ForestSEO

Keyword Clusters

Group related keywords into clusters to build topical authority, improve SEO rankings, and create comprehensive content.

Keyword clusters are groups of related search terms organized around a central topic. By clustering keywords, you build topical authority, create comprehensive content coverage, and establish your site as an expert resource in specific subject areas.


🎯 What Are Clusters?

Clusters are thematic groups of related keyword terms that:

  • Share semantic meaning
  • Target the same audience
  • Cover a comprehensive topic
  • Support topical authority building

Example Cluster Structure

Cluster: "Puppy Training"


✅ Why Clusters Matter

SEO Benefits

BenefitDescriptionResult
🏆 Topical AuthorityDemonstrate expertise on subjectSearch engines trust your content
📚 Content DepthCover topic comprehensivelyRank for more related terms
🔗 Internal LinkingConnect related articles naturallyImproved crawlability & rankings
🎯 User ExperienceHelp visitors find related contentLower bounce rate, longer sessions
📈 Scalable StrategySystematic content creationPredictable traffic growth

🏗️ Creating Clusters

Manual Creation

Build clusters from scratch with full control:

Steps:

  1. Go to Keywords → Clusters
  2. Click Create Cluster button
  3. Fill in cluster details:
FieldDescriptionRequired
NameCluster identifierYes
DescriptionPurpose and scopeNo
Brief TemplateContent generation guideNo
  1. Click Save
  2. Assign terms to cluster

Best for:

  • Specific topic planning
  • Brand-specific clusters
  • Strategic content pillars
  • Small keyword sets (5-20 terms)

Auto-Clusterization

AI-powered automatic clustering:

How AI Clustering Works:

  1. Semantic Analysis — AI analyzes keyword meaning and relationships
  2. Similarity Scoring — Calculates how related terms are to each other
  3. Cluster Formation — Groups terms with high similarity scores
  4. Automatic Naming — Suggests cluster names based on common themes

Configuration Options:

SettingDescriptionDefaultRange
Min Cluster SizeMinimum terms per cluster32-10
Min SamplesCore group minimum21-5
Unclustered OnlyProcess only ungrouped termsYesYes/No

Steps:

  1. Import or have unclustered terms
  2. Go to Keywords → Terms
  3. Click Clusterize button
  4. Configure settings
  5. Click Start Clusterization
  6. Review created clusters
  7. Refine if needed

Best for:

  • Large keyword lists (50-500+ terms)
  • Initial organization
  • Discovering topic opportunities
  • Quick content planning

⚙️ Cluster Settings

Basic Information

FieldPurposeExample
NameCluster identifier"Content Marketing Strategies"
DescriptionScope and goals"Comprehensive guide to content marketing"
Term CountNumber of keywords15 terms

Brief Template

Control how content is generated for cluster terms:

Purpose:

  • Define content structure
  • Set tone and style guidelines
  • Include required elements
  • Ensure brand consistency

Example Template:

Write a comprehensive guide about {keyword}. 

Structure:
- Introduction explaining the topic
- 5-7 practical tips or steps
- Real-world examples
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Conclusion with action steps

Tone: Professional yet approachable
Audience: Beginners to intermediate
Length: 1500-2000 words
Include: Statistics, expert quotes, internal links

Generate Briefs

Auto-generate content briefs for cluster terms:

Features:

  • Generate briefs for all terms in cluster
  • Use cluster template as guide
  • Customize per term
  • Save time on content planning

📊 Managing Clusters

Viewing Clusters

Grid View — Visual cards showing:

  • Cluster name
  • Term count
  • Last updated date
  • Quick actions menu

Table View — Detailed list with:

  • All cluster information
  • Sortable columns
  • Bulk actions
  • Inline editing

Searching & Filtering

Find clusters quickly:

FilterOptionsUse Case
🔍 Text SearchAny textFind by name
📊 Term CountMin/Max rangeSize filtering
📅 Sort ByCreated, Updated, NameOrganization
👤 Created ByUser filterTeam management

✏️ Editing Clusters

Update cluster details and organization:

Modify Cluster Info

  1. Click cluster name or edit icon
  2. Update fields:
    • Name
    • Description
    • Brief template
  3. Save changes

