Introduction
If you’ve ever managed an SEO campaign, you know that a cluttered keyword list can do more harm than good. Whether you’re working with a bloated spreadsheet of 365 keywords or a messy database, cleaning up your keyword list is essential for boosting your website’s search performance.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into the importance of cleaning a 365 KWs list, how to filter out low-quality keywords, and best practices for optimizing your keyword strategy. By the end, you’ll have a clear, actionable plan to refine your keyword list and improve your SEO rankings.
Why Cleaning a 365 KWs List Matters
Many businesses make the mistake of collecting an extensive list of keywords without realizing that not all of them are useful. Here’s why cleaning your keyword list is crucial:
Avoiding Keyword Cannibalization – Too many similar keywords can cause your pages to compete against each other.
Focusing on High-Value Keywords – Prioritizing relevant, high-search-volume, and low-competition keywords improves your ranking chances.
Boosting Content Relevance – Using the right keywords ensures your content aligns with user intent.
Saving Time and Effort – A refined list means more efficiency in content planning and optimization.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your 365 KWs List
1. Remove Irrelevant and Low-Intent Keywords
Start by filtering out keywords that do not align with your website’s purpose or audience intent.
- Use Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs to analyze search intent.
- Delete generic keywords that don’t have a clear conversion goal.
- Check for misspelled keywords or outdated terms.
Example:
If you run a cleaning service website, a keyword like “best vacuum brands” might not be relevant to your business.
2. Identify Low-Search-Volume Keywords
Not all keywords are worth targeting, especially if they have low search volume.
- Use SEO tools like SEMrush, Moz, or Google Trends to check search trends.
- If a keyword has less than 50 searches per month, it might not be worth optimizing for.
- Remove outdated or seasonal keywords unless they align with your strategy.
Example:
“Best carpet cleaner for winter 2015” is outdated and unlikely to drive traffic.
3. Remove High-Competition Keywords (Unless You Have Authority)
Some keywords are too competitive, making it hard to rank unless you have a high domain authority (DA).
- Check Keyword Difficulty (KD) scores using tools like Ahrefs or Ubersuggest.
- If your DA is below 30, focus on long-tail keywords instead of broad, high-competition ones.
Example:
Instead of targeting “house cleaning service”, try “affordable house cleaning service in New York”.
4. Group Keywords by Search Intent
Search intent is one of Google’s most important ranking factors.
- Informational Intent: Users looking for answers (e.g., “how to remove stains from carpets”).
- Navigational Intent: Users searching for a brand or specific site (e.g., “Merry Maids website”).
- Transactional Intent: Users ready to buy or take action (e.g., “hire a home cleaning service”).
Tip:
Prioritize transactional and high-converting informational keywords.
5. Remove Duplicate and Similar Keywords
Many keyword lists have duplicate entries or keywords with slight variations.
- Use Excel’s Remove Duplicates feature or an SEO tool to clean them.
- Keep the version with the best search volume and lowest difficulty.
Example:
“Carpet cleaning NYC” and “New York carpet cleaners” – Pick one and discard the other.
6. Prioritize Local Keywords (If Relevant)
If your business serves a specific area, local SEO keywords are essential.
- Add city, neighborhood, or state names to relevant keywords.
- Use Google My Business insights to see which local searches drive traffic.
Example:
Instead of “best deep cleaning service”, use “best deep cleaning service in Miami”.
Conclusion
Cleaning your 365 KWs list is not just about decluttering—it’s about optimizing your SEO efforts for better rankings, more traffic, and higher conversions. By removing irrelevant, duplicate, and low-performing keywords, you’ll improve your content strategy and dominate the search results.
Final Tip:
Make keyword cleanup a regular habit—audit your list every 3–6 months to stay competitive!
FAQs
1. How often should I clean my keyword list?
It’s recommended to audit your keyword list every 3 to 6 months to ensure you’re using the most effective terms.
2. What’s the best tool for keyword cleaning?
SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Keyword Planner, and Moz are excellent for analyzing and refining your keyword list.
3. Should I completely remove low-search-volume keywords?
Not necessarily! If a low-volume keyword has high conversion potential (e.g., a niche service or product), it may still be worth keeping.
4. How can I find better alternatives to high-competition keywords?
Use long-tail keyword variations, check “People Also Ask” sections in Google, or explore related searches at the bottom of Google SERPs.
5. Can local keywords improve my rankings?
Yes! Adding geographic modifiers (e.g., “house cleaning in Dallas”) helps attract local customers and boosts your Google My Business visibility.