KEI (Keyword Efficiency Index) is a metric used in growth hacking and SEO to evaluate the potential effectiveness of keywords for content optimization and search engine rankings. It combines search volume and competition level to identify high-value keywords that can drive targeted traffic to a website.
Synonyms: Keyword Effectiveness Index, Keyword Efficiency Indicator, SEO Keyword Metric, Keyword Opportunity Score
KEI is a crucial tool for growth hackers looking to optimize their content strategy and improve search engine rankings. By using KEI, marketers can identify keywords that offer the best balance between search volume and competition, allowing them to focus their efforts on terms that are likely to yield the highest return on investment.
To calculate KEI, you typically use the formula: KEI = (search volume)^2 / competition. The resulting value helps prioritize keywords:
Let's compare two keywords:
"Digital marketing tips" - 10,000 monthly searches, high competition (0.8) KEI = 10,000^2 / 0.8 = 125,000,000
"Growth hacking strategies for startups" - 1,000 monthly searches, low competition (0.2) KEI = 1,000^2 / 0.2 = 5,000,000
Despite lower search volume, the second keyword might be more valuable due to less competition.