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Finding Commercial Keywords with SEMrush

Overview​

This guide covers two powerful methods for finding commercial and transactional keywords using SEMrush, followed by a strategy to combine and refine your findings.

Method 1: Competitor Analysis Approach​

1. Identify Competitors​

  1. Go to Market Explorer
  2. Enter your domain
  3. Review "Main Competitors"
  4. Note top 5-10 competitors

2. Analyze Competitor Keywords​

  1. Navigate to Domain Overview
  2. Enter competitor's domain
  3. Go to "Organic Research" > "Positions"
  4. Apply initial filters:
    • Position: 1-20
    • Volume: 100+
    • KD%: ≤ 50

3. Filter for Commercial Intent​

For a comprehensive list of commercial intent keywords and examples, see our Understanding Keyword Intent guide.

Apply advanced filters:

  • Include keywords containing:

    # Transactional Intent
    buy, purchase, order, get, subscribe, download
    price, cost, pricing, cheap, affordable, discount
    deal, offer, sale, shipping, delivery
    shop, store, marketplace, online, instant
    hire, book, schedule, near me, in [location]

    # Commercial Investigation
    best, top, leading, recommended, trusted
    vs, versus, comparison, compare, review, rating
    alternative, similar to, professional, expert
    premium, luxury, popular, trending
    for [business/audience], for [industry]

    # Product Specifications
    size, dimensions, features, specifications
    models, types, brands, custom, personalized
    new, latest, updated, premium, standard

    # Purchase Qualifiers
    online, instant, fast, quick, express
    free shipping, same day, next day
    wholesale, bulk, licensed, certified
    genuine, authentic, official, authorized

Additional Considerations​

Note: This list of commercial and transactional indicators is not exhaustive. Different industries, niches, and markets may have unique modifiers that signal purchase intent.

Always consider:

  • Industry-specific terminology
  • Regional language variations
  • Emerging market trends
  • Seasonal modifiers
  • Brand-specific terms

Method 2: Product/Service-Based Approach​

1. Keyword Magic Tool​

  1. Enter your main product/service terms
  2. Use advanced filters:
    • Intent: Commercial
    • KD%: ≤ 50
    • Volume: 100+

Use features like:

  • Broad match
  • Phrase match
  • Exact match
  • Related keywords
  • Questions

3. Use Advanced Features​

  1. Topic Research tool

    • Find trending topics
    • Identify popular angles
    • Discover content gaps

  2. Keyword Gap tool

    • Compare multiple competitors
    • Find unique opportunities
    • Identify content gaps

Combining and Refining Results​

1. Merge Keyword Lists​

  1. Export all keywords from both methods
  2. Combine into a master spreadsheet
  3. Remove duplicates

2. Clean Up Data​

  1. Remove irrelevant keywords
  2. Group similar keywords
  3. Identify parent topics

3. Prioritize Keywords​

Create a scoring system based on:

  1. Search volume
  2. Keyword difficulty
  3. Commercial intent
  4. Competition level
  5. CPC value

4. Final Shortlisting​

  1. Group by landing page type
  2. Select primary keywords
  3. Include relevant variations
  4. Create final focus list

SEMrush-Specific Tips​

Using Intent Filters​

  • Utilize SEMrush's built-in intent filter
  • Combine with commercial modifiers
  • Check SERP features

Leveraging Position Tracking​

  1. Set up position tracking for final keywords
  2. Monitor competitor movements
  3. Track SERP feature changes

Using Notes Feature​

  • Tag keywords by intent
  • Add custom labels
  • Group by landing page type

Common Pitfalls to Avoid​

  1. Ignoring search intent
  2. Focusing only on volume
  3. Missing keyword variations
  4. Overlooking long-tail opportunities
  5. Not considering user journey

Next Steps​

After finalizing your keyword list:

  1. Group by landing page type
  2. Set priority levels
  3. Create content calendar
  4. Plan tracking metrics

Need help with Ahrefs? Check our Ahrefs Guide