After struggling for years with search intent, Rank Math has finally launched its search intent tool, which makes it easy to predict the intent of the keyword in seconds
Imagine this, you spend hours or sometimes days crafting a content piece. You perfect the on-page, bold links to the article and share it on social media. Still, the content fails to rank, and after getting a few impressions for a few days, the article disappears from Google.
This is a classic example of unmatched search intent. If your content doesn’t align with the search intent of your target keyword, it’s unlikely to rank well, especially if you’re a beginner. Search intent is the foundation of effective SEO, and getting it right can make or break your strategy.
It’s difficult to predict search intent, and in my experience of writing content for years, I struggled with this. Even with years of experience, I was not able to nail the search intent every single time.
Fortunately, Rank Math PRO has solved this problem for us. We can now accurately predict search intent easily with the help of AI.
We tested the search intent tool for 1 month, and I love it. In this post, I’m going to show you exactly how to find the search intent of a keyword using Rank Math.
It’s difficult to nail search intent every single time with traditional guesswork, but with Rank Math’s inbuilt search intent tool it’s now easy.
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Table of Contents
- What Is Search Intent And Why It’s Important?
- The Challenge: Guessing Search Intent Can Trip You Up
- The Solution: Rank Math PRO’s Search Intent Feature
- Step 1: Enable the Search Intent Feature
- Step 2: Check Search Intent for Your Focus Keyword
- Step 3: Decode the Icons
- Bulk Checking Search Intent for Published Articles
- How To Use the Advanced Rankbot Tool
- Why Search Intent Matters
- Things To Remember
- FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions
- What is search intent?
- Why is search intent important for SEO?
- How does Rank Math PRO help with search intent?
- Can I use Rank Math PRO to check search intent for existing content?
- What is Rankbot and how does it relate to search intent?
- The Bottom Line
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links are affiliate links. When you purchase hosting using my affiliate link, they give me a small commission “at no additional cost to you.” I’ll earn a small commission. Which I promise to spend on complete trash 😂
- 💬 Updated Mar 28, 2024: Proofreading completed, and ready for fact-checking. Updated the facts.
- 💬 Published Mar 03, 2025: Article written, the first draft completed.
Let’s find out how to use Rank Math’s search intent tool. 👇
What Is Search Intent And Why It’s Important?
Search intent, also known as user intent, is the reason someone types a query into a search engine. It’s the “why” behind the search. It implies an understanding of why a user is searching for a keyword and what he is trying to achieve.
If we understand search intent correctly, and allows you to create content that not only ranks but also meets your audience’s needs.
In general, there are four main types of search intent:
- Navigational Intent: The user wants to find a specific website or page.
- Example: Searching “Blogging Capital” to visit our site or “Backlinko” to find their homepage.
- Transactional Intent: The user intends to buy something or take action.
- Example: “Rank Math Black Friday” or “Rank Math discount code” shows a clear purchase intent, and the user is looking for a discount.
- Informational Intent: The user is looking for answers or information.
- Example: “how to start a blog” or “how to make money blogging” indicates a users desire to learn. Here user is looking to just learn.
- Commercial Intent: Here user is researching the best products and options, often with the potential to buy the best product.
- Example: “Best Rank Tracking Tools” or “Best WordPress SEO Plugins” suggests the best products in a category. The user can select and purchase the best one.
The Challenge: Guessing Search Intent Can Trip You Up
When researching search intent, let’s take a keyword like “Rank Math pros and cons”. At first glance, it might seem like it has commercial intent. Someone researching a purchase, right? But if you dig deeper, it’s actually informational intent.
The user likely wants a breakdown of benefits and drawbacks, not a sales pitch. Misjudge this, and your content could miss the mark entirely, wasting your effort and hurting your rankings.
So, how do you definitively know the search intent of a keyword before investing time in content creation? That’s where Rank Math PRO steps in.
The Solution: Rank Math PRO’s Search Intent Feature
Rank Math PRO offers a built-in tool to identify search intent quickly and accurately. Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Enable the Search Intent Feature
- Go to your WordPress dashboard.
