LSD
APIEndpoint 17 of 40Keyword Research / AI Search / Optimization Signals

AI Keyword Data API

Keyword research for the LLM-search era, not the Google-search era.

Traditional keyword tools score by Google search volume — how many people type 'plumber Austin' into Google's box. But LLM search is different. Users ask conversational questions ('who is the best plumber in Austin'), and LLMs respond with synthesized answers citing sources. This endpoint returns keyword data tuned for AI workflows: AI search volume (how often the query appears in ChatGPT and other LLMs), conversational-pattern scoring, intent signals that matter to agents, and 12-month trends. Your agent doesn't just know the keyword — it knows how to find and rank keywords that actually drive AI traffic.

Start Free — 50 CreditsView Docs

POST /v1/ai/keyword-data · 1 credit / 50 keywords

POST /v1/ai/keyword-data5 of 200
AI-search keyword volume
KeywordVolumeCPCTrend
plumber near me12,100$45.20
emergency plumber austin2,400$38.50
best plumber austin tx880$22.10
pipe repair cost590$12.40
drain cleaning austin720$18.90
▌ Ask your agent

These prompts are the new AI keyword research workflow.

Connect Local SEO Data as an MCP server once (60 seconds, below). Then your agent runs AI-first research. Replace bracketed keywords or locations with your own.

AI volume gap discovery

Pull AI search volume for [my 200 target keywords] in [Denver, Charlotte, Phoenix]. Compare to traditional Google volume. Flag keywords with high AI volume but low Google volume — those are AI discovery opportunities.

Conversational query clustering

Get AI keyword data for these seed keywords: [best plumber, emergency plumber, plumbing repair]. Show me which formulations appear conversational in LLM search (high intent signal) vs informational. Rank by likelihood to trigger AI Overview.

AI volume trend detection

Pull 12-month AI keyword trends for [my 50 commercial keywords]. Flag any with month-over-month growth >30% — those are keywords gaining traction in AI before competitors notice.

Multi-location AI keyword comparison

Fetch AI search volume for [my keyword list] in [Denver, Austin, Atlanta]. Show me which markets have highest AI demand. Which location should I prioritize for AI-first content?

▌ Real response

What you get back

Live response for a 3-keyword request. Real API data reflecting how keywords perform in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity search patterns.

response · application/json~2.5s · 1 credit
{
  "status": "success",
  "credits_used": 1,
  "data": {
    "location": "Austin, Texas",
    "total_keywords": 3,
    "keywords": [
      {
        "keyword": "best plumber austin",
        "ai_search_volume": 2400,
        "intent_signals": {
          "informational": 0.72,
          "commercial": 0.28,
          "navigational": 0.0
        },
        "conversational_score": 0.85,
        "triggers_ai_overview": true,
        "monthly_searches": [
          { "month": "2026-04", "ai_volume": 2400 },
          { "month": "2026-03", "ai_volume": 2200 },
          { "month": "2026-02", "ai_volume": 2100 },
          { "month": "2026-01", "ai_volume": 1900 }
        ]
      },
      {
        "keyword": "who is the best plumber in austin",
        "ai_search_volume": 1850,
        "intent_signals": {
          "informational": 0.88,
          "commercial": 0.12,
          "navigational": 0.0
        },
        "conversational_score": 0.92,
        "triggers_ai_overview": true,
        "monthly_searches": [
          { "month": "2026-04", "ai_volume": 1850 },
          { "month": "2026-03", "ai_volume": 1720 },
          { "month": "2026-02", "ai_volume": 1640 },
          { "month": "2026-01", "ai_volume": 1500 }
        ]
      },
      {
        "keyword": "emergency plumber near me",
        "ai_search_volume": 3200,
        "intent_signals": {
          "informational": 0.55,
          "commercial": 0.45,
          "navigational": 0.0
        },
        "conversational_score": 0.78,
        "triggers_ai_overview": true,
        "monthly_searches": [
          { "month": "2026-04", "ai_volume": 3200 },
          { "month": "2026-03", "ai_volume": 3100 },
          { "month": "2026-02", "ai_volume": 3400 },
          { "month": "2026-01", "ai_volume": 3050 }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}
▌ Returns

AI-specific signals your agent needs to rank in LLMs

AI search volume

How often keywords appear in LLM queries

Monthly counts of how often your keywords are searched in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. Different from Google search volume — typically lower, but much more qualified traffic because LLM users ask complete questions, not fragments.

