Semrush tutorial

How to Use Keyword Gap in Semrush

Learn how to use Keyword Gap in Semrush, including the settings to confirm before you use the result.

4 min read

Quick answer

The quick answer

compare your keyword profile with competitors and find missing or weak opportunities Start in Keyword Gap, use the settings that match the question you are answering, and validate the result before changing a campaign, report, or website.

Visual guide

The Semrush path

Click through the real product screens used in the steps below.

Semrush Keyword Gap setup with domains entered for comparison.
Enter the target and comparison domains before running Keyword Gap. Actual product screenshot from Semrush Knowledge Base.

Step-by-step

How to Use Keyword Gap in Semrush

  1. 01

    Open Keyword Gap

    Open Keyword Gap and select the project, account, property, or crawl target that owns the data for this task.

  2. 02

    Confirm the scope before changing anything

    Check the selected target, date range, location, device, audience, or crawl configuration. Enter your site first, then select comparable competitors and the correct database and device.

  3. 03

    Configure the task-specific setting

    Use the relevant control to set up the task. Keep the configuration focused on one question so the result remains interpretable.

  4. 04

    Review missing, weak, shared, and untapped keyword opportunities

    Read the output with the active filters and comparison context in view. Inspect a representative row, page, event, or contact before drawing a conclusion.

  5. 05

    Save the useful view and document the decision

    Save the report, segment, configuration, or export when the product supports it. Record what changed and why so the next review has context.

Read the report

What the main metrics mean

Position

The recorded search position for the tracked or observed keyword.

Visibility

A summary measure of how prominently the selected keyword set appears in search.

Location and device

The search context used for the report, which must match the comparison you are making.

Change

Movement during the selected comparison period, not a guarantee of a lasting trend.

Before you continue

  • Confirm the project, property, account, or crawl target before making changes.
  • Use the location, device, date range, or audience that matches the decision you need to make.
  • Check the result against the underlying data before reporting it or acting on it.
  • Document the change so the next review has useful context.

FAQ

Common questions

What do I need before I start in Semrush?

You need access to the relevant Semrush account and the project, property, audience, or crawl target for this task.

Why does my result look incomplete?

Check the selected target, date range, location, device, permissions, and filters. These settings often explain an unexpected result.

Can I change this setup later?

Most settings can be changed, but changes can affect how future data is collected or displayed. Record the original setting before replacing it.

What should I validate before using the result?

Confirm that the setup matches the real question, then review the source data and a representative example before sharing the result or taking action.

Sources and further reading

This guide was checked against Semrush product documentation:

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Photo of Filipe Lins DuarteReviewed by Filipe Lins DuarteCo-Founder & CEO

Vast experience talking to customers and users to understand what good software looks like. Background spans commercial and product roles.

Photo of John RiceChecked by John RiceCo-Founder & CTO

15+ years building tech products and web applications. Conducted hundreds of user interviews to know what a good product looks like.

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