aren't covered at all
Collection stages
1. Base seeds (10-30 phrases) — general words about your niche 2. Expansion via tools: - Google Keyword Planner — free - Ahrefs, Semrush — pro - AnswerThePublic, AlsoAsked — question-based 3. Augmentation via suggestions and Related searches 4. Cleanup — removing irrelevants (negative keywords) 5. Clustering — grouping by intent (using top-10 SERP) 6. Distribution — each cluster to a separate page
Core size
- •Small service site: 50-200 queries
- •Mid-sized business site: 500-2,000 queries
- •E-commerce: 5,000-50,000 queries
- •Content portal: 10,000-100,000+
Query types in core
- •Informational ("what is SEO") → blog, glossary
- •Commercial ("order SEO services") → homepage, service pages
- •Transactional ("buy iPhone 15") → product pages
- •Navigational ("adaptive lab contacts") → brand pages
Main mistake
Taking queries from your head, without tool-based research. Real semantics differ from what you think by 50-70%.