When it comes to digital marketing, keyword research is the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. Without the right keywords, even the most beautifully designed website may struggle to rank. This is where SEMrush—one of the most powerful SEO and digital marketing tools—comes into play.
If you’re wondering “How to do keyword research with SEMrush?”, this complete guide will walk you through every step, from the basics to advanced techniques. Whether you are a business owner, a marketer, learning how to harness SEMrush will help you create a strong online presence and drive meaningful traffic.
Why Keyword Research Matters in SEO
Before diving into SEMrush, it’s important to understand why keyword research is so critical:
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Targeted Traffic: Using the right keywords ensures your content reaches people actively searching for your services.
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Higher Rankings: Search engines use keywords to determine relevance. Optimized pages rank higher.
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Improved Conversions: When users find exactly what they’re looking for, they are more likely to convert.
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Competitive Edge: Understanding what keywords competitors rank for helps you outperform them.
This makes keyword research with SEMrush an essential skill for businesses in highly competitive markets.
What is SEMrush?
SEMrush is a leading all-in-one marketing platform offering tools for SEO, content marketing, competitor analysis, PPC, and social media management. It is widely used by marketers and businesses worldwide to:
- Identify keyword opportunities
- Audit websites for SEO health
- Track rankings and performance
- Analyze competitors’ strategies
- Plan content marketing campaigns
In this blog, we’ll focus on how to do keyword research with SEMrush step by step. Here’s how you can get started:
Step 1: Set Up Your SEMrush Account
The first step in mastering keyword research with SEMrush is creating an account. SEMrush offers free trials, but to access the full keyword research database, a paid plan is recommended.
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Create an Account – Sign up for SEMrush (free trial or paid subscription).
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Set Your Domain & Target Country – This helps SEMrush give you region-specific data.
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Familiarize Yourself with the Dashboard – You’ll find sections for SEO, Advertising, Social Media, and more.
Once logged in, you’ll gain access to the Keyword Research Toolkit, the foundation of your SEO journey.
Step 2: Use the Keyword Overview Tool
The Keyword Overview Tool is the perfect starting point. Simply type in your target keyword, and SEMrush will display:
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Search Volume: Average number of monthly searches
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Keyword Difficulty (KD): How competitive it is to rank
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CPC Data: Cost-per-click for paid campaigns
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Trends: Search interest over time
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SERP Analysis: Snapshot of current top-ranking pages
Example: Searching “Digital Marketing Services in Delhi NCR” may show a high volume but also high competition. This data helps you decide whether to target or refine the keyword.
Step 3: Explore the Keyword Magic Tool
One of SEMrush’s most powerful features is the Keyword Magic Tool. It generates thousands of keyword ideas from a single seed keyword.
For instance, if you enter “Website Designing Company in Delhi NCR”, the tool may suggest variations like:
- “Website Designing Agency in Delhi NCR”
- “Website Designing Services in Delhi NCR”
- “Best Website Designing Company in Delhi NCR”
You can filter results based on:
- Search volume
- Keyword difficulty
- CPC
- Word count
- Competitive density
This is extremely useful for creating topic clusters or building a full content strategy.
Step 4: Analyze Competitors’ Keywords
A big advantage of SEMrush is its ability to uncover what keywords your competitors are ranking for.
Using the Domain Overview Tool, you can:
- Enter a competitor’s domain
- View their top organic keywords
- Analyze traffic share per keyword
- Identify gaps between their rankings and yours
Example: If your competitor ranks for “Best Website Development Company in Delhi NCR,” SEMrush will highlight it, giving you the chance to create content targeting that keyword.
Step 5: Focus on Long-Tail Keywords
While short, high-volume keywords are tempting, they’re often too competitive. Instead, focus on long-tail keywords—phrases that are more specific and easier to rank for.
Example: Instead of targeting “digital marketing”, target “affordable digital marketing agency in Delhi NCR”.
Using SEMrush filters, you can identify long-tail variations with lower keyword difficulty but higher conversion potential.
Step 6: Use the Keyword Gap Tool
The Keyword Gap Tool allows you to compare your domain with competitors and discover:
- Keywords you both rank for
- Keywords that only competitors rank for
- Opportunities to expand your keyword strategy
This gives you a roadmap for content development. For example, if three of your competitors rank for “Best SEO Company in Delhi NCR,” but you don’t, you now know what to prioritize.
Step 7: Build Keyword Lists for Campaigns
SEMrush allows you to save keywords into lists using the Keyword Manager feature.
You can:
- Create different lists (e.g., blog content, service pages, PPC campaigns)
- Monitor metrics in real time
- Export them into spreadsheets or Google Sheets
Organizing keywords ensures a more structured approach to SEO and content creation.
Step 8: Track Keyword Rankings
Once you start using keywords in your website and content, it’s crucial to track performance.
SEMrush’s Position Tracking Tool lets you:
- Monitor keyword positions daily
- Segment by location or device
- Measure visibility compared to competitors
- Identify SERP features (e.g., featured snippets, local packs)
Step 9: Use SEMrush for Content Ideas
Keyword research is not just about numbers—it’s about creating content that satisfies user intent.
With SEMrush’s Topic Research Tool, you can:
- Discover trending topics in your industry
- See commonly asked questions
- Generate content headlines and ideas
Pairing this with your keyword lists ensures your blogs, landing pages, and campaigns are optimized for both search engines and users.
Advanced Tips for Keyword Research with SEMrush
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Identify Seasonal Keywords: Use the trend graph in Keyword Overview to spot seasonal peaks.
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Leverage Questions: Target question-based keywords (“how to,” “what is”) for blog content.
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Focus on Local SEO: Add location filters to find keywords specific to Delhi NCR or your target city.
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Check SERP Features: Optimize content for featured snippets, People Also Ask, and FAQs.
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Combine with PPC: Use SEMrush data to plan paid campaigns alongside organic SEO.
Why SEMrush is a Must-Have Tool for Businesses in Delhi NCR
Delhi NCR is one of the most competitive digital markets in India. Businesses can’t rely on guesswork; they need tools that provide accurate data.
This is where SEMrush, paired with expert execution from the Best Digital Marketing Company in Delhi NCR, becomes a game-changer. With the right strategy, you can:
- Outrank competitors in search results
- Drive qualified traffic
- Convert visitors into paying customers
Common Mistakes to Avoid in SEMrush Keyword Research
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Chasing only high-volume keywords: These are often the hardest to rank for.
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Ignoring user intent: Always match keywords with searcher expectations.
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Overlooking competitor analysis: Competitor data is a goldmine—don’t skip it.
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Not tracking performance: Keyword research is ongoing; you must track and adjust regularly.
Conclusion
Keyword research is the cornerstone of SEO success, and SEMrush makes the process powerful, precise, and scalable. By following this complete guide, you can:
- Identify profitable keywords.
- Analyze competition.
- Build content strategies around data.
- Track progress and refine continuously.
Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or a large enterprise, SEMrush gives you the competitive edge to thrive in search.
At Attractive Web Solutions – The Best Website Designing & Digital Marketing Company in Delhi NCR, we use SEMrush not just as a tool but as a growth engine for our clients. If you’re ready to take your business visibility to the next level, it’s time to make SEMrush keyword research a core part of your digital strategy.