How to create keyword clusters with intent on Semrush

intermediate 8 min read Updated 2026-03-30

Quick Answer

Create keyword clusters with intent on Semrush by using the Keyword Magic Tool to generate keywords, then apply the clustering feature to group related terms. Use the intent filters to categorize keywords by informational, navigational, commercial, and transactional intent.

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Prerequisites

Active Semrush subscription
Basic knowledge of keyword research
Understanding of search intent types
Website or domain to analyze

Step-by-Step Instructions

Access the Keyword Magic Tool

Log into your Semrush account and navigate to Keyword Research > Keyword Magic Tool. Enter your seed keyword in the search bar and select your target location and language. Click Search to generate your keyword list.

Start with broad seed keywords to capture a wider range of related terms for clustering

Enable clustering view

In the Keyword Magic Tool results, locate the Group Keywords toggle button at the top right of the keyword table. Click to enable clustering mode. This will automatically group related keywords based on semantic similarity and SERP overlap.

Apply intent filters

Use the Intent filter in the left sidebar to categorize keywords by search intent. Select from Informational, Navigational, Commercial, and Transactional intent types. You can select multiple intent types to compare clusters across different user motivations.

Focus on one intent type at a time to create more targeted clusters for your content strategy

Analyze cluster metrics

Review each cluster's key metrics including total Search Volume, Keyword Difficulty, and Cost Per Click. Click on any cluster to expand and see individual keywords. Use the Sort by dropdown to organize clusters by volume, difficulty, or number of keywords.

Look for clusters with high volume but lower difficulty for quick wins

Refine clusters manually

Click the pencil icon next to any cluster name to rename it. Use the checkbox next to keywords to manually move them between clusters or remove irrelevant terms. Click Create new cluster to manually group selected keywords.

Manual refinement helps align clusters with your specific content strategy and business goals

Export cluster data

Select the clusters you want to export using the checkboxes. Click the Export button and choose Export selected clusters. Select your preferred format (.xlsx, .csv) and click Download to save your keyword clusters with intent data.

Create content briefs from clusters

Navigate to Content Marketing > SEO Content Template. Enter the primary keyword from your cluster and add related cluster keywords in the additional keywords field. Generate recommendations for content optimization based on your intent-focused keyword clusters.

Use one cluster per content piece to maintain topical relevance and search intent alignment

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

Clusters contain irrelevant keywords

Use more specific seed keywords or apply additional filters like Include keywords and Exclude keywords to refine results before clustering.

No intent data showing for keywords

Ensure you're using the latest version of Semrush and that your keywords have sufficient search volume. Intent data is primarily available for higher-volume keywords.

Clusters are too large or too small

Adjust the clustering sensitivity by using the Broad match or Exact match options to control cluster size and keyword grouping.

Export file doesn't include intent data

Make sure to select All columns in the export options and verify that intent filters were applied before exporting your cluster data.

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