How to Use Semrush for Keyword Research (Beginner Guide)

Tutorial: Follow these steps to get the most out of Semrush. Each step builds on the previous one.

1Seed Keyword Entry

Start with your main topic in the Keyword Magic Tool. Enter a broad term like ‘AI tools’ or ‘project management software’.

2Filter by Intent

Semrush labels keywords as Informational, Commercial, Navigational, or Transactional. Filter for Commercial and Transactional for buyer intent.

3Check Keyword Difficulty

KD% shows how hard it is to rank. Target KD under 30 for new sites. Under 15 is ideal for quick wins.

4Analyze SERP

Click any keyword to see current top 10 results. Identify content gaps — what are they missing that you can provide?

5Group into Clusters

Use Keyword Manager to group related keywords into content clusters. Each cluster becomes one comprehensive article.

6Competitor Gap Analysis

Enter competitor domains in Keyword Gap tool. Find keywords they rank for that you do not. These are your biggest opportunities.