Semrush is a digital marketing platform used for keyword, competitor, technical SEO, backlink, content and ranking analysis. It produces a flood of data, but data alone isn’t a result: the value comes from turning analysis into action.
In this guide we explain what Semrush is and does, who can use it, the basic logic of using it, how to create a project and what to watch in setup, how to use Domain Overview, organic research and keyword position action plans, competitor analysis, Keyword Overview, Keyword Magic Tool, Keyword Gap and keyword maps, Site Audit and HTTP status codes, and the On Page SEO Checker.
What Is Semrush?
A digital marketing platform for keyword, competitor, technical SEO, backlink, content and ranking analysis.
What Is Semrush For?
- It shows your current state.
- It helps you understand competitors.
- It identifies new opportunities.
- It helps track results.
Who Can Use Semrush?
SEO specialists, content teams, agencies, e-commerce managers and business owners who want to understand their organic visibility. See what does SEO mean.
The Basic Logic of Using Semrush
Look at where you stand, compare with competitors, find gaps, act, then measure again. Remember that traffic and keyword data for competitor sites can be estimated; for your own site, base decisions on Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
How to Create a Semrush Project
Add your domain, choose the target country, add competitors and then enable the tools you need (Site Audit, Position Tracking, Backlink Analytics and others).
What to Watch in Project Setup
- Choose the right domain type (root domain, subdomain or subfolder).
- Set the target country correctly.
- Separate mobile and desktop.
- Add real competitors, not just large famous sites.
How to Use Domain Overview
Domain Overview summarizes a domain’s organic search, paid search, backlink and overall visibility data. Use it to size up your site and competitors at a glance. The numbers are estimates, not exact figures.
How to Do Organic Research
Look at the keywords a domain ranks for and what traffic they bring.
What to Look at in Organic Keyword Analysis
- Keywords in the top 3: protect them.
- Keywords in positions 4-10: push them up with content and links.
- Keywords in positions 11-20: the best quick-win opportunities.
- Keywords below 20: decide which are worth the effort.
An Action Plan by Keyword Position
Match each position range to an action: protect, improve, expand or create new content. See how to write an SEO-friendly article.
Competitor Analysis with Semrush
Compare organic keywords, top pages and backlinks. A common mistake is choosing competitors by brand fame rather than the ones that actually appear in the same results as you. See how to do an SEO analysis.
How to Use Keyword Overview
Shows a keyword’s volume, difficulty, intent, trend and SERP features.
How to Interpret Keyword Metrics
- Search volume: how often it is searched.
- Keyword difficulty: how hard it is to rank.
- Search intent: what the searcher wants. See how to find the right keyword.
How to Use Keyword Magic Tool
Start from a seed word and discover related queries, question words and long-tail phrases; filter by volume, difficulty and intent. Group the results into a keyword map, one main topic per page. See semantic SEO.
How to Use Keyword Gap
Compare your keyword profile with competitors’ to see queries where you are missing or weak. Apply it by adding new pages, strengthening existing ones and linking them together.
How to Use Site Audit
Configure the crawl, then read the results:
- Errors, Warnings and Notices: from serious problems to suggestions.
- Site Health score: a summary, not a goal in itself.
- Prioritize technical issues by impact and effort.
- Review HTTP status codes and act on each type.
Turn results into tasks for developers. See technical SEO, Screaming Frog and on-page SEO.
How to Use On Page SEO Checker
It suggests improvements for specific pages based on competitors and your keywords.
Backlinks
Semrush also analyzes backlinks. See what are backlinks and off-page SEO.
For help, see our SEO consulting service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Semrush?
A digital marketing platform used for keyword, competitor, technical SEO, backlink, content and ranking analysis.
What is Semrush for?
It helps analyze a website’s organic visibility, research competitors, identify technical problems and find SEO opportunities.
How is Semrush used?
Add a domain, choose the target country, define competitors and use Domain Overview, Site Audit, Keyword Magic Tool, Backlink Analytics and Position Tracking as needed.
Is Semrush free?
There can be free options with limited queries and features. Paid plans may be needed for advanced use.
Is Semrush data exact?
Traffic and keyword data on competitor sites can be estimated. For your own site, base decisions on Search Console and Analytics data.
What is Domain Overview?
A report summarizing a domain’s organic search, paid search, backlink and overall visibility data.
What is Keyword Overview?
A starting analysis that shows a keyword’s volume, difficulty, intent, trend and SERP features.
What is Keyword Magic Tool?
A keyword tool that helps find related queries, question words and long-tail phrases from a starting word.
What is Keyword Gap?
It compares your site’s keyword profile with competitors’ and shows queries where you are missing or weak.
