Does Keyword Golden Ratio work?

The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) is a concept in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) that aims to identify low-competition keywords that a new website or page can rank for relatively quickly. The method was introduced by Doug Cunnington and involves a specific formula: KGR = Monthly search volume (where volume is less than 250) / Number of Google search results with the exact keyword in the title Here's a breakdown of how the KGR works and whether it's effective: How it Works Identify Keywords : Find keywords that have a monthly search volume of less than 250 searches. Check SERPs : Look for how many search results feature the exact keyword in their title. Calculate the Ratio : Use the KGR formula. A KGR of less than 0.25 is considered ideal. It suggests that the keyword is underutilized relative to its search volume, thus easier to rank for. Effectiveness Pros : Quick Wins : Can help identify keywords that are easier to rank for, which is particularly beneficial for newer websites with lower domain authority. Focused Strategy : Helps in focusing efforts on specific, possibly niche, queries that larger competitors might overlook. Early Traffic : Ideal for quick traffic gains, as these terms are often overlooked by major competitors. Cons : Limited Search Volume : By focusing only on keywords with less than 250 searches per month, you may miss out on potentially more impactful keywords with higher traffic. Quality of Traffic : The traffic from such keywords may not always be high quality or convert well, depending on the niche and the relevance of the keyword. Scalability Issues : As a site grows, relying solely on KGR can limit its potential, as broader and more competitive keywords are necessary for significant scaling. Practicality The KGR method is often more useful for niche sites or during the initial stages of a website's SEO strategy. It can provide a solid foundation by capturing traffic from less competitive keywords. However, for long-term and scalable growth, it's crucial to integrate broader SEO strategies that include higher volume and more competitive keywords, content quality improvement, and user engagement metrics. In conclusion, while the Keyword Golden Ratio can be an effective tool for identifying quick-win opportunities in SEO, it should be used as part of a comprehensive SEO strategy that also targets broader growth opportunities.

What is the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR)?

Q: The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) Formula

The calculation of the KGR involves a simple formula: Read More

Q: A Real-Word Example

To give you a real-world example. I searched for "allintitle:how do you build discovery and relevance for search engines" in Google Search. It showed me eight (8) results. Read More

The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) is a strategic metric developed by SEO expert Doug Cunnington to guide website owners, especially beginners and those with new sites, in discovering low-competition keywords to optimize their content strategy for search engine results pages (SERP). At its core, the KGR method focuses on identifying specific keyword phrases with a low search volume but high potential to drive organic traffic to niche sites, emphasizing a data-driven approach to SEO.

KGR keywords are essentially long-tail keywords that present less competition, making them ideal targets for new websites aiming to gain visibility on Google search without the need for extensive link building or a strong backlink profile.

Table of Contents

The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) Formula
How to Calculate KGR
A Real-Word Example
Keyword Golden Ratio Calculator
Who is it Best for?
Pros and Cons of KGR
- Pros
- Cons
Conclusion
FAQ

The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) Formula

The calculation of the KGR involves a simple formula:

Here, the “allintitle” search operator is pivotal, as it helps in determining the number of allintitle results—web pages with titles that exactly match the search term—offering insight into how many competitors are directly targeting the same keyword phrase.

To find KGR terms, SEO tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, KWfinder, or the Google Keyword Planner can be utilized for keyword research, allowing website owners to assess monthly search volume, keyword difficulty, and even the search intent behind a search phrase. By focusing on keywords with a monthly search volume of less than 250 and a KGR score of less than 0.25, content creators can optimize their web pages more effectively for SEO, improving their chances of appearing on the first page of Google search results.

How to Calculate KGR

The practical steps to apply the Keyword Golden Ratio include:

Do a broad keyword search.
Identifying keywords related to your niche with a monthly search volume of less than 250 using a keyword research tool.
Checking the number of search results that feature the exact keyword in their title tag.
Calculating the KGR.
Prioritizing content creation for keywords with a KGR of less than 0.25 to find your target keywords.

