How to Find Content Gaps Using Semrush Keyword Gap Report

By Azon Vault On May 8, 2026

Introduction

Ever wonder why your competitors rank higher while your pages sit on page two? The secret often lies in hidden content gaps – topics your audience is searching for that you haven’t covered yet. Semrush’s Keyword Gap Report makes those gaps visible, giving you a data‑driven roadmap to fill them and outrank the competition.

What Is the Keyword Gap Report?

The Keyword Gap Report is a competitive analysis tool that compares the keyword portfolios of up to five domains. It shows you:

Keywords your competitors rank for that you don’t.
Shared keywords where you can improve rankings.
Keyword difficulty, search volume, and traffic potential.

By focusing on the "missing" keywords, you can spot content gaps and create targeted pages that capture untapped search demand.

Step‑by‑Step Guide to Finding Content Gaps

1. Set Up Your Comparison

Log in to Semrush and navigate to Keyword Gap under Competitive Research.
Enter your domain in the “Your domain” field.
Add 2–4 competitor URLs that consistently outrank you for relevant topics.
Choose the match type (Broad, Phrase, Exact) – start with Broad for a wide view.

2. Filter for High‑Value Gaps

Once the report loads, apply these filters:

Keyword Difficulty (KD) < 40 – easier to rank.
Search Volume > 500 – enough traffic potential.
Not Ranking (Position 0) – these are your true gaps.

Export the filtered list to CSV for easier analysis.

3. Analyse Intent and Content Type

For each gap keyword, identify the search intent:

Informational – blog posts, how‑to guides.
Transactional – product pages, comparisons.
Navigational – brand or specific site pages.

Match the intent to an appropriate content format. If the top results are listicles, consider a comprehensive list; if they’re videos, think about a tutorial.

4. Prioritise Using the “Content Gap Score”

Semrush adds a Potential Traffic column based on estimated clicks. Sort by this column to see which gaps could bring the most visitors. Combine this with:

Current site authority (domain rating).
Resources needed to create the content.

Pick the top 5–7 keywords for your next content sprint.

5. Create Optimised Content

When drafting the new page, follow these SEO best practices:

Place the target keyword in the title, first 100 words, and an H2.
Use related LSI keywords naturally throughout.
Include a clear, compelling meta title (≤60 chars) and meta description (≤160 chars).
Add structured data (FAQ schema) if the intent is question‑based.
Incorporate internal links from existing high‑traffic pages.

Real‑World Example

Imagine you run a “vegan cooking” blog (yourdomain.com). Your competitors rank for the keyword “vegan protein powder reviews”, but you don’t.

Keyword Gap shows a KD of 32 and 1,200 monthly searches.
Top results are review round‑ups with pros/cons tables.
You create a detailed review guide, embed a comparison table, and add an FAQ schema covering common questions.
Within 4 weeks, the page climbs to position 4, delivering an estimated 300 extra visits per month.

FAQ

What’s the difference between “Keyword Gap” and “Keyword Magic Tool”?

Keyword Gap compares domains to reveal missing keywords, while Keyword Magic generates keyword ideas from a seed term. Use Gap first for strategic gaps, then Magic to expand each keyword into long‑tail variations.

How often should I run a Keyword Gap analysis?

At least once a quarter, or whenever you launch a new product line or notice a dip in traffic. Regular checks keep your content roadmap aligned with market shifts.

Can I use the Free Semrush account for this?

The free plan provides limited queries and only compares two domains. For full competitor sets and larger export limits, a paid subscription is recommended.

Do I need to target every gap keyword?

No. Prioritise based on difficulty, search volume, and relevance to your audience. Focus on gaps that align with your brand’s expertise.

Conclusion & Call to Action

Finding content gaps with the Semrush Keyword Gap Report transforms guesswork into a precise, data‑driven strategy. By filtering for low‑difficulty, high‑volume keywords, analysing intent, and publishing optimized content, you can quickly capture underserved search traffic.

Ready to close your content gaps? Run your first Keyword Gap report today and start planning the next high‑impact blog post. Need help turning the data into content? Contact our SEO team for a free audit.

Suggested External Reference

Reference the official Semrush help article on Keyword Gap for detailed feature explanations.