Search Intent Classifier for Keyword Lists
Classify every keyword by intent so each one gets mapped to the right type of page
What This Prompt Does
Paste a list of keywords and get back a clean table with one intent label per row — informational, commercial, transactional, navigational, or local — plus a one-sentence reason for each. This is the fastest way to decide which keywords belong on blog posts, which belong on service pages, and which belong on a location page.
When to Use It
- •You exported a keyword list from a tool and need to triage it
- •You're deciding whether a keyword deserves a blog post or a service page
- •You're planning a content calendar and need to balance intent types
- •You suspect a page is ranking for the wrong intent
The Prompt Template
Act as an SEO analyst. Your goal is to classify keywords by user intent so they can be mapped to the right type of page. Context: - Business type: [BUSINESS TYPE] - Geography: [GEOGRAPHY] - Keyword list: [PASTE KEYWORDS] Task: Classify each keyword into one of these categories: - informational - commercial - transactional - navigational - local Also give a short reason for each classification. Process: 1. Read each keyword. 2. Determine what the searcher is trying to do. 3. Assign one intent category. 4. Give a short plain-English explanation. Constraints: - Use only one main intent per keyword. - If a keyword is mixed, pick the strongest intent and note the secondary intent in the explanation. - Use simple language. - Keep each explanation to 1 sentence. Output format: Return a table with these columns: - Keyword - Intent - Reason
How the Prompt Is Structured
Role & Fixed Category List
The prompt names the five allowed intent labels up front. Without this, the AI invents its own taxonomy ("research," "mid-funnel," etc.) and the output stops being useful for downstream planning.
Context Matters for Ambiguous Terms
"Pricing" alone is ambiguous. "Pricing" for a B2B SaaS audience is commercial; for a local service business, it's often transactional. Filling in business type and geography changes how the AI classifies borderline keywords.
One Primary Intent Per Keyword
The "one main intent" rule forces a decision. Mixed-intent keywords are real, but a single primary label is what you need to decide which page the keyword lives on. Secondary intent goes in the reason column.
Table Output
Requesting a table means you can paste the result straight into a spreadsheet, sort by intent, and start assigning URLs — no manual reformatting.
Example Output
| Keyword | Intent | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| best payroll software for small business | commercial | The searcher is comparing options before making a decision. |
| how does ach direct deposit work | informational | The searcher wants to understand a concept, not buy anything yet. |
| gusto login | navigational | The searcher is trying to reach a specific brand's site. |
| payroll service bozeman mt | local | The searcher wants a provider in a specific city. |
| buy payroll software | transactional | The searcher is ready to purchase. |
Tips for Better Results
Batch in Chunks of 50 to 100
Massive lists lose fidelity. Classify 50 to 100 keywords at a time and spot-check before running the next batch.
Verify with the SERP
When a classification looks wrong, check what's actually ranking. Google's top 10 is the ground truth for intent.
Layer With Funnel Stage
Once intent is labeled, add a second pass for funnel stage (TOFU, MOFU, BOFU) to get a complete content plan.
Watch for Local Drift
Any keyword implicitly scoped to a city or region is "local" even without the city in the phrase. Tell the AI when a business is local-only.
Turn Intent Labels Into a Content Plan
We help teams translate classified keyword lists into ranked, published pages — not spreadsheets that sit unused.