Keyword Metrics

Overview

The Keyword Metrics block retrieves SEO metrics for one or more keywords from Ahrefs. Use it to check search volume, keyword difficulty, CPC, and traffic potential before choosing keywords to target. It accepts a comma-separated list, so you can score several keywords in a single step.

Configuration

Target Keyword(s) (Required)

The keyword or keywords to analyze. Enter one keyword, or several separated by commas. Example:

best crm for startups, crm software, sales crm

You can reference placeholders from previous steps: {{step_1.output}}

Country

The country database used for the metrics. Default: us Choose the country that matches your target market. Metrics like volume and difficulty vary by country. Common values: us, uk, ca, de, fr, es, it, br, au, in, jp. The Country dropdown lists 250 country options.

Output Format

Controls how the block returns data to the next step. Default: Text (Human Readable) Options:

Value	Description
Text (Human Readable)	Returns the metrics as readable markdown text. Best for feeding into an LLM block.
JSON (Raw)	Returns the raw Ahrefs response. Best when later steps read specific fields.

Error Handling

Define what happens if the block fails to retrieve data. Options:

Terminate Workflow: Stop execution immediately.
Continue Execution: Proceed to the next step despite the error.

Choose based on whether later steps depend on the keyword data.

Output Data

With JSON (Raw) output, the block returns the raw Ahrefs response. The keywords array contains one object per keyword with these fields.

keyword

The keyword analyzed. Example: "crm software"

volume

Monthly search volume for the keyword. Example: 74000

difficulty

Keyword Difficulty score from 0–100. Higher values are harder to rank for. Example: 76

cpc

Average cost per click for paid ads, in USD. Example: 14.24

cps

Clicks per search — the average number of results clicked per search. Example: 0.7

parent_topic

The broader topic the keyword belongs to. Example: "crm"

traffic_potential

Estimated monthly organic traffic the top-ranking page receives. Example: 120000

intents

Search intent signals for the keyword. Example: ["commercial", "informational"]

serp_features

SERP features present for the keyword. Example: ["sitelinks", "people_also_ask"] With Text (Human Readable) output, the block returns the same data as readable markdown text instead of JSON.

Sample Output

{
  "keywords": [
    {
      "keyword": "crm software",
      "volume": 74000,
      "difficulty": 76,
      "cpc": 14.24,
      "cps": 0.7,
      "parent_topic": "crm",
      "traffic_potential": 120000,
      "intents": ["commercial", "informational"],
      "serp_features": ["sitelinks", "people_also_ask"]
    }
  ]
}

Best Practices

Use JSON output when later steps need to read specific fields like volume or difficulty.
Use Text output when the result feeds an LLM block for a content brief.
Pass several keywords at once with commas to compare metrics in one step.
Match the Country to your target market for accurate volume and difficulty.
Use volume and difficulty together to prioritize keywords.
Save output to a sheet to build a keyword research log.

Common Use Cases

Use Case	Configuration	Next Steps
Keyword research	One or more seed keywords	Compare metrics, pick targets
Content planning	Target keyword for a post	Generate a brief with an LLM block
Keyword prioritization	A list of candidate keywords	Score by volume vs. difficulty
PPC research	Commercial keywords	Estimate cost using CPC
International SEO	Same keyword, different countries	Compare markets

What’s Next

Expand seed terms with Keyword Ideas
See what a domain ranks for in URL Organic Keywords
Generate content with the LLM Block
Process many keywords with the Loop Block
Save results in Google Sheets
Learn placeholder syntax in Variable Referencing

Getting Started

Cowork

Insights

Work

Automate

Assets

Integrations

Overview

Configuration

Target Keyword(s) (Required)

Country

Output Format

Error Handling

Output Data

keyword

volume

difficulty

cpc

cps

parent_topic

traffic_potential

intents

serp_features

Sample Output

Best Practices

Common Use Cases

What’s Next

​Overview

​Configuration

​Target Keyword(s) (Required)

​Country

​Output Format

​Error Handling

​Output Data

​keyword

​volume

​difficulty

​cpc

​cps

​parent_topic

​traffic_potential

​intents

​serp_features

​Sample Output

​Best Practices

​Common Use Cases

​What’s Next

Overview

Configuration

Target Keyword(s) (Required)

Country

Output Format

Error Handling

Output Data

keyword

volume

difficulty

cpc

cps

parent_topic

traffic_potential

intents

serp_features

Sample Output

Best Practices

Common Use Cases

What’s Next