Managing Terms

Add Terms to Cluster:

  1. Go to Keywords → Terms
  2. Select terms (checkboxes)
  3. Click Assign to Cluster
  4. Choose target cluster
  5. Confirm

Remove Terms from Cluster:

  1. Open cluster detail page
  2. View assigned terms
  3. Click remove icon on term
  4. Confirm removal

Move Terms Between Clusters:

  1. Select terms in source cluster
  2. Choose Move to Cluster
  3. Select destination cluster
  4. Confirm move

🎯 Cluster Strategy

By Content Type

Cluster TypeExampleKeywordsGoal
Informational"Email Marketing Guide"how to, what is, tipsEducation & authority
Commercial"CRM Software Comparison"best, vs, reviewConsideration stage
Transactional"Buy Running Shoes"buy, price, discountConversions
Navigational"Brand Resources"brand terms, product namesBrand awareness

By Business Stage

New Website (0-6 months):

Priority: Quick wins
Strategy: 3-5 clusters, 10-15 terms each
Focus: Long-tail, low competition
Clusters: Your core offering areas

Growing Website (6-18 months):

Priority: Build authority
Strategy: 8-12 clusters, 15-25 terms each
Focus: Mix of difficulty levels
Clusters: Expand topic coverage

Established Website (18+ months):

Priority: Scale & dominate
Strategy: 15-25 clusters, 20-40 terms each
Focus: Comprehensive coverage
Clusters: Sub-topics & adjacent areas

📈 Cluster Performance

Key Metrics

MetricWhat It ShowsAction
Term CountCluster sizeAdd more related terms
Articles GeneratedContent coverageGenerate remaining
Last UpdatedMaintenance statusReview and refresh
Brief Template StatusContent consistencyDefine if missing

✅ Best Practices

Cluster Size

Recommendations:

Site TypeCluster SizeNumber of Clusters
New Blog10-15 terms3-5 clusters
Growing Site15-25 terms6-10 clusters
Authority Site20-40 terms10-20 clusters
Enterprise30-50 terms20+ clusters

Organization Tips

PrincipleDescriptionExample
🎯 Single FocusOne main topic per cluster"Email Marketing" not "Marketing"
📚 ComprehensiveCover all aspects of topicInclude beginner to advanced
🔗 Semantic RelationshipTerms naturally relateAll about same core concept
👥 Audience AlignmentMatch user journey stageAwareness, consideration, decision
⚖️ Balanced DifficultyMix easy and hard keywordsQuick wins + long-term goals

🚨 Common Mistakes

Avoid these clustering pitfalls:

MistakeProblemSolution
Too Broad"Marketing" cluster with 100 termsSplit into sub-topics
Too Narrow"Blue widgets" with 2 termsExpand or merge clusters
Mixed IntentInformational + transactional togetherSeparate by intent
No Brief TemplateInconsistent content qualityDefine cluster guidelines
Orphan ClustersNo content generation planSet up schedules
Neglected ClustersNever updatedRegular review & expansion

🔄 Cluster Lifecycle

Phase 1: Creation (Week 1)

  • Research and validate topic
  • Create cluster structure
  • Add initial terms (10-15)
  • Define brief template

Phase 2: Content Generation (Weeks 2-4)

  • Generate articles for all terms
  • Review and publish content
  • Implement internal linking
  • Submit to search engines

Phase 3: Growth (Months 2-3)

  • Add more related terms
  • Generate additional content
  • Monitor initial rankings
  • Adjust strategy based on data

Phase 4: Authority (Months 4-6)

  • Achieve top rankings
  • Expand to sub-topics
  • Regular content updates
  • Maintain competitive advantage

🔗 Integration with Features

With Terms

  • Organize keywords by topic
  • Automatic term assignment
  • Semantic relationship mapping

Learn more about Terms →

With Schedules

  • Automated cluster-based generation
  • Rotate through cluster terms
  • Maintain publishing cadence

Learn more about Schedules →

With Content Generation

  • Consistent content quality
  • Brief template application
  • Topical authority building

Learn more about Content →


📚 Next Steps

Ready to organize your keywords?