Search intent is the reason behind a query. Matching your content format to intent is the single highest-leverage SEO decision — more important than keyword density or word count.

→ Dictionary: Search Intent · Keyword Research · Complete SEO Guide Nepal

The four intent types

Intent	User Goal	Content Format	Example Query
Informational	Learn	Guide, definition, tutorial	“what is ROAS”
Navigational	Find a site	Homepage, brand page	“Gurkha Technology”
Commercial	Compare before buying	Comparison, review, pricing	“best CRM small business”
Transactional	Buy or act now	Service page, product page	“SEO agency Nepal”

How to classify intent (SERP analysis)

1. Search the keyword in incognito
2. Examine top 10 results — what format dominates?
   • Blog posts / guides → Informational
   • “Best X” lists / comparisons → Commercial
   • Product or service pages → Transactional
   • Brand homepages → Navigational
3. Note SERP features (featured snippet, PAA, shopping) — they confirm intent
4. Assign intent in your keyword spreadsheet before writing

Content mapping framework

Intent	Page Type	CTA	Example on This Site
Informational	Pillar guide, dictionary	Soft (related articles)	Marketing Metrics Hub
Commercial	Comparison, pricing guide	Medium (consultation)	DM Pricing Nepal
Transactional	Service page	Strong (contact/quote)	SEO Nepal
Navigational	Homepage, about	Brand reinforcement	About

Mixed intent queries

Many keywords blend intents. “website cost Nepal” is commercial investigation (compare prices) with transactional undertones (ready to hire).

Strategy: Lead with the primary intent (pricing table + breakdown), then add transactional CTA section at bottom.

Intent and AI search

AI Overviews and answer engines favor:

• Informational: Concise definitions in first 100 words, structured H2s as questions
• Commercial: Comparison tables with clear criteria
• Transactional: Direct answers with pricing and next steps

Structure for citation: definition → data table → numbered steps → FAQ.

→ AEO/GEO Guide · AI SEO Guide

Nepal-specific intent patterns

Pattern	Example	Content Approach
Price queries	“SEO price Nepal”	NPR tables, transparent ranges
Local + service	“digital marketing Kathmandu”	Local proof, case studies
Roman Nepali	“website ko cost”	Bilingual content, same intent
Career/education	“digital marketing salary Nepal”	Data tables, instructor perspective
vs/comparison	“eSewa vs Khalti”	Side-by-side comparison table

Common mistakes

1. One page, multiple intents — causes cannibalization; split into separate URLs
2. Ignoring SERP — your “ultimate guide” won’t rank if Google shows product pages
3. Wrong CTA intensity — hard sell on informational content increases bounce rate
4. Not updating intent — SERPs shift; “best SEO tools” was informational, now commercial

Intent classification template

Keyword: _______________
Primary Intent: [ ] Informational [ ] Navigational [ ] Commercial [ ] Transactional
SERP Format: _______________
Target Page Type: _______________
Existing Page to Use/Create: _______________

Related resources

• Keyword Research (dictionary)
• Marketing Metrics Hub — informational intent example
• Technical SEO Guide
• Practical SEO Checklist Nepal