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One keyword in, the whole topic out.
Enter a seed keyword in AI Research mode and Keyword Explorer maps everything the topic covers. Sub-topics arrive grouped and numbered, with the keywords, volume, difficulty and intent for each. You get a content plan you can argue for, without two days of sorting keywords by hand.
When the plan is a list of hunches.
The plan is whatever came up in the meeting
Nobody can see the whole topic, so the roadmap is a list of hunches.
Two days in a spreadsheet
Someone groups three thousand keywords by hand, then the list changes.
The pillar went live on its own
The hub page shipped. The articles that should hold it up were never planned.
Seed it, read it, act on it.
Enter a keyword and a country
Switch the search bar to AI Research and give it one seed keyword.
Read the numbered groups
Sub-topics appear as 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, each with its own keywords.
Narrow it by intent
Click an intent in the strip and the map shows only those topics.
Search intent →Open a topic and send it on
Create an article, add it to your content plan or track it in AI Beacon.
Content Studio →A map you can plan from, not a pile of keywords.
See the whole topic before you write any of it.
The map sets out every sub-topic as a numbered group, with smaller topics tucked underneath. It reads like the table of contents for a content programme.
- Groups and sub-groups1.0 for the big theme, 1.1 and 1.2 for the topics inside it.
- Collapsible listsOpen the groups you care about and fold away the rest.
- Keywords sorted into placeEvery keyword sits in the topic it belongs to, so nothing floats loose.
Spot the easy wins from the map itself.
Every topic carries two dots, one for difficulty and one for volume. You can see where the openings are before you open anything.
- Difficulty dotGreen, amber or red, from the difficulty of the keywords inside.
- Volume dotHow much demand the topic holds, on the same colour scale.
- A legend on screenSo nobody has to remember what the colours mean.
- Filter by intentClick an intent cell above the map and the topics narrow to match.
Know why a topic matters, in plain words.
Click a topic and the analysis panel opens beside the map. It shows the numbers, a short strategy and an explanation of the cluster in plain language.
- Four numbers up topVolume, difficulty, keywords in the cluster and strategic value.
- A strategy blockSuggested moves for the topic, with buttons to act on them.
- A cluster insightA short note on what ties the keywords together and why it's worth doing.
| Keyword | Vol. | KD |
|---|---|---|
| retainer invoice template | 720 | 19 |
| how to invoice a retainer client | 320 | 22 |
| retainer billing software | 260 | 38 |
The best openings across the whole map.
Under the map, an opportunities table pulls the strongest keywords from every topic into one list. Each comes with a plain-language signal telling you why it made the cut.
- An opportunity signal on every rowShort, colour-coded reasons such as low difficulty for the volume.
- Tabs for the restOpportunities, All Keywords, Questions and Competitors.
| Keyword | Vol. | KD | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| retainer invoice template | 720 | 19 | Low KD for volume |
| invoice template for agencies | 2,400 | 35 | Seasonal peak soon |
| agency billing software | 880 | 41 | Comparison intent |
Words match. Topics mean.
Keyword clustering usually groups keywords that share words. A topical map groups them by what they're about, so the structure matches how people think about the subject.
Keywords grouped by the words they have in common. Related searches that use different words end up in different piles, and nobody sees the whole topic.
The subject set out as numbered topics, with every keyword in the topic it belongs to. Volume, difficulty, intent and strategic value on each one.
Maps work best alongside these.
What is a topical map in SEORCE?
A topical map is a plan of everything a subject covers. In SEORCE Keyword Explorer, you enter one seed keyword in AI Research mode and it builds the map for you: sub-topics as numbered groups, the keywords inside each, and volume, difficulty, intent and strategic value for every topic. An opportunities table pulls the best keywords from across the map into one list.
Key facts
- Built in AI Research mode from one seed keyword and a country
- Sub-topics set out as numbered groups with sub-groups
- Two signal dots on every topic: difficulty and volume
- Four numbers per topic: volume, difficulty, keywords in cluster and strategic value
- Analysis tabs for Keywords, Questions, Related Topics and SERP Analysis
- An opportunities table across the whole map, with a plain-language signal on each row
- Topics can be sent to Content Studio, added to a content plan or tracked in AI Beacon
Last reviewed 15 October 2026 by the SEORCE team.
Topical maps, answered.
A plan of everything a subject covers, set out as topics and sub-topics. Keyword Explorer builds one from a single seed keyword, with the keywords, volume, difficulty and intent for each topic.
Close, with one difference. Clustering groups keywords that share words. A topical map groups them by topic, starting from the subject itself, so related keywords land together even when the wording differs.
AI Research. Basic mode is for looking at one keyword in depth. You switch between them in the search bar.
A plain-language read on how much a topic is worth to you, shown beside its volume, difficulty and keyword count.
Yes. Open a topic and use Create Article to start it in Content Studio, or add it to your content plan.
No. The map plans the work. Content Studio writes the articles, and Rank Tracker follows them once they're live.
Your whole topic, on one screen.
Add your site, enter one keyword and see every topic worth covering, grouped and scored.
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