How to Do Keyword Research with SemRush
Introduction
Finding the right keywords is the foundation of any successful SEO campaign. If you target phrases that are too competitive, you'll never rank. If you target phrases with no volume, you'll get no traffic. In this guide, we will use SemRush to find the perfect middle ground.
Step 1: Brainstorming Seed Keywords
Before opening your tools, identify the core topics relevant to your business. For instance, if you run a SaaS company, your seed keywords might be "project management software" or "team collaboration tools."
Step 2: The Keyword Magic Tool
Navigate to the Keyword Magic Tool in your SemRush dashboard. Enter your seed keyword. You will be greeted with thousands of variations.
Filtering for Success:
- Volume: Set a minimum volume of 100 searches per month.
- Keyword Difficulty (KD): Filter for keywords with a KD score of
< 40. This is the sweet spot for rapid ranking. - Intent: Filter by "Informational" if you are writing a blog post, or "Commercial" if you are optimizing a product page.
Step 3: Analyzing the SERP
Once you find a promising keyword, click the arrow to view the top-ranking pages. Do they look like high-authority sites? If so, you might need to adjust your filters. If you see forums like Reddit or Quora ranking, that's a prime target for your next article.
Looking for other SEO tools? Check out our review of Ahrefs.