How to Do Competitor Keyword Research With Semrush
Semrush packs several SEO tools into one dashboard, but its Keyword Gap report is the feature most worth learning. It shows exactly which keywords rivals rank for that you don’t.
What Is the Keyword Gap Tool?
You enter up to five domains and Semrush compares their keyword rankings, sorting results into shared, missing, weak, and unique buckets. “Missing” keywords are the opportunities — terms a competitor ranks for in the top 100 where you don’t appear at all.
How Do You Run a Keyword Gap Analysis?
- Go to Keyword Gap in the Semrush left menu.
- Enter your domain and 2-4 competitors.
- Pick your target country database.
- Review the Missing and Weak tabs.
- Filter by KD 0-30 and volume 200+ to find realistic targets.
How Do You Prioritize What to Write?
Rank candidates by opportunity, not volume. A keyword where a competitor sits at position 3 with a thin page is beatable; one where a 90-authority site dominates isn’t, regardless of KD. Semrush’s Difficulty score helps, but check the actual top-10 URLs before committing.
| Bucket | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Missing | You don’t rank; they do | Content gap to fill |
| Weak | You rank 11-100 | Improve existing page |
| Shared | Both rank | Defend and differentiate |
| Unique | Only you rank | Protect and expand |
How Much Does Semrush Cost?
Pro starts around $140/month, Guru higher for content tooling and more projects. There’s a limited free account with a handful of daily searches, useful for spot checks but not for sustained research. A 7-day trial gives full access if you want to front-load your research.
How Is Semrush Different From Ahrefs?
Semrush’s edge is multi-tool breadth — PPC data, content templates, local listings, and social in one place. Ahrefs tends to have a stronger backlink crawler and cleaner UI. For pure keyword and competitor comparison, both work well; Semrush wins if you also do paid search and social.
Where Does Semrush Get Annoying?
Limits on reports per day and a busy interface that buries features behind menus. Data is dense enough that beginners over-filter and find nothing. Start broad, then narrow — not the reverse.
Quick Summary
- Keyword Gap compares up to five domains and finds keywords you’re missing.
- Focus on the Missing and Weak buckets, filtered by KD and volume.
- Verify top-10 pages before writing — KD alone is not enough.
- Pro is ~$140/month; free tier is for spot checks.
- Broader than Ahrefs, with PPC, content, and social tools included.
