Keyword Research Essentials with Semrush

via Semrush Academy

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Details

Go to class

Provider

Semrush Academy
Pricing

Free Certificate
Languages

English
Certificate

Certificate Available
Effort

1 hour 50 minutes
Sessions

Self-Paced
Level

Beginner

Found in

Tired of watching competitors outrank you? This keyword research course reveals how to use Semrush to discover high-impact keywords that can actually boost rankings. Transform your SEO process from guesswork into a data-driven strategy that helps you climb the search results. Enroll today and improve your visibilty tomorrow!

Syllabus

Course Intro

Meet Rita, your guide through this keyword research journey. Learn what to expect and make sure to download the worksheet in the related materials, which will become your strategic roadmap for connecting every page on your site to your researched keywords.

Strategy: Quick AI SEO Intro

The search landscape is evolving! This intro explains why AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google's AI Mode are reshaping search marketing—and why we've updated this course to include AI SEO essentials.

Strategy: Keywords and Keyword Research

What exactly are keywords and why do they matter? Discover the bridge between what people search for and what your business offers. See how keywords serve as fundamental signals to search engines about your content's relevance.

Strategy: The Value of Keyword Research Tools

Stop guessing what your audience wants! Learn why keyword research tools are essential for finding terms people actually search for. See how Semrush's industry-leading database helps identify keywords with the right balance of search volume and competition.

Strategy: Seed Keywords: The Foundation of Keyword Research

Master the art of selecting seed keywords—the base of your entire keyword strategy. Learn to identify these broad, distinct terms that represent your core business offerings, as they will guide the rest of your research process.

Walkthrough: Identify a Seed Keyword

In this lesson, Rita teams up with SEO expert Alex Lindley to explore how to choose and validate seed keywords for Good Dog Shirts using Semrush tools and strategy.

Strategy: Create a Target Keyword List

Transform your seed keywords into a strategic list that brings customers to your site. Discover the perfect balance between search volume, keyword difficulty, and search intent to find terms that attract qualified traffic you can actually rank for.

Walkthrough: Low-Hanging Fruit with Keyword Magic Tool

Expand your keyword list with the powerful Keyword Magic Tool. Uncover keywords with the perfect difficulty-to-volume ratio, explore sub-categories for long-tail variations, and discover question-based terms perfect for blog content and FAQs.

Walkthrough: Check Your List in Keyword Strategy Builder

Learn how to organize your keyword list using Semrush’s Keyword Strategy Builder. In this lesson, Rita and Alex explore when to group similar terms, how to think about search intent, and how clustering helps plan content around user needs.

Walkthrough: Discover Keywords You Already Rank for with Organic Research

Learn how to uncover hidden SEO opportunities using Semrush’s Organic Research tool. Rita will help you to explore your competitors’ keywords, filter for low-difficulty wins, and build a list to boost your traffic fast!

Walkthrough: Conduct a Keyword Gap Analysis

Find out what your competitors rank for that you don't! This lesson shows you how to compare your site against competitors, identify missing opportunities, and find keywords where you're ranking below competitors but could easily improve.

Expert: AI and Keyword Research

In this lesson, Alex and Rita explore how AI is changing the way we approach keyword research and SEO. Learn why search intent matters more than ever, how to prioritize keywords effectively, and what helps content get featured in AI-generated results.

Strategy: Keyword Mapping

Organize your website like a well-planned library! Learn how to map specific keywords to particular pages, preventing multiple pages from competing for the same terms. See how to create a logical structure that guides both visitors and search engines, and discover which types of content work best for different search intents.

Walkthrough: Cluster Your Keyword List

Rita and Alex discuss how to map keyword clusters to website pages. They cover cleaning up your list, choosing between existing and new pages, and making strategic SEO decisions based on site structure and content potential.

Walkthrough: Map Keywords to a Page on Your Site

In this lesson, Rita and Alex map clustered keywords for "dog shirts" using Semrush and the course worksheet. Learn how to assign primary and secondary keywords and optimize pages based on search intent.

Walkthrough: Keyword Mapping

In this lesson, Rita walks through the process of refining and organizing a keyword list using the Keyword Strategy Builder before setting up position tracking. She demonstrates how to clean the list based on actual website content and future content ideas, and then maps relevant keywords to existing and new pages. The session wraps with tips on exporting and structuring the data for easier keyword-to-page mapping.

Strategy: A Word on Topical Authority

Discover why Google trusts sites that demonstrate deep knowledge on specific topics. Learn the pillar-cluster model that helps establish your authority in key subject areas, allowing you to rank for more keywords with less effort and future-proof your SEO.

Walkthrough: Pillar-Cluster with Keyword Strategy Builder

Learn a powerful shortcut to streamline your keyword research using Semrush’s AI-powered Keyword Strategy Builder. In this lesson, Rita walks you through how to generate a comprehensive keyword plan—from seed keywords to topic clusters and high-potential opportunities—all with just a few clicks in the SEO Toolkit. Perfect for saving time while still building a robust SEO strategy.

Walkthrough: Adding Competitors in Position Tracking

In this lesson, Rita walks you through how to add competitors to your Position Tracking project in Semrush. Learn how to compare keyword rankings side by side with your competitors and stay ahead in your SEO strategy.

Walkthrough: Track Your Keywords with Position Tracking

Track how your keyword strategy translates into real ranking changes. Learn to use Semrush's Position Tracking tool to monitor your visibility, estimated traffic, and average position, while keeping an eye on competitors' performance.

AI SEO: Intro to Prompt Research

What is prompt research and why does it matter for your SEO strategy? Uncover the three fundamental ways AI prompt research differs from traditional keyword research, plus the new metrics that define success in AI visibility.

Walkthrough: Conducting Prompt Research with Semrush

A hands-on tutorial for identifying prompts that matter, analyzing competitor prompt strategies, and building a robust tracking system for topics that drive AI visibility and brand awareness.

Congratulations and Next Steps

WOOF! You’ve just completed a deep dive into keyword research—from finding seed keywords to building a content hierarchy with Semrush. Now, all that’s left is to pass the final test and earn your certificate—share it proudly and tag us so we can celebrate with you.

Would You Recommend This Course?

One last thing! If you enjoyed this course (or even if you didn't, we won't take it personally), please give us some feedback so we can keep making even better free content in the future!