# SEMrush Keyword Research - Volume, Difficulty & Related (`alizarin_refrigerator-owner/semrush-keyword-research---volume-difficulty-related`) Actor

Research any keyword with SEMrush data using your own API key (BYOK). Get search volume, keyword difficulty, CPC, SERP features, and discover related keywords - all in structured format for automation.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/alizarin_refrigerator-owner/semrush-keyword-research---volume-difficulty-related.md
- **Developed by:** [The Howlers](https://apify.com/alizarin_refrigerator-owner) (community)
- **Categories:** SEO tools, Developer tools, Other
- **Stats:** 60 total users, 4 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.01 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## SEMrush Keyword Research

Get comprehensive keyword data from SEMrush including search volume, keyword difficulty, CPC, SERP features, and related/phrase match keywords. BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) - use your SEMrush API key.

**BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)** -- you provide your own API credentials.

***

### Before You Start

This actor requires your own API credentials to fetch real data.

**Where to get your key:** Your SEMrush API key. Get it from SEMrush → My Profile → API → Subscription Info

***

### Quick Start

#### Run with real data

```json
{
  "semrushApiKey": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE",
  "keywords": [
    "seo tools"
  ],
  "database": "us",
  "includeRelatedKeywords": true,
  "includePhraseMatch": true,
  "relatedLimit": 20,
  "phraseMatchLimit": 20,
  "minVolume": 0,
  "maxDifficulty": 100,
  "webhookPlatform": "custom"
}
```

***

### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Default | Required | Description |
|-----------|------|---------|----------|-------------|
| `semrushApiKey` | string | - | Yes\* | Your SEMrush API key. Get it from SEMrush → My Profile → API → Subscription Info |
| `keywords` | array | - | No | List of keywords to research (e.g., 'seo tools', 'keyword research') |
| `database` | string | `"us"` | No | SEMrush database/country to use for data |
| `includeRelatedKeywords` | boolean | `true` | No | Get semantically related keywords for each seed keyword |
| `includePhraseMatch` | boolean | `true` | No | Get phrase match keywords (keywords containing the seed keyword) |
| `relatedLimit` | integer | `20` | No | Max related keywords per seed keyword |
| `phraseMatchLimit` | integer | `20` | No | Max phrase match keywords per seed keyword |
| `minVolume` | integer | `0` | No | Filter out keywords below this monthly search volume |
| `maxDifficulty` | integer | `100` | No | Filter out keywords above this difficulty score (0-100) |
| `webhookUrl` | string | - | No | Optional webhook URL to send results (Zapier, Make, n8n, or custom) |
| `webhookPlatform` | string | `"custom"` | No | Select your webhook platform for optimized payload formatting |

***

### Pricing

This actor uses **pay-per-event** billing:

| Event | Description | Price |
|-------|-------------|-------|
| Keyword Analyzed | Each keyword research analysis completed | $0.05 |

***

### Troubleshooting

#### "API key is required"

- Add your API key in the input

#### "API error 403" or "Unauthorized"

Your API key is invalid, expired, or doesn't have access to this specific API endpoint. Double-check your key and account permissions.

#### "API error 429" or "Rate limit"

Too many requests. Wait a minute and try again, or reduce the number of items per run.

#### No results or empty dataset

Check the run log for error messages. Common causes:

- Invalid input format (check the examples above)
- API key without proper permissions
- The target data doesn't exist or is too small to track

#### How do I test without an API key?

***

**Built by John Rippy | [Actor Arsenal](https://actorarsenal.com)**

# Actor input Schema

## `semrushApiKey` (type: `string`):

Optional. Your own SEMrush API key (SEMrush -> My Profile -> API). Leave empty to use the actor's built-in access, billed per event.

## `keywords` (type: `array`):

List of keywords to research (e.g., 'seo tools', 'keyword research')

## `database` (type: `string`):

SEMrush database/country to use for data

## `includeRelatedKeywords` (type: `boolean`):

Get semantically related keywords for each seed keyword

## `includePhraseMatch` (type: `boolean`):

Get phrase match keywords (keywords containing the seed keyword)

## `relatedLimit` (type: `integer`):

Max related keywords per seed keyword

## `phraseMatchLimit` (type: `integer`):

Max phrase match keywords per seed keyword

## `minVolume` (type: `integer`):

Filter out keywords below this monthly search volume

## `maxDifficulty` (type: `integer`):

Filter out keywords above this difficulty score (0-100)

## `webhookUrl` (type: `string`):

Optional webhook URL to send results (Zapier, Make, n8n, or custom)

## `webhookPlatform` (type: `string`):

Select your webhook platform for optimized payload formatting

## `demoMode` (type: `boolean`):

Return sample data without using SEMrush API (for testing)

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "keywords": [
    "coffee shop"
  ],
  "database": "us",
  "includeRelatedKeywords": true,
  "includePhraseMatch": true,
  "relatedLimit": 20,
  "phraseMatchLimit": 20,
  "minVolume": 0,
  "maxDifficulty": 100,
  "webhookPlatform": "custom",
  "demoMode": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

Detailed keyword metrics and related keyword suggestions for each analyzed keyword.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "keywords": [
        "coffee shop"
    ],
    "demoMode": false
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("alizarin_refrigerator-owner/semrush-keyword-research---volume-difficulty-related").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "keywords": ["coffee shop"],
    "demoMode": False,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("alizarin_refrigerator-owner/semrush-keyword-research---volume-difficulty-related").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "keywords": [
    "coffee shop"
  ],
  "demoMode": false
}' |
apify call alizarin_refrigerator-owner/semrush-keyword-research---volume-difficulty-related --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,alizarin_refrigerator-owner/semrush-keyword-research---volume-difficulty-related"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/DHb87rOfju4RFGwUc/builds/n1lubrrIhHf7SK5qA/openapi.json