The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) is a concept in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that aims to help publishers identify less competitive keywords with a high potential for ranking on Google and other search engines. This method was devised by Doug Cunnington, founder of Niche Site Project.
KGR is calculated by dividing the number of Google search results for a keyword “allintitle” by the monthly search volume for the same keyword. The ‘Allintitle’ is an advanced Google search directive that allows you to find web pages where the title tags of the web pages contain the specific keyword phrase. In other words, it helps to measure how many pages are intentionally targeting a specific keyword. To achieve the best results with KGR, it’s suggested that the ratio should be less than 0.25. In that case, the number of search results targeting the particular phrase is significantly lower than people searching for it, implying that it may be easier to rank for.
Let’s take an example to understand this better with a hypothetical keyword, “Best hiking shoes under $100”. If you input ‘allintitle:“Best hiking shoes under $100”’ into the Google search bar, you might get, for instance, 80 results. The monthly search volume for that same keyword, according to keyword tools such as Ahrefs or SEMRush, could be 320 searches a month. Here’s how KGR is calculated:
(Allintitle results/Monthly search volume) = KGR
(80/320) = 0.25
In this case, the KGR is exactly 0.25, which means the keyword is relatively low competition and could be easier to rank for.
This approach is often used in niche markets because, while a smaller group of people may be interested in such topics, the right use of KGR can also mean that there are fewer competing publishers or businesses. It is suitable for content creators who are just starting out or for websites that do not have a strong backlink foundation, as it enables them to target potential low-competition keywords.
The sources used for this information include Doug Cunnington’s Niche Site Project, Ahrefs and SEMRush. These are reliable SEO platforms widely recognized in the digital marketing industry. A word of caution: using KGR does not guarantee high rankings, as Google considers over 200 factors when determining rankings. Other SEO best practices should also be followed.
Works Cited:
1. Cunnington, Doug. Niche Site Project. https://nichesiteproject.com/
2. Ahrefs. Keyword Research – Learn SEO (2020 Guide). https://ahrefs.com/blog/keyword-research/
3. SEMRush. How to Do Keyword Research: A Comprehensive Guide. https://www.semrush.com/blog/how-to-do-keyword-research/
