If you’ve ever looked at getting a Semrush SEO plan, you’ve probably spotted a little tool called the “SEO Content Template.”
This tool is supposed to make the SEO briefing process run a bit smoother.
But is it actually helpful, or is it just another shiny feature you’ll pay for and barely use?
In this Semrush review, we’re breaking down exactly what the Semrush SEO Content Template does, how it can help you write content, and how it compares to other SEO content tools out there.
TL: DR – The Semrush SEO Content Template can give you a solid starting point, but you’ll still need to use your brain (and an AI detector) to create quality content that ranks.
Key Takeaways
- Semrush’s SEO Content Template gives quick briefs based on top-ranking pages.
- Recommendations are helpful but can feel generic compared to Surfer SEO.
- Best suited for teams already using Semrush’s broader SEO toolkit.
- Content risks sounding robotic if followed too rigidly without refinement.
- