Semrush Blog | SEO, SEM, AI Search, & Content Strategy

4 min read

SEO Split Test Result: Would Adding “Updated 2022” in Title Increase Organic Clicks?

Content freshness has been a hot topic in SEO since Google rolled out its “fresh results” algorithm update in 2011. We wanted to validate whether signals of content freshness were a factor (for Google and/or users) for the category pages of a major online furniture retailer in the US.

Brian MoseleyMar 04, 2022

Passive Voice: SEO Sin or Acceptable Writing Style?

Content

9 min read

Passive Voice: SEO Sin or Acceptable Writing Style?

Is there a connection between using passive and active voice and SEO? When is it OK to use the passive voice, and when it‘s better to convert it to the active voice? Let‘s dive into our article and discover what marketers and SEO experts say about using passive voice and its impact on search engine results. You will also learn how to write SEO-friendly content.

Jakub ZielinskiMar 04, 2022

SEO Split Test Result: Would Adding the City and State to a Cannabis Directory Site Title Tag Improve Clicks?

Original Research & Studies

2 min read

SEO Split Test Result: Would Adding the City and State to a Cannabis Directory Site Title Tag Improve Clicks?

We hypothesized, by adding the city and state of a local dispensary to that dispensary’s listing page, we’d see an increase in clicks.

Brian MoseleyFeb 25, 2022

On-page SEO

5 min read

How Not to Write a Meta Description

Writing a meta description is often a neglected part of SEO. However, the meta description has a big influence on your potential customers. If you want them to be appealed by your search result and click on it, you should check out the following tips on how to write the best meta descriptions.

Gabka KoscovaFeb 18, 2022

Local SEO

10 min read

How To Improve Your Local SEO in 5 Steps

For a local business, it can be hard to compete with the big names online, but if you are strategic in your approach and have the right tools, you can easily grow the visibility of your brand and increase your sales. Here are the five steps that can help with Local SEO.

Nikolai BorodaFeb 18, 2022

SEO Split Test Result: Should You Sentence Case or Title Case Your Title Tags?

Original Research & Studies

3 min read

SEO Split Test Result: Should You Sentence Case or Title Case Your Title Tags?

Over the years, many articles have been written about “best practices” for writing the perfect title tag. A topic that you often see is the use of capital letters. Should you sentence case or title case your title tags?

Brian MoseleyFeb 17, 2022

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Editors' Choice

Link Building

12 min read

Link Building for SEO: A Guide to the Basics

Link building can give you the SEO edge you need to get more Google traffic. Here‘s your quick-start guide.

Rachel HandleyJan 17, 2025

On-page SEO

8 min read

On-Page SEO: What It Is and How to Do It

This is a guide to on-page SEO. Learn exactly how to optimize your titles, descriptions, and content in 2024.

Kelly LyonsDec 15, 2024

Local SEO

11 min read

Local SEO: What Is It & How to Do It

Local SEO is the process of improving search visibility, traffic, and brand awareness for local businesses.

Carlos SilvaDec 04, 2024

Check Website Accessibility: Manual Checks and Tools to Use in 2025

Technical SEO

7 min read

Check Website Accessibility: Manual Checks and Tools to Use in 2025

Is it time to check your website accessibility? Remember that accessibility is about improving the user experience for everyone – including people with disabilities.

Luke HarselNov 27, 2024

General SEO

11 min read

What Is SEO? An Intro to Search Engine Optimization

SEO (search engine optimization) is an effort to get more unpaid visibility in search engines like Google.

Rachel HandleyNov 25, 2024

Keyword Research

19 min read

Keyword Research for SEO: What It Is & How to Do It

Keyword research is the process of finding & analyzing what relevant audiences search for in search engines.

Rachel HandleyJun 25, 2024

Competitor Intelligence & Research

10 min read

What Is a Competitive Analysis? (with Template + Examples)

Learn how to do a competitive analysis and compare your brand against your competitors.

Alex LindleyJul 11, 2025

Paid Advertising

8 min read

Banner Ad Sizes: Choosing the Right Size

Knowing your options is important so you can visualize how your ad will look, and how easily people will be able to see the ad.

Grace BrennanOct 18, 2024

Ecommerce

6 min read

What Is Ecommerce? How It Works & Getting Started

Ecommerce is selling products and/or services online via websites and apps instead of in physical stores.

Sydney GoOct 15, 2024

General Marketing

6 min read

What Is Marketing? [Simple Definition, Purpose, & Types]

Marketing is all the activities your brand uses to reach your target audience and turn them into buyers.

Sydney GoOct 11, 2024

Paid Advertising

10 min read

How to Make an Ad, Step by Step

A great ad doesn’t bombard audiences’ in their newsfeed, it conveys a clear brand message, offers value, and earns users’ attention.

Grace BrennanSep 05, 2024

Social Media

8 min read

How to Find YouTube Influencers

Need help finding influencers on YouTube for a partnership campaign? Follow these steps.

Grace BrennanApr 18, 2024

Original Research & Studies

8 min read

10 Small Business Trends for 2025

Learn the top small business trends for 2025 to stay ahead of the competition and keep employees happy.

Ankit VoraFeb 19, 2024

Which Companies Spend the Most on Digital Advertising? [Study]

News & Research

7 min read

Which Companies Spend the Most on Digital Advertising? [Study]

Learn what companies spend the most on advertising across 12 separate industries—and how you can gather competitive ad intel for your own niche.

Shannon O‘SheaNov 14, 2023

Average CPM for Display Ads: Benchmarks by Industry [Study]

Original Research & Studies

4 min read

Average CPM for Display Ads: Benchmarks by Industry [Study]

If you‘re looking for CPM benchmarks for digital ads in your industry, this study is for you.

Luke HarselOct 23, 2023

Advertising Trends: The Most Popular Types of Digital Ads [Study]

Original Research & Studies

5 min read

Advertising Trends: The Most Popular Types of Digital Ads [Study]

By partnering with AdClarity, we’ve investigated ad types, ad channels and ad spend so you can plan and strategize with the kind of competitive edge that other players don’t have in your industry.

Luke HarselOct 10, 2023

Original Research & Studies

2 min read

Top 100: The Most Visited Websites in the US [2025 Top Websites Edition]

This post uncovers the top 100 most visited websites in the US, deep-diving into a few industries — Media, Retail, and Streaming Services — that show the biggest position changes.

Natalia ZhukovaDec 23, 2022