A Real-Word Example

To give you a real-world example. I searched for “allintitle:how do you build discovery and relevance for search engines” in Google Search. It showed me eight (8) results.

Then, in Ahrefs (or any other SEO tool you like, e.g., SEMRush), you find the search volume for the country. In this case, it’s 50 searches per month.

So you take the number of Google Search Results with the Exact Keyword in the Title, which is 8, and divide it by the Monthly Search Volume, which is 50, and that gives you 0.16, a perfect Long-Tailed Keword to write an article about.

8/50=0.16

KGR scoring:

Less than 0.25: High chance of your page ranking high
Between 0.25 and 1.00: Moderate chance to be ranked high
Higher than 1.00: Poor chance of being ranked high

The aim is to get a KGR score equal to or below 0.25.

Try this out in the calculator below.

Keyword Golden Ratio Calculator

Who is it Best for?

This approach is particularly beneficial for those managing a new website or niche site, where competing against established sites with strong on-page SEO and link-building strategies might be challenging. By leveraging the KGR formula, content creators can prioritize quality content that aligns with search intent, targeting keywords that are within reach and thus more likely to yield a success story by attracting targeted organic traffic.

Pros and Cons of KGR

Here are the pros and cons of using the Keyword Golden Ratio:

Pros

Quick Wins: The main advantage of KGR is that it can potentially help websites achieve quick rankings for specific keywords. This is particularly beneficial for new websites or those looking to gain traction in a short period.
Low Competition: By targeting keywords that are less competitive, you have a better chance of ranking higher without needing a strong backlink profile or high domain authority.
Focused Strategy: KGR provides a clear and focused approach to keyword research, which can be especially helpful for SEO beginners or those looking to streamline their SEO efforts.
Cost-Effective: Since it targets low-competition keywords, the KGR method can be more cost-effective compared to strategies that target highly competitive keywords, which may require significant investment in content and link building.
Discovery of Untapped Niches: The process of finding KGR-compliant keywords can lead to the discovery of untapped niches or subtopics that have been overlooked by competitors.

Cons

Limited Scope: KGR targets very specific, often low-volume search terms. This narrow focus might limit your site’s potential to attract broader traffic or to be seen as an authority on more competitive topics.
Time-Consuming Process: Finding keywords that meet the KGR criteria can be extremely time-consuming. The process involves a lot of research and analysis to find the right balance between search volume and allintitle results.
Not Suitable for All Niches: Some niches may not have enough low-competition keywords to effectively apply the KGR method. Highly competitive markets, in particular, might require a more nuanced approach that balances long-tail and high-competition keywords.
Reliance on Accurate Data: The effectiveness of KGR depends on the accuracy of search volume and competition data. Misleading or inaccurate data can lead to poor keyword choices.
Potential for Neglecting Quality Content: There’s a risk of prioritizing keywords over content quality. Successful SEO strategies balance the importance of targeting the right keywords with creating valuable, engaging content for users.
Changes in Search Algorithms: Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, which can affect the longevity of a KGR strategy. What works today might not work tomorrow if search engines change how they evaluate or rank content.

While the Keyword Golden Ratio can offer a pathway to quick SEO wins for certain low-competition keywords, its effectiveness is contingent on accurate data, the specific niche, and the broader SEO strategy being employed. It’s important to consider these factors and the potential limitations of focusing too narrowly on KGR keywords.

Conclusion

In essence, the KGR method is a powerful SEO strategy that relies on a precise parameter—the ratio of allintitle results to search volume—to identify keyword ideas with the perfect balance of low competition and sufficient search interest. This makes it an invaluable technique for SEO beginners, content strategists, and anyone looking to enhance their site’s visibility with a solid foundation in keyword research and a keen understanding of search engine algorithms.

