Maximizing SEMrush for Multi-Country Keyword Research: Expert Tips and Strategies
As digital marketers and SEO professionals strive to expand their reach across various international markets, effective keyword research becomes a pivotal component of successful campaigns. For those transitioning from tools like Google Keyword Planner to SEMrush, a common challenge arises: SEMrush’s current functionality does not natively support querying multiple countries simultaneously within a single search. This can make large-scale, multi-country SEO planning seem time-consuming and cumbersome.
Understanding the Limitation
SEMrush offers powerful features for analyzing keywords, competitors, and market trends; however, its standard interface typically requires users to set a specific target country for each search. Unlike Google Keyword Planner, which allows users to select multiple countries and obtain comparative insights in one go, SEMrush’s focus on granular, country-specific data means that researchers often need to run multiple searches manually for each target market.
Practical Strategies for Multi-Country Keyword Research
Despite this limitation, several effective techniques can streamline your international keyword research process on SEMrush:
-
Utilize Saved Projects and Reports
Create dedicated projects or reports for each country within SEMrush. After conducting an initial keyword analysis for one country, duplicate the project and update the target location accordingly. This approach helps manage and compare data across markets efficiently without starting from scratch each time. -
Leverage Export and Data Aggregation
Export keyword data from individual country-specific searches and compile these datasets in spreadsheets. With proper organization, this allows you to analyze keyword overlap, prioritize high-value terms, and identify emerging opportunities across multiple markets simultaneously. -
Automate with SEMrush API
For advanced users with technical expertise, SEMrush’s API offers a programmatic way to automate multi-country keyword queries. By scripting API calls, you can fetch data for multiple locations and aggregate results, significantly reducing manual effort and improving accuracy. -
Use Regional Settings with Proxy Tools or VPNs
While not an official feature, some marketers utilize regional proxies or VPN services to simulate searches from different countries within SEMrush, tailoring the search environment to specific markets. This method requires careful setup and consideration of SEMrush’s terms of service. -
Incorporate Google Keyword Planner as a Supplement
Since Google Keyword Planner inherently supports multi-country searches, consider integrating its insights into your SEMrush analysis. Use Google’s data to identify broad keyword opportunities, then validate and expand upon these with SEMrush’s detailed competitive intelligence.
Best