- Hover over Rank Math SEO and click General Settings.
- Navigate to the Others tab.
- Look for the Enable Search Intent option.
- Note: This is exclusive to Rank Math PRO users. Free users won’t see it.
- If you’re a PRO user and it’s missing, update your plugin.
- By default, it’s enabled. If it’s off, toggle it on and click Save Changes.
Step 2: Check Search Intent for Your Focus Keyword
- When editing a post, enter your primary focus keyword (e.g., “top digital marketing trends”).
- Hover to the right of the keyword field and click Show Intent.
- After a moment, an icon will appear, indicating the search intent.
- For “top digital marketing trends,” you’ll likely see an informational intent icon, meaning users want insights, not a sales page.
Step 3: Decode the Icons
Each intent type has a unique icon and color:
- Navigational:
- Transactional:
- Informational:
- Commercial:
Each intent is represented by its respective icons, which can be verified by hovering over the icons.
Bulk Checking Search Intent for Published Articles
Already have a library of posts? No need to check them one by one. Rank Math PRO lets you analyze search intent in bulk:
- Go to Your Post List: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Posts > All Posts.
- Select Your Articles: Check the boxes next to the posts you want to analyze. If no primary keyword is set, then click the pencil icon in the SEO Details column, add the keyword, and hit Save.
- Run the Bulk Action: Click Bulk Actions > Determine Search Intent > Apply.. Wait for the notification confirming it’s done.
- View the Results: Hover over the keyword in the SEO Details column to see the intent. It’ll also show up when you edit the post.
- Troubleshooting: Don’t see the SEO Details column? Click Screen Options (top right), check SEO Details, and hit Apply.
The feature focuses on the primary keyword is marked with a star. Want to check a secondary keyword? Simply drag it to the top to make it primary, then click Show Intent.
How To Use the Advanced Rankbot Tool
The search intent feature gives you a quick snapshot, but for a more detailed breakdown, turn to Rankbot, Rank Math’s AI-powered chatbot in the Content AI module:
- Access Rankbot: Go to Rank Math > Content AI and click the Chat tab.
- Ask Your Question: Type something like: “What are the primary and secondary search intents for ‘cloud storage versus local storage. Now, Hit Enter and wait for Rankbot’s response.
- Get Detailed Insights: Rankbot will explain why users search for that keyword, helping you refine your content further.
Why Search Intent Matters
Matching search intent isn’t just about climbing the rankings—it’s about delivering value. When your content aligns with what users want, they stick around longer, engage more, and trust your site. That’s the recipe for SEO success.
With Rank Math PRO, you’re not guessing anymore. You’ve got a tool that tells you exactly what your audience is after, saving you time and boosting your results.
Things To Remember
Please remember, AI tools can make wrong intent predictions, so when researching, always use your experience as the final call.
FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions
What is search intent?
Search intent is the reason behind a user’s search query.
Why is search intent important for SEO?
Aligning content with search intent improves relevance and ranking.
How does Rank Math PRO help with search intent?
Rank Math PRO has a built-in tool to identify the search intent of keywords.
Can I use Rank Math PRO to check search intent for existing content?
Yes, you can use bulk actions to determine search intent for published articles.
What is Rankbot and how does it relate to search intent?
Rankbot is an AI chatbot that provides detailed explanations of search intent for keywords.
The Bottom Line
Search intent is the backbone of effective SEO, and mastering it doesn’t have to be a mystery. With Rank Math PRO’s search intent feature and Rankbot, you’ve got everything you need to create content that ranks and resonates.
What do you think of this feature? Have you tried it yet? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! And if you’re new here, consider subscribing for more SEO tips to grow your search traffic.
References:
- Rank Math. (n.d.). Rank Math PRO: The ultimate WordPress SEO plugin. https://rankmath.com/pro/
- Rank Math. (2023). Using Rankbot for SEO: A step-by-step guide. https://rankmath.com/kb/using-rankbot/
