Keywords and Clusters

Where to manage clusters

You manage clusters in Manage Keyword Clusters. This page shows the cluster list, the keywords inside each cluster, the content-plan status, and the key metrics Adaptify uses to prioritize topics.

From this page you can add clusters, add keywords, upload keyword data, reorganize keywords, set pillar pages, export cluster data, and refresh the content plan after making changes.

Clusters in the content plan

Clusters in the content plan are eligible for automated content planning. These clusters are part of the active strategy and can be selected by Adaptify when deciding what articles to create next.

The keyword manager keeps at least a small set of high-potential clusters active. If there are not enough active clusters, Adaptify can automatically activate eligible clusters based on potential so the content plan has enough topics to work from.

Clusters not in the content plan

Clusters not in the content plan are paused from automated planning. They stay in the keyword manager, but Adaptify will not prioritize them for upcoming automated content until they are moved back into the content plan.

This is useful when a topic is not relevant right now, when you want to delay it, or when you want to keep the keyword data without letting it affect the next articles.

Primary and secondary keywords

Inside a cluster, a primary keyword is the main keyword an article should target. Secondary keywords are related terms that support the same intent and can often be covered inside the same article.

This helps avoid keyword cannibalization. Instead of writing separate articles for every similar keyword, Adaptify groups related terms and uses one primary keyword as the main direction.

In the keyword manager, secondary keywords are nested under their primary keyword. You can drag keywords between groups to change whether a keyword is primary, secondary, or belongs to another cluster.

Adding keywords and importing existing strategy

You can add more keywords to any cluster. When you add a keyword, Adaptify can use it as a seed and suggest more related keyword opportunities.

If you already have a keyword strategy, you can import keywords using CSV. Imported keyword data can then be organized into clusters and used as part of the content strategy.

How keywords become articles

High-impact primary keywords can become articles. Sometimes multiple similar keywords are combined into one article when they share the same search intent.

This is why primary and secondary keyword grouping matters: the primary keyword usually defines the article direction, while secondary keywords help broaden the article coverage without creating duplicate content.

When an article exists or is planned, the keyword row can link you to the relevant article so you can review the content behind that keyword.

Automatic keyword top-ups

If a site starts running low on useful keywords, Adaptify can top up keyword opportunities at regular intervals. The goal is to keep the content plan looking ahead so there is enough time to review and adjust the strategy before content is created.

Potential, difficulty, and combined volume

Potential is Adaptify's score for how attractive a keyword or cluster is. It is calculated from signals like search volume, difficulty, and the domain authority of the website. Higher potential is better.

Difficulty estimates how competitive the keyword or cluster is. Higher difficulty means the topic may require more authority, more supporting content, or backlink building to rank well.

Combined volume shows the total monthly search volume across the cluster. It helps explain the size of the opportunity, but it should be read together with potential and difficulty rather than used alone.

Ordering and prioritization

Clusters are sorted with active content-plan clusters first, then by potential. If you manually drag clusters into a different order, Adaptify stores that order as a user override so your chosen priority stays in place even when backend scores are recalculated.

Dragging a cluster higher in the content plan can activate it for planning. Moving a cluster lower can pause it when it falls outside the active streak. This lets you guide the strategy without needing to manage every article manually.

Refresh or create the content plan

When you make cluster changes, Adaptify can update the content plan automatically, but it may take time. If you want the changes reflected sooner, use Refresh Content Plan to research the keywords again and update the plan.

If a cluster is not currently in the content plan, Add to Content Plan will research the keywords and add the cluster to the plan. If you do not do this manually, the cluster may still be added later when Adaptify decides it is the right next opportunity. The only exception is, if you have manually paused the cluster, Adaptify will not add it to the content plan until you manually activate it.

Creating new clusters

You can create a new cluster yourself. Give the cluster a clear title that describes the topic, then add keywords or use AI feedback to expand it.

Adaptify can also create and organize clusters automatically based on the website, existing rankings, and keyword opportunities. If auto-generated clusters are disabled in settings, Adaptify will stop creating new clusters for that site until it is re-enabled.

Pillar pages

A pillar page is the main page you want a cluster to support. For example, if a cluster is about a service, the pillar page is usually the service page you want to rank.

Every article in this cluster will prominently link to the pillar page. This builds authority for the page and helps it rank higher in search results.

Previously created articles in the cluster are not updated automatically when you change the pillar page. The setting affects future content and planning.

When to change the URL

Change the pillar page URL when the current page is not the page you actually want to rank for, or when the cluster should support a more commercial page such as a service or product page.

Try to set the pillar page before a lot of articles are created, because it gives Adaptify the clearest linking target from the start.

Give AI Feedback

Give AI Feedback works across keyword clusters. In the keyword strategy workflow, it lets you describe changes you want to make instead of manually editing every cluster and keyword.

For example, you can ask Adaptify to add new keywords, remove low performers, reorganize clusters, update priorities, pause clusters, activate clusters, or find more location-based and question-based opportunities. Here is a list of the most common feedback requests:

• Top Up Only This Cluster
• Prioritize High Volume
• Remove Low Potential
• Add Location Keywords
• Find More Question Keywords
• Reorder by Intent
• Long-Tail Keywords
• Group Similar Topics
• Pause Clusters
• Activate Clusters

The Upload action is useful when you already have keyword data or a list you want Adaptify to consider, keep in mind, once uploaded these keywords are treated as important and will be prioritized over other keywords. Search is useful when you know which keywords you want to add, it's a powerful way to find more keyword opportunities from scratch.

The “Email me when complete” option is useful because larger AI feedback requests can take time. When enabled, Adaptify can notify you when the feedback has finished processing.

Submitted AI feedback feeds into the keyword strategy workflow. Depending on the request, Adaptify may suggest new keywords, update cluster organization, adjust priorities, or prepare changes for review before they are applied.