Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR): What Is It? How to Use It to Rank Quickly in 2024?

Want to find keywords that you can rank for within a few hours or days? Then, you should try the data-driven technique called the “Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR)”.

KGR can be extremely helpful for finding keywords with lower competition.

In this post, you’ll learn;

  • What is the Keyword Golden Ratio, and how does it work?
  • Pros and cons of KGR
  • How to find KGR keywords and more 

Are you ready? Let’s jump into the details. 

What is the Keyword Golden Ratio (OR) KGR?

The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) is a data-driven way to find low-competition keywords.

The keyword golden ratio is calculated by dividing the number of Google search results that have the EXACT keyword phrase in the title by the monthly search volume for that keyword. 

If there are only 50 Google search results for the keyword “SEO tools” and the monthly search volume for that keyword is 250, then the KGR would be:

50 (number of search results) / 250 (monthly search volume) = 0.2

KGR = Number of exact search results (allintitle) of a keyword / Number of monthly searches

The key here is to look for keywords with a low KGR (less than 0.25).

Here’s an illustration describing the KGR formula;

keyword golden ratio formula

Remember, the search volume should be less than 250 for the KGR to be accurate.

Here’s how to interpret KGR keywords;

  • KGR less than 0.25: Go for these keywords! It indicates a very low competition keyword that gives you a HIGHER chance of ranking in the top 50 results, mostly within a few days.
  • KGR between 0.25 and 1: Still, you can rank! It is still a good KGR, but the competition is slightly higher. You can still rank in the top 250 results relatively quickly.
  • KGR greater than 1: This suggests a more competitive keyword that might be more difficult to rank for, especially for new websites.

How to Find KGR Keywords in 2024? 3 Simple Steps

keyword golden ratio KGR

Now, let’s talk about how to find KGR keywords with real-world examples in THREE simple steps.

Step 1: Brainstorm and Research Relevant Keyword Ideas

The first step is to find relevant keyword ideas.

Let’s assume you’re running a website related to SEO, you can brainstorm relevant seed keywords (e.g., “SEO tips”).

Also, you need a proper keyword tool to identify relevant keywords for your topic.

You can use any keyword tool, including Semrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, KWFinder or Keyword Planner. Ensure the tool offers important metrics like monthly search volume, related keywords, CPC value, etc.

For this tutorial, we’ll use the Semrush keyword magic tool because it offers plenty of keyword data. You can go with Ubersuggest (if you’re looking for free options).

Enter your seed keyword and filter by “phrase match” or “related terms.”

keyword magic tool

As you can see above, you’ll find plenty of related phrase match keyword ideas for our example seed keyword.

Another tip to brainstorm new keyword ideas is to look for questions (related to your topic).

You can use Google Autosuggest, Answer the Public, or Quora to find questions people ask related to your niche (e.g., “How to improve SEO ranking”).

The best part about premium tools like Semrush is that they can give you question keywords.

Here’s what it looks like;

questions

Once you’re done finding relevant and question keywords related to your topic, you’ll consider user intent.

It is extremely important. See what keywords your competitors rank for using tools like Ubersuggest or Semrush Domain Overview. 

If you’re curious, there are four MAJOR types of keywords, including;

  • Informational
  • Navigational
  • Commercial
  • Transactional

The key here is to think about what your target audience wants to achieve when searching for your topic.

Step 2: Filter Keywords by Search Volume (0-250)

Once you’re done finding relevant keywords, it’s time to filter out ALL the unwanted keywords.

That way, you can find only the GOLDEN keywords that give you some quick traffic.

Here’s how you can do it.

Filter the keywords to show only those with a monthly search volume between 0 and 250. That’s how you can find lower-competition keywords with higher potential for quicker ranking.

Most keyword tools allow filtering by search volume.

Here’s what it looks like in Semrush;

search volume

Once you apply that filter, you’ll immediately get a list of the KGR keywords.

low search keywords

Quick note: If too few keyword options exist, adjust the search volume range slightly (e.g., 0-350) while keeping competition in mind.

The key here is to find keywords with less KD (keyword difficulty). 

kd filter

Let’s try another example keyword phrase, “camera for blogging,” and Semrush gives us the following keyword suggestions (search volume less than 250). 

kgr keyword examples

As you can see, the keyword phrase “best camera for blogging and vlogging” is a really good keyword to target as it has searches less than 250.

You can watch our free video tutorial on finding better KGR keywords for more details.

Step 3: Find the number of websites with exact match titles

The final step is to check the allintitle (which is an advanced Google Search command).

Simply type in allintitle: and the keyword phrase with no spaces or quotes.

We’ll analyse the search results for our example keyword (taken from Step 2).

allintitle example

As you can see, there are only 4 search results for the keyword phrase.

Now, we can calculate the KGR using the formula;

KGR = (allintitle results) divided by (search volume)

KGR = 4 / 40 = 0.1

The search volume is 40 for the above keyword, so we’ve finally found a great KGR keyword phrase.

Similarly, you can use ANY keyword tool to find low-competition KGR keywords.

Remember, finding REALLY good KGR keywords takes time, but it’s worth the effort as you can quickly rank for such keywords.

If you don’t find any relevant KGR keywords, you can go for non-KGR keywords but make sure to choose keywords with less keyword difficulty score.

