Đoàn Lê Minh Anh
Keyword research is a foundational step that helps businesses understand what customers are searching for and create content that meets those needs. SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool helps you discover thousands of keyword ideas from a single starting topic, while providing data to assess their potential and competition.
This article walks you through using the tool step by step, from choosing a database to applying advanced filters. Rather than selecting keywords based solely on search volume, you’ll learn to combine search intent, difficulty, relevance, and business goals to build a list you can put into practice.
What is SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool?
SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool is a keyword research tool within the Semrush ecosystem. Enter a word or phrase related to your topic, select a country-specific database, and the tool returns related keywords grouped by topic. Depending on the data available and your subscription plan, results may include estimated search volume, keyword difficulty, advertising competition, cost per click, and other metrics.
The tool is useful for discovering ideas, but it cannot fully replace market and customer analysis. Metrics such as search volume and difficulty are estimates, not guarantees that a page will rank or attract a specific number of visits. Treat the data as a basis for comparison and prioritization, then check actual search results before creating content.
How to find keywords with the tool
1. Choose a seed keyword and market
Start with a seed keyword that describes a product, service, customer problem, or topic you want to develop. It should be specific enough to generate relevant ideas, but not so narrow that it limits the results. For example, a business offering management software could try phrases such as “sales management software” or “inventory management.”
Next, choose the database that matches your target audience—for example, Vietnam if you’re doing SEO for local customers. Different databases may return different search volumes and keyword ideas. If you serve multiple markets, research each country separately rather than applying data from one region to all of them.
2. Enter a query and review the results
Enter your seed keyword, select a database, and run the search. Results are typically organized into topic groups based on related wording or meaning. Open each group to explore specific phrases, questions, and variations customers might use. If the list is too broad, start with the group most closely related to your product or topic.
Review the data columns in light of your goals, rather than focusing on a single number. Estimated search volume gives you a sense of relative demand; difficulty helps you assess competition; and advertising metrics may indicate commercial value. Note relevant keywords, then check the search results page to see whether Google favors how-to articles, category pages, product pages, or another content format.
3. Save and organize your ideas
Create a separate list for each topic, product group, or stage in the customer journey. You can categorize keywords into groups for problem awareness, solution research, comparing options, and finding a provider. This organization helps prevent you from combining different intents in one article and makes it easier to plan content in a logical sequence.
Applying advanced filters
Filters help narrow a large list to the keywords that fit your resources and goals. Rather than applying every criterion at once, filter in stages and observe how the results change. SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool may offer different filters and display options depending on the version or subscription plan; use the data fields available in your interface.
- Search volume: Set a minimum or maximum range to find keywords suited to the scale of your campaign. Low-volume keywords can still be valuable if they reflect clear needs or have strong conversion potential.
- Keyword difficulty: Set a difficulty range to prioritize opportunities within reach. New websites may want to consider more specific, less competitive phrases, while still checking the quality of the pages currently ranking.
- Word count: Filter by query length to discover long-tail keywords. These phrases often express more specific needs, such as questions about how to choose a product, its features, or its cost.
- Search intent: If the tool classifies intent, use it to distinguish informational, navigational, commercial research, and transactional needs. Then verify the classification by reviewing actual search results.
- Include or exclude keywords: Keep phrases containing important terms and remove irrelevant words. For example, if you serve businesses only, you can exclude variations tied to individual needs when they are not relevant.
- Questions and topic groups: Use question filters or tabs to find ideas for explanatory content. These can inspire subheadings, guide pages, and FAQ sections.
A practical filtering process can start with relevance, move on to search intent, and then consider search volume and difficulty. If you filter by search volume first, you may miss niche keywords that attract high-quality customers. After each filtering round, export or save the list, remove duplicates, and note why you kept each phrase.
How to evaluate and prioritize keywords
There is no search volume or difficulty threshold that works for every website. A new business may prioritize accessible topics closely tied to its services, while an established brand may invest in broader, more competitive phrases. Evaluate each keyword using at least four factors: relevance to your product, search intent, competitiveness, and business value.
Next, review the search results page. Note the types of pages ranking, the scope and depth of their content, and any gaps. If the results are mostly product pages, a long blog post may not satisfy the intent. Conversely, if users are looking for a guide, a sales page alone may struggle to compete. This step turns tool metrics into practical content decisions.
For each keyword group, identify one primary landing page to prevent multiple pages on the same website from competing for the same query. Closely related keywords can go on one page if they serve the same intent; phrases with distinct needs may warrant separate pages. When building your plan, prioritize both near-term opportunities and foundational topics that take time to develop.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Chasing search volume: High search volume does not necessarily mean strong leads. Check whether keywords align with your products, market, and conversion goals.
- Trusting difficulty scores completely: This is an estimate that cannot fully capture content quality, brand authority, or page relevance. Always review the competitors in the search results.
- Choosing the wrong database: Data from another market may not reflect search behavior in Vietnam. Select the right country and language for your campaign.
- Stuffing too many keywords into one article: Focus on one main topic and intent, and use related variations naturally instead of repeating keywords mechanically.
- Failing to update your research: Search demand, competitors, and products change. Regularly review content performance, keyword rankings, and customers’ new questions.
To make the process more consistent, LilyTech can help businesses combine keyword research with website analysis, content strategy, and marketing goals. The key is to turn a keyword list into a measurable site structure and publishing plan, rather than simply saving a long spreadsheet.
Conclusion
SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool helps you expand keyword ideas, group topics, and evaluate opportunities using useful metrics. To get the most out of it, choose the right market, start with a relevant seed keyword, apply filters in sequence, and always verify intent on the search results page. Then prioritize phrases that are relevant to your customers and suited to your website’s competitive position.
If your business needs an SEO strategy, content plan, or data-driven digital growth plan, contact LilyTech for advice on an approach that fits your goals and resources.
