I use Semrush’s Keyword Manager every time I want to organize keywords and build focused content strategies. Create Keywords Clusters With Semrush Keyword Manager shows you how to group similar keywords into clusters or keyword groups, manage your own keyword lists, and pick the best topics to target. This article explains the exact workflow I follow inside Keyword Manager so you can create pillar pages, supporting content, or a single in-depth guide that covers a topic and its subtopics.
Table of Contents
- How do I create an SEO keyword clusters list in Keyword Manager?
- What happens after the keyword list is created?
- How do I filter and refine clusters to focus on the best opportunities?
- How do I evaluate cluster ranking potential and intent?
- How do I send cluster keywords to the SEO Writing Assistant?
- What does the Mind Map view show and when do I use it?
- When should I use the Table view instead of Cluster or Mind Map?
- What are two practical ways to use keyword clusters?
- How can I export, update, or reuse my clustered keyword lists?
- How many seed keywords can I give Semrush to auto-generate a keyword list?
How do I create an SEO keyword clusters list in Keyword Manager?
I start by opening Keyword Manager from Semrush under Keyword Research. Once you click on Keyword Manager you arrive at the main tool where you can either import an existing keyword list or create a brand new one. You can add up to five seed keywords and ask Semrush to collect related keywords automatically, or you can add keywords manually.
I often test with simple seeds like weight loss and lose weight. After I click Create List the tool begins to gather data for pillar page suggestions, cluster keywords, content references, and internal links. Depending on how many seed keywords you gave, this may take a few minutes.
What happens after the keyword list is created?
The Keyword Manager shows your list limits (you can add up to 2,000 keywords per list) and the number of keywords currently in the list. In my example the list occupied 1,032 keywords and Semrush grouped them into around 41 clusters or keyword groups. The interface presents three views for working with those clusters: Cluster, Mind Map, and Table.
How do I filter and refine clusters to focus on the best opportunities?
Filters let me narrow down clusters just like in Keyword Magic. I can filter by search volume, keyword difficulty, intent, or include/exclude clusters containing specific words. For example, I might exclude keywords with a difficulty over 50 percent or only include clusters with informational intent. I also sort clusters by highest volume, lowest difficulty, or use the pre-defined filters to speed things up.
After applying filters I usually reduce the candidate keywords to a manageable number. From there I can send that subset to other Semrush tools like SEO Content Template, SEO Writing Assistant, Position Tracking, or the PPC Keyword Tool. You can update the list with real-time data or export it in a variety of formats.
How do I evaluate cluster ranking potential and intent?
Clusters include metadata showing total volume, average keyword difficulty, and the mix of search intents inside each cluster. Semrush highlights high ranking potential clusters — these are groups where similar keywords have comparable difficulty and where your domain already ranks in the top 10 for related keywords. When you click into a cluster you get the full keyword list, intent breakdown, and a set of content references based on SERP analysis. I use those references to benchmark top articles and to plan better, more authoritative content.
How do I send cluster keywords to the SEO Writing Assistant?
When I pick a cluster to create content for, I click Write Content. The tool asks whether I want to send the cluster keywords to SEO Writing Assistant and which device to target. If your plan includes the Writing Assistant (this feature is available on certain Semrush plans) you will get SEO recommendations, originality analysis, and rewriting help with the AI Rewrite tool within the content workflow. These integrations speed up creating a pillar page or an in-depth guide that covers subtopics as separate headings.
What does the Mind Map view show and when do I use it?
The Mind Map view gives a visual representation of all the clusters. Hovering over any cluster reveals how many keywords it contains, the total volume, and the keyword difficulty. I use Mind Map when I want a quick, visual sense of topic coverage across my list — it works like AnswerThePublic or TopicMojo mind map tools. You can export the mind map as PNG or JPG for planning documents or team discussions.
When should I use the Table view instead of Cluster or Mind Map?
If you prefer tabular data, Table view lists clusters similar to the Keyword Magic tool table. You get columns such as seed keyword, cluster name, click potential, tags, and other familiar metrics. Clicking any cluster name in the table opens the cluster page for deeper analysis. I switch to Table view when I need to filter, tag, or prepare lists to export for tracking or content briefs.
What are two practical ways to use keyword clusters?
- Create a main pillar page and publish supporting articles that link back to the pillar. Use the cluster keywords to power up the pillar in rankings for the main keyword.
- Publish one comprehensive guide that covers the main keyword and all subtopics as separate headings on a single, in-depth page. Use the clustered keywords as section topics and subheadings to build a resource that targets all related queries.
How can I export, update, or reuse my clustered keyword lists?
Keyword Manager allows exporting the list, updating it with real-time data, and sending selected keywords to other Semrush tools. You can maintain multiple lists depending on your plan and include up to 2,000 keywords per list. When you need to scale content production, export clusters into content templates or send them to position tracking and PPC tools.
How many seed keywords can I give Semrush to auto-generate a keyword list?
You can provide up to five seed keywords and Semrush will collect related keywords and generate a list based on those seeds.
What is the maximum number of keywords per list?
Each keyword list can contain up to 2,000 keywords. You cannot add more than 2,000 items to a single list.
Can I filter clusters by search intent?
Yes. You can filter clusters by intent (for example informational, transactional), search volume thresholds, keyword difficulty, and include or exclude clusters containing specific words.
Does Keyword Manager integrate with the SEO Writing Assistant?
Yes. You can send cluster keywords directly to the SEO Writing Assistant. Some Writing Assistant features, like AI rewrite and advanced analysis, depend on your Semrush plan.
What views does Keyword Manager offer for clusters?
Keyword Manager offers three main views for clusters: Cluster (group overview), Mind Map (visual topic map), and Table (detailed tabular data).
I use these steps to organize keywords, evaluate opportunities, and create content that ranks. Create Keywords Clusters With Semrush Keyword Manager is a practical way to scale research and move from scattered keyword lists to structured content plans. The cluster, mind map, and table views, combined with filters and integration options, make it straightforward to decide between pillar pages or single in-depth guides and to hand off content briefs to writers or tools.
