Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Keyword Research Planner agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The keyword-research skill is a set of instructions that teaches an AI agent how to run keyword research from a seed topic. It is written for SEO specialists, content marketers and small business owners who want a clustered keyword plan rather than a raw list. After reading this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, how to phrase a request that triggers it, and what it needs to work.
Keyword Research PlannerRyze-AI-Adgent/open-seo-mcp-skills · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the skill. Download the ZIP for keyword-research from this page. It contains SKILL.md.
- 2Unzip into a skills folder. Unzip into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into .claude/skills/ in a project. Alternatively upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps.
- 3Connect Ryze. Add the free Ryze MCP connector at https://connector.get-ryze.ai/mcp and complete account setup.
- 4Make a request. Ask for keyword research on a specific seed topic, optionally naming your site.
- 5Review the clusters. Check the cluster tables, volumes, CPC and intent, and note which keywords already have positions.
- 6Act on the ranked plan. Start with the clusters the skill ranks first and use the CPC column for negative keyword ideas.
What the keyword-research skill makes the agent do
You give the agent a seed topic, such as a product category or a service you offer. The skill tells the agent to expand that seed into up to about 200 related ideas using Google Ads planner data accessed through the Ryze connector. It then pulls monthly volume, competition, CPC range and a 12-month trend for the candidates.
If the workspace exposes DataForSEO tools, the skill also looks up search intent and keyword difficulty for the top keywords. It can check Google Search Console to see which keywords your site already has positions for, and it groups everything into content clusters with a target keyword, supporting keywords and an existing page or "new page" for each.
- Ideas: expands a seed keyword and/or your URL into a candidate list
- Metrics: monthly volume, competition, CPC range, 12-month trend
- Enrichment (optional): search intent, keyword difficulty, SERP features
- Existing rankings (optional): keywords your site already ranks for, marked as optimize rather than create
- Output: one table per cluster and a ranked plan of what to attack first
Install the keyword-research skill
Download the ZIP for this skill from this page. The skill is a single file, SKILL.md. Install it in one of these ways.
For a personal install, unzip the download into ~/.claude/skills/. For a project-specific install, unzip it into the .claude/skills/ folder of that project. You can also upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal: unzip into ~/.claude/skills/
- Project: unzip into .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP
Connect the Ryze MCP connector
The skill depends on the free Ryze MCP connector at https://connector.get-ryze.ai/mcp. Without it the skill cannot fetch keyword data. Account setup is required.
In Claude Code, add the connector with the command below. In claude.ai, Claude Desktop or Cursor, add a custom connector using the same URL. The source links a setup guide on get-ryze.ai for connecting Claude to the service.
- Google Ads planner data is accessed through this connector
- Google Search Console access through the connector is needed only for the existing-rankings step
claude mcp add ryze --transport http https://connector.get-ryze.ai/mcpHow to trigger the skill with natural requests
The skill is described to activate on phrases like "find keywords", "keyword research for X", "what should I rank for" or "build a keyword plan". Name your topic and, if relevant, your site so the agent has something to work from.
Give the seed as specifically as you can. A seed such as "sourdough starter kits" gives a tighter plan than "baking".
- "Keyword research for sourdough starter kits, my site is example.com"
- "Find keywords for home bike repair"
- "What should I rank for with a payroll software blog?"
- "Build a keyword plan for a plumbing service in Leeds"
What you get back
The output has one table per cluster with keyword, volume, CPC, intent and current position where one exists. A ranked plan follows, explaining which clusters to attack first. The skill ranks by volume multiplied by winnability and favours clusters where your site already sits in striking distance.
CPC is included on purpose. It shows what the traffic is worth and doubles as a source of negative keywords for ads.
- Keywords without numbers appear with the reason if a metrics call failed. The skill is told never to invent volumes.
- Each cluster lists a target keyword, supporting keywords, total volume, intent and an existing page or new page.
Requirements and safety notes
The skill runs no scripts. It does use the network, because it calls the Ryze connector and, if available, DataForSEO tools. The Ryze connector is a third-party service, so review its terms before connecting an account. The figures come from third-party planner data and are estimates, not guaranteed-accurate numbers.
The skill is released under the MIT licence.
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: yes
- Required: Ryze MCP connector and a free account
- Optional: Google Search Console access through the connector; DataForSEO tools in the workspace
Tips for better keyword plans
Start with a narrow seed and a site URL. Ask for the existing-rankings step if you already have a site in Search Console, since it changes the plan from create-everything to optimize-first.
Treat volumes as estimates for comparing options, not as figures for budgeting decisions.
- Give your URL so the idea expansion can use it
- Ask for the plan to focus on one cluster if the full output is too broad
- Check that the connector is connected before you start if results look empty
What people use it for
- Planning a blog content calendar around a product category
- Finding which search terms a local service business should target
- Spotting keywords a site already ranks for that need optimizing rather than new pages
- Collecting CPC data to build a list of negative keywords for ads
Frequently asked questions
How do I install the keyword-research skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or .claude/skills/ inside a project. In the Claude apps you can instead upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Is the keyword research skill free?
The skill is released under the MIT licence. It depends on the Ryze MCP connector, which the source describes as free but requiring account setup. Check the connector's own terms for anything beyond that.
What do I need to run the keyword-research skill?
You need the Ryze MCP connector at https://connector.get-ryze.ai/mcp. Google Search Console access through the connector is optional and only needed for the existing-rankings step. DataForSEO tools are optional and add intent and difficulty.
Does the skill give accurate search volumes?
The figures come from third-party Google Ads planner data and are estimates. The skill is instructed never to invent volumes, and to show a keyword without numbers if a metrics call fails. Do not rely on them alone for financial decisions.
Are there alternatives to this skill?
The source does not compare this skill with other tools, so this guide cannot make a claim about alternatives. You can use any keyword tool directly, or pick a different skill, if the Ryze connector does not suit your needs.
Why does the agent say a keyword has no volume?
The skill is designed to show a keyword without numbers and state the reason when a metrics call fails. Check that the Ryze connector is connected and try again with a narrower seed.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you are an SEO specialist, content marketer or small business owner who wants a clustered keyword plan that is tied to what your site already ranks for, and you are comfortable connecting a free third-party connector. Pick something else if you cannot use the Ryze connector or need guaranteed-accurate volumes for financial decisions.
Download the skill