semrush

name	semrush
description	Semrush API for SEO, keyword research, backlinks, domain analytics, traffic, and competitive intelligence. Use when user mentions "Semrush", "SEO", "keyword research", "backlinks", "domain rankings", or "competitive research".

Semrush

Use the Semrush API to retrieve SEO, keyword, backlink, traffic, and competitive research data.

Official docs: https://developer.semrush.com/api/get-started/quick-start/

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When to Use

Use this skill when you need to:

• Analyze domain rankings, organic keywords, paid keywords, or competitors
• Retrieve backlink overview and referring domain data
• Pull Semrush SEO API reports into an analysis or automation workflow

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Prerequisites

Connect the Semrush connector at app.vm0.ai/connectors.

Troubleshooting: If requests fail, run zero doctor check-connector --env-name SEMRUSH_TOKEN or zero doctor check-connector --url "https://api.semrush.com/?type=domain_rank&domain=example.com&database=us&export_columns=Dn,Rk" --method GET

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How to Use

1. Get Domain Overview

Replace <domain> with a bare domain such as example.com. The Semrush SEO API returns CSV for these reports.

curl -s "https://api.semrush.com/?type=domain_rank&key=$SEMRUSH_TOKEN&export_columns=Dn,Rk,Or,Ot,Oc,Ad,At,Ac&domain=<domain>&database=us"

Docs: https://developer.semrush.com/api/seo/overview-reports/

2. Get Organic Search Keywords

Replace <domain> with a bare domain. display_limit controls the number of returned rows and helps manage API unit usage.

curl -s "https://api.semrush.com/?type=domain_organic&key=$SEMRUSH_TOKEN&display_limit=10&export_columns=Ph,Po,Pp,Pd,Nq,Cp,Ur,Tr,Tc,Co,Nr,Td&domain=<domain>&display_sort=tr_desc&database=us"

Docs: https://developer.semrush.com/api/seo/domain-reports/

3. Get Paid Search Keywords

Replace <domain> with a bare domain.

curl -s "https://api.semrush.com/?type=domain_adwords&key=$SEMRUSH_TOKEN&display_limit=10&export_columns=Ph,Po,Pp,Pd,Nq,Cp,Vu,Ur,Tr,Tc,Co,Nr,Td&domain=<domain>&display_sort=tr_desc&database=us"

Docs: https://developer.semrush.com/api/seo/domain-reports/

4. Find Organic Competitors

Replace <domain> with a bare domain.

curl -s "https://api.semrush.com/?type=domain_organic_organic&key=$SEMRUSH_TOKEN&display_limit=10&export_columns=Dn,Cr,Np,Or,Ot,Oc,Ad,At,Ac&domain=<domain>&database=us"

Docs: https://developer.semrush.com/api/seo/domain-reports/

5. Get Backlinks Overview

Replace <target-domain> with a bare domain. Use target_type=root_domain for root-domain-level analysis.

curl -s "https://api.semrush.com/analytics/v1/?type=backlinks_overview&key=$SEMRUSH_TOKEN&target=<target-domain>&target_type=root_domain&export_columns=ascore,total,domains_num,ips_num,follows_num,nofollows_num"

Docs: https://developer.semrush.com/api/seo/backlinks/

6. Get Referring Domains

Replace <target-domain> with a bare domain.

curl -s "https://api.semrush.com/analytics/v1/?type=backlinks_refdomains&key=$SEMRUSH_TOKEN&target=<target-domain>&target_type=root_domain&display_limit=10&export_columns=domain_ascore,domain,backlinks_num,first_seen,last_seen"

Docs: https://developer.semrush.com/api/seo/backlinks/

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Guidelines

1. Most SEO API reports return CSV: Do not assume JSON unless the endpoint documentation explicitly says so.
2. Use display_limit aggressively: Semrush API usage is metered by API units, often per returned line.
3. Use bare domains: Pass example.com, not https://example.com, unless an endpoint explicitly accepts URLs.
4. Pick the right regional database: Common values include us, uk, de, and other Semrush regional database codes.
5. URL-encode filters: If using display_filter or special characters, write the filter to /tmp/query.txt and use --data-urlencode "display_filter@/tmp/query.txt" with curl -G.