FAQ

Does Keyword Golden Ratio work?
The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) is a concept in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) that aims to identify low-competition keywords that a new website or page can rank for relatively quickly. The method was introduced by Doug Cunnington and involves a specific formula:

KGR = Monthly search volume (where volume is less than 250) / Number of Google search results with the exact keyword in the title

Here’s a breakdown of how the KGR works and whether it’s effective:

How it Works
1. Identify Keywords: Find keywords that have a monthly search volume of less than 250 searches.
2. Check SERPs: Look for how many search results feature the exact keyword in their title.
3. Calculate the Ratio: Use the KGR formula. A KGR of less than 0.25 is considered ideal. It suggests that the keyword is underutilized relative to its search volume, thus easier to rank for.
Effectiveness
- Pros:
  - Quick Wins: Can help identify keywords that are easier to rank for, which is particularly beneficial for newer websites with lower domain authority.
  - Focused Strategy: Helps in focusing efforts on specific, possibly niche, queries that larger competitors might overlook.
  - Early Traffic: Ideal for quick traffic gains, as these terms are often overlooked by major competitors.
- Cons:
  - Limited Search Volume: By focusing only on keywords with less than 250 searches per month, you may miss out on potentially more impactful keywords with higher traffic.
  - Quality of Traffic: The traffic from such keywords may not always be high quality or convert well, depending on the niche and the relevance of the keyword.
  - Scalability Issues: As a site grows, relying solely on KGR can limit its potential, as broader and more competitive keywords are necessary for significant scaling.
Practicality

The KGR method is often more useful for niche sites or during the initial stages of a website’s SEO strategy. It can provide a solid foundation by capturing traffic from less competitive keywords. However, for long-term and scalable growth, it’s crucial to integrate broader SEO strategies that include higher volume and more competitive keywords, content quality improvement, and user engagement metrics.

In conclusion, while the Keyword Golden Ratio can be an effective tool for identifying quick-win opportunities in SEO, it should be used as part of a comprehensive SEO strategy that also targets broader growth opportunities.

How do you calculate Keyword Golden Ratio in Excel?

Calculating the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) in Excel is a straightforward process once you have the necessary data: the number of search results featuring the exact keyword in the title, and the monthly search volume for each keyword (which should be less than 250). Here’s how to set it up:

Steps to Calculate KGR in Excel

Prepare Your Data:
- Column A: List your keywords.
- Column B: Enter the monthly search volume for each keyword.
- Column C: Enter the number of search results that have the exact keyword in the title.
Create a Formula for KGR:
- In Column D next to your first keyword, you can write the formula to calculate the KGR. Assuming your first keyword is in row 2, your formula in cell D2 will look like this: =IF(B2<=250, C2/B2, "N/A")
- This formula checks if the search volume (Column B) is less than or equal to 250. If it is, it calculates the KGR by dividing the number of exact match titles (Column C) by the search volume (Column B). If the search volume is greater than 250, it outputs "N/A" (or you can choose to handle it differently).
Copy the Formula:
- Drag the fill handle (the small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell) down through Column D to apply the formula to other rows.
Interpreting Results:
- Values below 0.25 are typically ideal, indicating low competition and higher potential for quick ranking.
- Values between 0.25 and 1 also indicate relatively low competition but might require more SEO effort.
- Values above 1 suggest higher competition.
Filter and Sort:
- You may want to filter or sort your keywords based on the KGR value to prioritize your SEO efforts. Lower values are generally more attractive for targeting.

Example in Excel:

Here is how your Excel sheet might look:

Keyword	Search Volume	Exact Match Titles	KGR
Keyword1	150	30	0.2
Keyword2	100	10	0.1
Keyword3	300	50	N/A
Keyword4	200	100	0.5

This setup will help you quickly evaluate which keywords are worth targeting based on the KGR method. Adjusting the threshold and interpreting results in the context of your specific SEO goals and the niche's competitive landscape is crucial for effective use.