Remove Duplicate Lines from Keyword Lists
Keyword exports often contain duplicates because data comes from multiple tools and date ranges. If those duplicates stay in your file, they distort planning and make volume decisions look larger than reality. Teams end up producing overlapping pages or repeating ad groups with small wording differences that do not add value.
The first fix is simple: remove duplicate lines before any clustering or sorting. Keep the first occurrence, then sort alphabetically so the final list is easy to review with your team. If your data includes mixed casing, run case-insensitive deduplication first to avoid fake uniqueness caused by uppercase and lowercase variants.
Once the list is clean, segment it by intent. Separate terms for buying, comparing, and learning. This creates clearer content briefs and reduces cannibalization between pages. A short, accurate keyword list beats a long noisy list in almost every real workflow.
Deduplication is a quality step, not just a formatting step. It protects strategy, improves campaign structure, and helps teams move from data collection to action. For SEO and paid media, that one cleanup action can prevent weeks of wasted production.