Intent signals

Informational, commercial, and navigational breakdown

The intent mix for each keyword as it appears in LLM queries. A keyword like 'best plumber austin' skews informational (0.72) because LLM users ask research questions, not transactional queries. Your agent ranks keywords by intent to match content strategy.

Conversational score

How likely the keyword appears in natural language

A 0-1 score indicating whether this keyword appears in conversational queries ('who is the best plumber in austin') vs keyword-fragments ('best plumber austin'). High scores = full-sentence questions = more likely to trigger AI Overviews.

AI Overview triggering

Does this keyword generate AI-synthesized answers

Boolean flag showing whether the keyword triggers Google AI Overviews. Not all keywords do — informational queries dominate (72% of AI Overview-triggering keywords), while high-CPC commercial terms rarely get AI summaries. Know upfront whether your target keyword gets an Overview.

12-month trends

Monthly breakdown of AI search volume history

Historical AI search volume for the past 12 months. Detect seasonal patterns (emergency plumbing spikes in winter), month-over-month growth, or declining AI interest. Your agent flags emerging opportunities before competitors notice.

▌ Built for

What agents ship with this endpoint

Content prioritization for AI discovery

Before writing a blog post, pull AI keyword data for 50 candidate topics. Your agent ranks by AI search volume, conversational score, and whether they trigger AI Overviews. Prioritize high-AI-volume, high-conversational keywords that get AI surfaces. Write once, optimize for LLM visibility automatically.

→ For content teams

Multi-location market sizing

Agencies managing 5+ local locations pull AI keyword data per market. Compare AI demand across Denver, Austin, Charlotte. See which market has highest LLM query volume for your service keywords. Focus client budgets where AI traffic is richest.

→ For agencies

AI-vs-Google keyword gap analysis

Pair this endpoint with [Search Volume API](/search-volume-api) to compare the same keywords. A keyword with high AI volume but low Google volume is a blue-ocean opportunity — write content targeting LLM discovery instead of competing in Google's crowded SERP. Shift strategy based on data.

→ Search Volume API

Competitive AI keyword tracking

Every month, pull AI keyword data for your top 20 commercial keywords. Track whether AI volume is rising or falling. Pair with [AI Mentions API](/ai-mentions-api) to see if rising AI volume correlates with more citations of your domain. Optimize timing of content updates.

→ AI Mentions API
▌ vs. the alternatives

Why not use traditional keyword research tools like Ahrefs or Semrush?

Traditional keyword tools (Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz) are built on Google search volume — a metric that no longer captures the full picture. LLM search has different patterns, different intent, and different ranking signals. Here's how the options compare.

ToolSearch volume typeLLM-specific dataIntent signalsAgent-ready
Google Keyword Planner (free)Google only (ranges)NoBasicManual only
Ahrefs ($129–299/mo)Google volume (exact)No LLM dataYes, but Google-onlyAPI available but dashboard-first
Semrush ($139.95–499.95/mo)Google volume (exact)No LLM dataYes, but Google-onlyAPI available but dashboard-first
Moz ($99–599/mo)Google volumeNo LLM dataLimitedNo MCP integration
SE Ranking ($159+/mo)Google volumeNo LLM dataYesAPI available but credit opaque
Profound AI ($499–$2000/mo)No (enterprise monitoring)LLM mentions onlyYes, but limitedDashboard only
Surfer AI (data component)Google volumeNo standalone LLM APIGoogle-focusedContent editor only
Local SEO Data AI Keyword Data APIAI search volume (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity)Conversational score, AI Overview triggering, intent signalsInformational, commercial, navigational breakdownNative MCP + REST, agent-first
▌ Connect in 60 seconds

Use it from your agent

Two integration surfaces: MCP for clients that speak MCP, REST API for everything else.

Direct MCP integration

Drop-in support in Claude Desktop, OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, and any MCP-aware client.

Add to your client's MCP config (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "localseodata": {
      "url": "https://mcp.localseodata.com",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer sk_live_..."
      }
    }
  }
}

REST API

For Perplexity Computer, ChatGPT Custom GPTs, custom agents, and any platform that calls REST endpoints directly.

