Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) — Definition & Meaning
What is Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR)?
The Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) is a long-tail keyword formula: divide the number of Google results with the phrase in their title (allintitle) by the monthly search volume. If the ratio is under 0.25 and volume is below 250/month, the keyword is "golden" — usually rankable inside 30 days.
KGR formula and worked example
KGR = allintitle results u00f7 monthly search volume
- 1. Check the volume — KGR only applies below 250 monthly searches — above that, use keyword difficulty instead.
- 2. Get the allintitle count — Search allintitle:"your exact phrase" on Google and read the results count shown.
- 3. Divide — allintitle results u00f7 monthly volume = KGR.
- Worked example — "how to disavow toxic backlinks in 2026" has ~110 monthly searches and 18 allintitle results. KGR = 18 u00f7 110 = 0.16.
| Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Under 0.25 | Golden — usually rankable within 30 days, minimal title competition. |
| 0.25 u2013 1.0 | Okay — some competition, still worth targeting if the intent fits your offer. |
| Above 1.0 | Hard — more exact-title competitors than there is demand; find a longer variant. |
Key points
- Formula: KGR = allintitle results ÷ monthly search volume. Under 0.25 = golden.
- Volume must be under 250/month — above that the SERP is too competed for the shortcut to work.
- Get allintitle counts by searching `allintitle:"your exact phrase"` on Google and reading the results count.
- KGR-winning keywords are usually 4-8 words long — question phrases, "how to" long-tails, and comparison queries dominate.
- A KGR win typically ranks page 1 within 4-8 weeks with a single 800-1200 word article — no backlinks needed.
Example
"how to disavow toxic backlinks in 2026" has ~110 monthly searches and only 18 allintitle results. KGR = 18 ÷ 110 = 0.16 — well under 0.25, so ranking is realistic even for a new domain.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented the Keyword Golden Ratio?
The formula was popularised by Doug Cunnington in 2017 as a fast way for new affiliate sites to find winnable long-tail keywords without waiting years to build authority.
Does KGR still work in 2026?
Yes — but with more variance. AI Overviews now trigger on some KGR queries and can suppress organic clicks. Still the fastest known method to prove new-site ranking traction.
How do I find KGR keywords at scale?
Pull long-tail seeds from Semrush or LemRank, filter to volume 25-250, then batch-check allintitle counts. LemRank's KGR view does the ratio math automatically.