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Ahrefs Keywords Explorer: complete guide (research + planning)

Albin Hot
By Albin Hot
February 11, 20262 min read

Ahrefs Keywords Explorer is a decision tool: what to build, what to skip, and what it will take to win.

Key related workflows:

  • [Traffic Potential vs volume](/blog/ahrefs-traffic-potential-vs-volume)
  • [Site Explorer workflows](/blog/ahrefs-site-explorer-simpel-stappenplan)
  • [Content gap planning](/blog/content-gap-analyse-ahrefs-stappenplan)
  • Step 0 - Set the market correctly

  • Country and language = your real market
  • Check device if mobile matters
  • New to Ahrefs? Start with setup first: [create an Ahrefs account](/blog/ahrefs-account-aanmaken-simpele-uitleg).

    Step 1 - Start from business and intent

  • Define the conversion (demo, quote, call, purchase)
  • Pick intent types: learn, compare, buy
  • Step 2 - Build a seed list from real data

  • Search Console queries
  • Customer questions
  • Competitor pages
  • Step 3 - Expand inside Keywords Explorer

    Use:

  • Matching terms
  • Related terms
  • Questions
  • Step 4 - Read metrics that matter

  • Volume is a starting point
  • Clicks + CPS show whether the SERP sends traffic
  • Traffic Potential (TP) is topic-level opportunity
  • More detail: [Traffic Potential vs volume](/blog/ahrefs-traffic-potential-vs-volume).

    Step 5 - Validate intent via SERP overview

  • Page types that rank
  • SERP features (ads, shopping, local, AI)
  • Stable brands
  • Step 6 - Calibrate difficulty with Site Explorer

    Do not trust KD alone. Inspect the top 3 pages:

  • Referring domains
  • Content depth and structure
  • Keyword distribution
  • Guide: [Site Explorer workflows](/blog/ahrefs-site-explorer-simpel-stappenplan).

    Step 7 - Build clusters

  • 1 hub page
  • 3-8 supporting pages
  • Internal links both ways
  • Avoid cannibalization: one primary intent per page.

    Step 8 - Plan internal links before you publish

  • Hub -> supporting pages
  • Supporting pages -> hub
  • Link from older strong pages -> new hub
  • Step 9 - Publish and iterate

    Use Search Console to measure impressions, CTR, and pages in positions 4-20.

    Conclusion

    Use Keywords Explorer as a workflow: market, intent, clicks, TP, SERP checks, clusters, and internal linking.

    Albin Hot

    Albin Hot

    Albin Hot is Senior SEO Specialist bij Niblah, een toonaangevend marketing platform voor zoekmachines, AI en meer. Hij werkt al meer dan 5 jaar in SEO en specialiseert zich in omzetgedreven strategieën in nauwe samenwerking met multidisciplinaire teams.

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