Base URL:

api.localseodata.com

See the docs for endpoint reference and auth.

▌ Quickstart

Your first call in three lines

Core parameters: `keywords` (array of up to 100 keywords) and optional `location` (defaults to United States, accepts 'City, State, Country' format). One call = 1 credit, which covers 50 keywords. Returns AI search volume, intent signals, conversational score, AI Overview triggering, and 12-month monthly_searches breakdown.

terminal · curl
POST /v1/ai/keyword-data
curl -X POST https://api.localseodata.com/v1/ai/keyword-data \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_..." \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "keywords": ["best plumber austin", "emergency plumber near me", "plumbing repair cost"],
    "location": "Austin, Texas"
  }'
Full endpoint reference → · Get an API key →
▌ Pricing for this endpoint

$0.005 per 50 keywords

1 credit covers 50 keywords. Free tier on signup includes 50 credits (2,500 keywords). Monthly plans start at $19 and never expire. No per-seat fees, no seat caps.

Free tier
2,500
keywords on signup (50 credits)
Starter · $19/mo
190,000
keywords/mo at this rate
Per-keyword cost
$0.0001
or $0.005 per 50
▌ FAQ

Common questions

What is the AI Keyword Data API?+
A REST endpoint that returns keyword data tuned for LLM-search workflows. For up to 100 keywords per call, you get AI search volume (how often the keyword appears in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity queries), intent signals (informational/commercial/navigational breakdown), conversational score (0-1 indicating natural-language phrasing), AI Overview triggering (boolean), and 12-month monthly_searches trends. Endpoint: POST /v1/ai/keyword-data. Cost: 1 credit per 50 keywords (~$0.005). This is the foundation for AI-first keyword research — ranking keywords by signals that matter to LLMs, not Google.
How does AI search volume differ from Google search volume?+
Google search volume measures queries typed into Google's search box — short fragments, often incomplete. 'best plumber' gets X searches. AI search volume measures conversational questions asked in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity — full sentences, intent-laden. 'who is the best plumber in austin' gets tracked separately from 'best plumber austin'. AI queries tend to be longer, more specific, and asked by users already decided to seek expert advice. Google volume is fragmented; AI volume is concentrated in fewer, higher-intent queries. A keyword with high AI volume but low Google volume signals AI-discovery opportunity.
What are intent signals and why do they matter?+
Intent signals break down a keyword's purpose: informational (research), commercial (considering a purchase), or navigational (finding a specific site). The endpoint returns each as a 0-1 score. 'Best plumber austin' is ~72% informational, 28% commercial — LLM users are researching. 'Plumber austin pricing' might be 40% informational, 60% commercial. Intent signals tell your agent which keywords attract researchers vs. buyers. Informational keywords are ripe for answer-engine optimization (AEO); commercial keywords need different content angles. This is native to LLM search — Google's intent classification is less granular.
What is conversational score?+
A 0-1 score indicating whether the keyword appears in conversational, full-sentence queries vs. keyword fragments. High scores (0.85+) mean users ask the keyword as a natural question: 'who is the best plumber in austin?' (conversational_score: 0.92). Low scores (0.40-0.60) mean it's fragmented: 'best plumber austin' gets searched as keywords plus context. High-conversational keywords are more likely to trigger AI Overviews and get featured in LLM-synthesized answers. Your agent prioritizes high-conversational, high-AI-volume keywords for AEO content.
What does triggers_ai_overview mean?+
A boolean flag indicating whether the keyword generates Google AI Overviews — synthesized answer boxes that appear at the top of Google SERPs. Not all keywords trigger AI Overviews. Ahrefs found that ~72% of keywords triggering AI Overviews are informational, while only 5.5% are commercial. If your keyword has triggers_ai_overview: true, optimizing for AI visibility matters. If false, the keyword may not surface in an Overview; focus on other LLMs (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) instead. This helps your agent allocate content effort.
How does this compare to traditional tools like Ahrefs or Semrush?+
Ahrefs ($129–299/mo) and Semrush ($139.95–499.95/mo) are built on Google search volume, which captures only typed queries. They don't track LLM-specific patterns like conversational phrasing or AI Overview triggering. We focus on the LLM-search surface: how keywords appear in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews. If you need Google volume (traditional SEO), Ahrefs and Semrush excel. If you need AI-search signals (answer-engine optimization, agent-driven keyword research), our API is purpose-built. Most teams use both: traditional volume from Ahrefs/Semrush for SEO, AI signals from us for AEO.
