How to Use the Keyword Strategy Builder in Semrush

Getting your content to rank on search engines starts with effective keyword research. Whether you're a digital marketer, content creator, or SEO enthusiast, understanding the right keywords unlocks the potential of your content in ways you wouldn't believe. Lucky for us, tools like Semrush’s Keyword Strategy Builder make the process easy, impactful, and efficient.

This guide will walk you through how to use the Keyword Strategy Builder like a pro, helping you build a complete keyword strategy for your website's SEO. By following these steps, you'll learn how to optimize your content with precision and save yourself hours of trial and error.

Why Use Semrush’s Keyword Strategy Builder?

Semrush’s Keyword Strategy Builder is one of the most powerful tools in the keyword research world. Its features include an extensive keyword database with over 20 billion keywords, competitive analysis tools, trend insights, and so much more. If you’ve just signed up for a free trial, this guide will show you how to set up your website project and create your SEO strategy.

Here’s how you can make the most of this tool.

1. Set Up Your Project in Semrush

Before you get started, log in to Semrush and create a project for your website. This step is essential as it allows you to centralize all your SEO activities in one place.

Steps to Set Up:

• Log in and click Create Project.
• Add your website URL and name your project.
• Customize your project settings based on your goals.

Having a centralized project ensures you can effectively monitor your progress as you build and execute your SEO strategy.

2. Explore the Extensive Keyword Database

One of the standout features of Semrush’s Keyword Strategy Builder is its keyword database. With over 20 billion keywords available across multiple languages and regions, you’re working with one of the most comprehensive datasets out there.

This aspect is perfect for both global campaigns and hyper-localized strategies. For example:

• Looking to rank for a long-tail search query in Los Angeles? Semrush helps you narrow down keywords specific to that region.
• Tapping a global market? Get insights across countries and languages within minutes.

Start by entering your seed keyword, and Semrush will return a wealth of keyword variations, related searches, and long-tail opportunities.

3. Analyze Keyword Difficulty and Search Volume

Ranking for a keyword isn't just about choosing one that sounds great—it’s about choosing smart. Semrush provides insights into keyword difficulty, showing how hard it will be to rank for a particular keyword, and search volume trends, highlighting how many people search for it monthly.

Take advantage of these features:

• Keyword Difficulty (KD) Score: Stick to mid-KD keywords (30-70) if you're a beginner or just starting.
• Search Volume: Check for seasonal variations using the historical data feature, ensuring you're prepared for traffic spikes.

For example, a small business might decide to target a phrase like “best coffee roasters near me” instead of the more competitive “coffee,” since the KD is lower and the intent is more actionable.

4. Uncover Keyword Variations and Suggestions

Semrush doesn’t stop at showing keyword difficulty and search volume; it goes further by offering related keywords, phrase matches, and long-tail variations. These variations help you develop a content strategy that covers multiple search intents.

Tip:

• Use long-tail keywords (e.g., “build SEO strategy for blogs”) to target niche audiences and boost organic traffic.

This feature is particularly helpful for content creators looking to find specific phrases their audience is already searching for.

5. Spy on Your Competitors

Want to know what keywords your competitors are dominating with? Semrush lets you conduct competitive keyword analysis, giving you insights into where your rivals are excelling—and where they’re falling short.

How to Use:

1. Input a competitor's domain in Semrush.
2. Analyze the top keywords they are ranking for.
3. Identify gaps where you can target untapped keywords.

For example, if a competitor ranks well for general keywords like "healthy recipes," but is missing out on niche ones like "gluten-free breakfast ideas," this could be an opportunity for you.

6. Group Keywords and Build Strategies

Once you’ve identified all the keywords that fit your goals, group them into topics or themes. This is where the Keyword Grouping feature shines. It allows you to organize your keywords into clusters, making it easier to map them to specific pieces of content.

For instance:

• Create one cluster focused on "SEO Writing Basics."
• Create another for "Advanced SEO Techniques."

This structured approach ensures your content strategy aligns with your identified SEO strategy.

7. Optimize for SERP Features

Semrush analyzes SERP (Search Engine Results Page) features, such as featured snippets, FAQs, and image carousels, to help you see how competitors are appearing beyond just rankings.

Pro Tip:

• Identify keywords triggering SERP features, such as “how to do keyword research,” and structure your content to rank for them.

Ranking for SERP features boosts your visibility and improves click-through rates.

8. Monitor and Update Regularly

SEO is never set-it-and-forget-it; it requires constant monitoring and refinement. Semrush’s Keyword Strategy Builder makes this easy:

• Use the position tracking feature to see how your rankings change.
• Look for new keyword opportunities as trends evolve.
• Update old content to keep it relevant and aligned with search intent.

Consistently monitoring ensures that your strategies are always optimized for results.

Why Semrush is Essential for Your SEO Strategy

Semrush isn’t just another keyword research tool—it’s an all-in-one SEO strategy platform designed to empower content creators and digital marketers. From its extensive database to its competitive analysis features, it equips you with everything you need to drive meaningful traffic to your website.

Start Building Your SEO Strategy Today

By following these steps, you’ll be leveraging Semrush’s Keyword Strategy Builder to its full potential. If you’re ready to up your SEO game, don’t miss out—activate your free Semrush trial to start building your content around winning keywords today!