The Keyword Search Intent Macro by Nick Eubanks: is it worth buying?
You’ve probably spent an afternoon staring at a spreadsheet of 500 keywords, trying to manually tag each one as “Informational,” “Transactional,” or “Navigational.” It’s tedious, error-prone, and frankly, a waste of billable hours. If you’re building a keyword matrix for a client or your own SEO strategy, doing this by hand is the bottleneck that slows down your entire content pipeline. That’s exactly where The Keyword Search Intent Macro comes in. It’s a small, focused Excel tool designed to automate the most repetitive part of keyword research: intent tagging.
Nick Eubanks released this macro alongside his guide on building keyword matrices, and it solves a very specific, very annoying problem. Instead of writing complex VBA code yourself or hiring a developer to do it, you get a ready-to-run Excel file that scans your keyword list and tags the intent for you. It’s not a full SEO suite; it’s a precision tool for one job. If you’re a content strategist, SEO consultant, or in-house marketer who deals with large keyword sets regularly, this $20 investment could save you hours of manual work every single month. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Quick answer
| Best for | SEO specialists and content strategists who manage large keyword lists in Excel and need to tag search intent quickly. |
| Skip if | You don’t use Excel for keyword management, or you prefer using dedicated SEO platforms like Ahrefs or Semrush for their built-in intent tagging. |
| Price | $20 |
| Format | Macro-enabled Excel file (.xlsm) with dummy data for testing |
| One-line take | A $20 automation tool that tags search intent for up to 100,000 rows in seconds, saving hours of manual tagging. |
What you’re actually buying
At its core, The Keyword Search Intent Macro is a single Excel file that does one thing exceptionally well: it reads your keyword list and assigns an intent tag based on predefined criteria. You don’t get a bloated dashboard or a subscription; you get a lightweight, 262 KB file that you download once and use as often as you need. The magic happens in the background. You paste your keywords into the sheet, set the row range, and click a button. The macro scans the list, looks for specific linguistic cues (like “buy,” “best,” “how to,” or brand names), and tags each keyword accordingly.
What makes this useful is the flexibility built into the tagging logic. Nick has pre-populated common intent keywords in specific cells (B3, B4, and B5), but you can edit these lists to match your own taxonomy. Maybe you use “Commercial” instead of “Transactional,” or you have specific brand names you want to flag as “Navigational.” You can tweak the criteria to fit your workflow. The macro also auto-updates tags whenever you change the criteria, so if you refine your definitions, the entire sheet recalculates without you having to re-run the script. This is a small detail, but it makes the tool feel responsive and easy to customize. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
The performance is also worth noting. The macro is designed to handle up to 100,000 rows without breaking a sweat. If you’re managing a large-scale SEO project or a client with a massive keyword universe, that’s a significant capacity. You’re not limited to a few hundred keywords; you can process entire datasets in one go. The file comes with dummy data so you can test the functionality before you plug in your real keywords, which is a thoughtful touch for a product this small. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Why it’s on our radar
This tool is interesting because it addresses a gap that many SEO professionals feel but few tools solve elegantly. Most SEO platforms have intent tagging, but it’s often a black box or a paid feature. If you’re working in Excel—whether because you’re exporting data from other tools, building custom matrices, or just prefer the flexibility of spreadsheets—you’re left to do it manually. The Keyword Search Intent Macro bridges that gap. It’s not trying to replace your SEO stack; it’s trying to make the Excel part of your workflow faster and more consistent.
The specificity of the offer is also a plus. It’s not a “SEO toolkit” or a “content marketing bundle.” It’s a macro for intent tagging. That focus means it’s likely to be reliable and easy to understand. You don’t have to wade through a 50-page PDF to figure out how to use it. You open the file, enable macros, and start tagging. For a $20 price point, it’s a low-risk way to automate a task that you’re probably doing by hand right now. If you’re already using Excel for keyword management, this is a no-brainer. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
What actually matters
Before you buy, keep a few things in mind. First, you need to be comfortable using Excel with macros enabled. When you first open the file, you’ll see a yellow warning bar at the top of the screen. You have to click “Enable Content” for the macro to work. If you’re not familiar with this, it’s a standard Excel security feature, but it’s worth noting so you’re not caught off guard. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Second, the file comes with dummy data. This is for example purposes only, so you’ll need to replace it with your own keyword list. Make sure you set the “Last Row” cell (H2) to the correct number so the macro knows where to stop scanning. If you leave it on the default, it might not process your entire list. It’s a small setup step, but it’s critical for getting accurate results. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Finally, consider your current workflow. If you’re already using a tool like Ahrefs or Semrush that has robust intent tagging, you might not need this. But if you’re working with data that lives in Excel—whether because you’re doing custom analysis, working with legacy data, or just prefer spreadsheets—this macro can save you a lot of time. It’s a niche tool, but for the right user, it’s a significant quality-of-life improvement. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Mid-check
If you’re ready to automate your keyword intent tagging, See current options to grab the macro.
FAQ
Do I need to know VBA to use this macro? No, you don’t need to know VBA. The macro is pre-built and ready to use. You just need to know how to open an Excel file, enable macros, and paste your data into the sheet. If you can use Excel for basic tasks, you can use this tool. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Can I customize the intent tagging criteria? Yes, you can. The macro uses keywords in specific cells (B3, B4, and B5) to determine intent. You can edit these cells to add or remove keywords, or change the intent labels to match your own taxonomy. The macro will auto-update the tags whenever you change the criteria. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
How many keywords can the macro process at once? The macro is designed to handle up to 100,000 rows. If your keyword list is smaller, it will process it just as quickly. If it’s larger, you may need to break it into smaller batches, but for most SEO projects, 100,000 rows should be more than enough. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Is this a one-time purchase or a subscription? It’s a one-time purchase. You download the Excel file once and can use it as many times as you want. There are no recurring fees or subscriptions. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Will this work on Mac or Windows? The macro is designed for Microsoft Excel, which works on both Mac and Windows. However, macro support can vary slightly between versions and operating systems. If you’re using a Mac, make sure you’re using a version of Excel that supports macros. If you encounter any issues, it’s worth testing with a small dataset first. (The Keyword Search Intent Macro)
Bottom line
The Keyword Search Intent Macro is a small, focused tool that solves a big problem: manual keyword intent tagging. If you’re an SEO professional who works with large keyword lists in Excel, this $20 investment can save you hours of tedious work every month. It’s easy to use, customizable, and fast. It’s not a full SEO suite, but it’s a precision tool for a specific job. If you’re tired of tagging keywords by hand, this is worth a look.