Keyword Intent (Search Intent)

Definition

Keyword intent (or search intent) is the purpose behind a user's search query. The four main types are: informational (seeking knowledge), navigational (finding a specific site), transactional (ready to buy), and commercial investigation (comparing options before buying).

Why It Matters for SEO

Matching your content to the searcher's intent is arguably the most important on-page SEO factor. A page that perfectly answers the question behind a query will outrank a page that merely contains the right keywords but serves the wrong purpose.