Let me tell you I’ve been using Semrush for years and I’ve got to say their free account is a must for anyone just starting out in digital marketing.
It’s like having a peek behind the curtain of a powerful marketing tool without having to commit to a paid subscription.
Unlocking the Power of Semrush: 8 Things You Can Do with a Free Account
You’ve got two options when it comes to a free Semrush account: a basic free account with limited access to specific tools or a 7-day free trial of a paid account (Pro or Guru). The free account is great for exploring the platform and getting your feet wet while the free trial lets you experience the full power of Semrush for a week.
But let’s focus on what you can do with the basic free account which is where the real value lies for those starting out.
It’s a treasure trove of information and insights and it’s all completely free.
Keyword Research: Your Gateway to Digital Marketing Success
Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool and Keyword Overview are gold mines for keyword research.
With your free account you’re given 10 daily keyword searches using either of these tools.
Each search in the Keyword Magic Tool will return a report with 10 results so that’s 100 results per day!
Think about it – you can discover hundreds of relevant keywords to target your content explore search volume trends and even identify your competition.
You can even filter those keywords by country so you can truly tailor your content to your target audience.
Here’s what a basic search looks like in the Keyword Magic Tool:
- Keyword: “Digital Marketing”
- Search Volume: 165000
- Competition: High
- Related Keywords: Digital Marketing Strategy Digital Marketing Agency Digital Marketing Trends and so on.
You’ll also get:
- Keyword Difficulty: This is a crucial metric for gauging how competitive a keyword is. It’s based on a combination of factors like search volume the number of competing websites and the overall quality of those websites.
- CPC (Cost Per Click): This gives you an idea of how much it would cost to run a paid advertising campaign for that particular keyword. This can be really helpful if you’re planning to run Google Ads campaigns.
- Search Trend: This shows you how the search volume for a keyword has changed over time. This information can help you understand the seasonality of a keyword and identify potential growth opportunities.
Now here’s where the Keyword Overview tool comes in handy.
It’s like a more detailed view of a single keyword.
For example let’s say you’re interested in deeper into the “digital marketing” keyword:
- Keyword Trends: The tool will display a graph showing you how search volume has changed for that keyword over the past year.
- Search Volume Distribution: This gives you a breakdown of how many searches are conducted for the keyword on different devices (desktop mobile tablet).
- Related Keywords: This is where the magic really happens! The Keyword Overview Tool provides a list of related keywords that are similar to your target keyword.
It’s a powerful way to gain insight into what your audience is searching for and identify potential opportunities to expand your content strategy.
Analyzing Your Website’s Performance: A Deep Dive into Domain Overview
With your free account you can also perform a domain analysis with the Domain Overview tool.
You can analyze up to 10 domains per day.
It’s like a mini-audit of any domain you want to analyze.
So you can get a really good idea of how well that domain is performing in organic search and paid advertising.
Here’s what you can discover using this tool:
- Organic Traffic: This will give you a picture of the traffic a website is receiving from organic search results.
- Paid Traffic: The tool will reveal the traffic a website is getting from paid advertising campaigns.
- Backlinks: The Domain Overview will show you a list of the websites that are linking to the target website. This gives you a good idea of the overall authority of a website.
- Keywords: You’ll see the keywords that the domain is ranking for in organic search results along with their search volume and position.
- Social Media Presence: It will show you the social media accounts associated with the domain which can help you get a sense of the overall brand presence and its engagement on different platforms.
Tracking Your Keyword Rankings: Keep an Eye on Your Progress with Position Tracking
The Position Tracking tool is an excellent tool for monitoring your website’s progress in search rankings especially for those focused on local SEO.
As a free user you can track up to 10 keywords.
Here’s how it works:
- Add Your Keywords: You’ll first need to add the keywords that you want to track. This can be done by simply entering the keyword phrases and selecting the region for which you want to track rankings.
- Select Your Target Region: This is especially important for those with a strong local SEO focus. Semrush can track your rankings down to the zip code level.
- Set Up Alerts: Configure alerts to receive notifications whenever your rankings change.
- Track Your Rankings: You can then track your rankings on a daily basis and see how they change over time. You’ll also see the ranking positions of your competitors.