Where does the AI search volume data come from?+
We operate first-party collection infrastructure. Our agents execute queries directly against ChatGPT API, Claude API, Gemini API, Perplexity API, and Google AI Overviews. We capture which keywords appear, how often they're searched, the user intent from question phrasing, whether the keyword triggers an AI Overview, and historical trends. This is not cached data — each call executes fresh against live LLM systems. Upstream data comes from DataForSEO for historical context and our own LLM query collection for freshness.
How fresh is the data?+
Monthly AI search volume refreshes at month-end, typically available within 3-7 days. Intent signals and conversational scores are derived from our 12-month historical LLM query corpus and update monthly. The triggers_ai_overview flag reflects current Google AI Overview behavior and updates weekly. If you're tracking real-time keyword performance, monthly freshness is appropriate for strategic planning. It's not designed for hourly bid adjustments — it's designed for agents planning content calendars and keyword prioritization workflows.
Can I compare AI volume across locations?+
Yes. The location parameter is optional and accepts 'City, State, Country' format. The same keyword has different AI search volume in Denver vs. Austin vs. New York. Run the endpoint once per location to build a geographic comparison. This is standard for multi-location agencies and in-house teams managing multiple markets. Batch process: 3 locations × 50 keywords per call = 3 API calls, 3 credits total (~$0.015).
How does this pair with Search Volume API and other endpoints?+
This endpoint is one piece of AI-first keyword research. Search Volume API returns traditional Google volume, CPC, and competition. Keyword Suggestions API finds long-tail variations. Keyword Opportunities API ranks keywords by difficulty vs your current rank. AI Mentions API shows if your domain gets cited for these keywords. AI Visibility API gives composite LLM visibility scores. A complete workflow: pull AI keyword data (this endpoint) → compare to Google volume (Search Volume) → check if you're mentioned (AI Mentions) → surface gaps (Keyword Opportunities) → prioritize (agent logic). Each endpoint costs 1-10 credits.
Can AI agents use this directly?+
Yes, and this is what we built for. Two integration paths: MCP: add Local SEO Data to your claude_desktop_config.json and your Claude agent calls this endpoint from any prompt. REST: any agent that can make HTTPS calls (ChatGPT Custom GPTs, Perplexity Computer, custom Python/Node agents) hits the API directly with your Bearer token. The agent receives structured JSON and can filter by intent, conversational score, AI Overview triggering, or volume trends. No integration code needed — just write the agent prompt.
What changed in 2026 that made AI keyword data necessary?+
Four trends converged: First, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews are now mainstream search surfaces generating qualified traffic. Second, LLM-search behavior is different from Google-search behavior — users ask conversational questions, LLMs synthesize answers, citations matter more than rankings. Traditional keyword volume doesn't capture this. Third, answer-engine optimization (AEO) emerged as a discipline requiring LLM-specific keyword signals. Fourth, MCP (Model Context Protocol) made it practical for agents to call specialized APIs without custom integration. Keyword research flipped from 'humans login to Ahrefs, click around' to 'agents batch-process 1,000 keywords, rank by AI signals, flag opportunities.' AI Keyword Data API is the 2026 equivalent of volume scoring because LLM-search is now a real traffic surface and agents need signals optimized for that surface.
▌ Related endpoints

Often used in the same agent prompt

POST /v1/keywords/search-volume
Search Volume API

Traditional Google search volume, CPC, and competition. Compare alongside AI volume.

POST /v1/ai/visibility
AI Visibility

Composite score for your domain across LLMs. Track overall AI presence.

POST /v1/ai/mentions
AI Mentions

See exactly where your brand is mentioned in LLM responses for these keywords.

POST /v1/ai/overview
AI Overview

Check if Google AI Overviews cite your domain for specific keywords.

Build keyword strategies for LLM search, not just Google search.

50 free credits on signup. 2,500 keyword lookups included. Batch your target keywords and let your agent rank by AI signals.

Start FreeRead the docs
▌ MADE FOR THE NEW LOCAL SEO STACK