Almost ALL the major keyword tools offer the KD% score to find less-competitive keywords.

In case you’re curious, here’s a quick breakdown of the keyword difficulty range:

  • 1-14: Low-hanging fruit! Perfect for new websites with fresh content.  
  • 15-29: Easy climb. Some competition, but quality content and basic optimization can help you get top search results.
  • 30-49: Steady incline. Requires more effort, but strategic optimization and quality content can still bring you up the rankings.
  • 50-69: Challenging. You need to build backlinks apart from creating exceptional content.
  • 70-84: Extremely difficult. Only established websites with strong backlink profiles can conquer these. New websites should avoid such KD scores.
  • 85-100: Literally impossible (for now). Unless you’re a seasoned SEO master with an authoritative website, avoid these keywords.

Although the above scores are NOT strict guidelines. Make sure to consider your website’s domain authority and backlinks when choosing keywords.


Pros & Cons of Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR)

Pros:

  • It is one of the best ways to identify keywords with low competition in any niche. 
  • You’ll often see first-page rankings even with a new website, as KGR keywords often have low competition.
  • You’ll rank faster if you find the right keywords and create good content around those keywords. When your website starts ranking quickly in Google, it gives you momentum to work even harder on SEO (which ultimately leads to improving your site’s rankings).
  • New websites often lacking domain authority can greatly benefit from KGR, as you’ll target lower-competition keywords.
  • Most of the KGR keywords are long-tail keywords. By focusing on long-tail keywords, you attract users with specific search intent, ultimately leading to higher conversion rates.

Cons:

  • It is not always accurate. Search engines like Google take A LOT of things into consideration while ranking a page (such as backlinks, quality of the content, user engagement, etc). 
  • It can take lots of time and effort. You need to find low-competitive keywords, analyze the SERP results and then calculate the KGR for each keyword. 
  • Above all, if you focus ONLY on low-volume keywords, you’re simply restricting your website’s potential reach and overall traffic.

A Quick Checklist for Finding KGR Keywords

If you’re looking for a handy checklist to find better KGR keywords for your website, this section is for you. Here are a few things you can implement today.

  • Identify seed keywords. Make sure to use keyword suggestion tools and your competitor websites to find relevant seed keywords in your niche.
  • Once you have a list of seed keywords, expand your list using keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest or Semrush to discover related keywords, question keywords and long-tail phrases.
  • Then, you need to filter the keywords. Focus on keywords with search volume in the range of 10-250 per month. Prioritize long-tail phrases with specific intent.
  • Once you’re done, perform KGR analysis. Divide the number of Allintitle results (Google search with your keyword phrase) by the monthly search volume.
  • Keywords with KGR < 0.25 are ideal, as they indicate lower competition and higher ranking potential.
  • In case you don’t find any good KGR keywords, find keywords with less keyword difficulty and high cost-per-click (CPC).

If you want the best results, don’t depend on just one method like the keyword golden ratio. You should also focus on creating high-quality content, technical SEO optimization, and building relevant backlinks.

That’s how we generate huge amounts of traffic to our site from Google. You can read our blogging income reports to find our traffic & income stats.


FAQs | Golden Keyword Ratio

Here are some of the commonly asked questions about KGR keywords.

How is the keyword golden ratio (KGR) calculated?

KGR is calculated by dividing the number of Google search results containing the exact keyword in the title (i.e. “allintitle:”) by the monthly search volume (for search volumes under 250).

Here’s the formula: KGR = Number of Google results with keyword in title / Monthly search volume

What are the ideal KGR scores?

The following KGR scores are considered ideal in 2024:
– KGR Less than 0.25: Excellent – high chance of ranking in the top 50
– KGR Around 0.25 to 1.0: Good – potential for top 250 ranking
– KGR Above 1.0: Competitive – may be difficult to rank for

Can KGR guarantee top search results?

By targeting keywords less than KGR 0.25, your website can potentially rank in the top 50 search results within 24 hours. But remember, search engines like Google may take several factors, such as content quality, backlinks, etc, into consideration. 

Does KGR work for all niches? 

KGR may work in many niches that are less competitive but may not be ideal for highly competitive markets such as fitness, finance, travel, etc. You need to find sub-niches with less competition to find relevant KGR keywords.

What are the best tools to find low-competitive keywords?

Here are a few tools you can use to find keywords with less competition.
– Semrush keyword magic tool
– KWFinder
– Ubersuggest

Related Posts:


Final thoughts on KGR keyword research

KGR is one of the best ways to find low-competition keywords and rank higher in search results, especially when you have a new website.

However, increasing your website’s search traffic is NOT a magic bullet. Why? You need lots of helpful content and relevant backlinks to get better rankings in Google.

So, what are your thoughts on KGR keyword research? Do you have any more questions about this unique keyword research method? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. 

About Author
Anil Agarwal is the Founder of Bloggerspassion. He is a full-time blogger and SEO expert who has been helping people build profitable blogs for over a decade Now. He has been featured in Over 100 Publications including Forbes, The HuffPost, HubSpot, Shopify, Semrush, Kinsta, Bluehost, Hostinger and G2.com etc. Know more about Anil Agarwal from here.

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