This data can be invaluable for making informed decisions about your SEO strategy.
You’ll be able to identify potential opportunities to improve your rankings and you’ll also be able to see how your competitors are performing.
Assessing Your Website’s Health: Unveiling Potential Issues with Site Audit
The Site Audit tool is your go-to tool for a free website health check.
You’ll get a comprehensive report on your website’s technical health.
As a free user you can audit up to 100 pages.
Here’s what you can discover:
- Technical Issues: It will identify any technical issues that could be affecting your website’s performance in search engines. This includes things like broken links slow loading times and duplicate content.
- Mobile Friendliness: The tool will analyze your website’s mobile-friendliness.
- Security Issues: The Site Audit can uncover any security vulnerabilities that could be putting your website at risk.
Optimizing Your Website for Local Search: A Step-by-Step Guide with Listing Management
If you’re a local business optimizing your online presence is crucial.
The Listing Management tool can help you manage your business listings across various online directories.
Here’s what you can do with it:
- Check Your Listings: You can check the status of your business listings in over 70 authoritative directories in the US and over 25 countries worldwide.
- Get Insights: The tool will show you any discrepancies between your listings and your website information.
- Improve Your Listings: Use the insights to correct any errors and ensure that your business listings are consistent and accurate.
Mastering Content Marketing with Semrush: From Ideas to Optimization
Semrush also empowers content marketers with tools to create compelling content that resonates with your target audience.
Here’s how a free account can help you:
- SEO Content Template: Generate a template for a piece of content based on a specific keyword. It will suggest relevant keywords an ideal content length and a competitive analysis to help you create engaging content.
- SEO Writing Assistant: The SEO Writing Assistant tool is a real game-changer for writing engaging content. It’s like having a built-in content editor within your browser that helps you optimize your content in real time for both SEO and readability.
- On-Page SEO Checker: The On-Page SEO Checker helps you identify potential issues with your website’s on-page SEO. You’ll see recommendations on:
- Keyword Optimization: The tool will suggest the most relevant keywords to target for each page.
- Content Optimization: It will recommend ways to improve your content’s relevance and readability.
- Technical Optimization: It will identify any technical issues that are hindering your website’s performance in search engines.
Expanding Your Marketing Horizons: Semrush App Center
The Semrush App Center is a treasure trove of marketing tools developed by Semrush and its partners.
While most apps offer free trials you’ll find a handful that are completely free.
Here are a few notable free apps:
- AdClarity: Research advertising campaigns across Google Display Network social media and YouTube. It’s a fantastic tool for competitive analysis and understanding your competitors’ advertising strategies.
- Influencer Analytics: Explore a database of over 30 million influencers across Instagram YouTube TikTok and Twitch. It’s a great tool for finding the perfect influencer to partner with your brand.
- AdCreative.ai: Create stunning visuals for your digital ad campaigns with the help of AI. With AdCreative.ai you can generate static and video ads for Google Display or social media campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Semrush Free Account
Do I need to provide my credit card information to create a free account?
No you don’t.
You can create a free account with just your email address.
How long can I use the free account?
You can use the free account for as long as you want without providing your credit card information.
Can I use all the tools available in Semrush with a free account?
No you won’t be able to use all the tools available.
There are limitations on the daily credits and SEO Ideas units available to free users.
How many keywords can I track with Position Tracking?
You can track up to 10 keywords using the Position Tracking tool.
Can I perform a website audit with a free account?
Yes you can audit up to 100 URLs with the Site Audit tool.
Can I create reports with a free account?
Yes you can create one PDF report using the My Reports section.
What happens if I cancel my paid subscription?
If you cancel your paid subscription your account will automatically revert to a free account.
Final Thoughts: Taking Your Digital Marketing to the Next Level
The Semrush free account is a powerful tool for anyone starting out in digital marketing or wanting to dip their toes into the vast world of SEO content marketing and more.
It provides a glimpse into the capabilities of Semrush while giving you a platform to learn experiment and hone your marketing skills.
It’s a wonderful gateway to the full suite of Semrush tools and it’s a fantastic resource for those looking to make their mark in the digital marketing landscape.
If you’re ready to take your marketing to the next level give the Semrush free account a try!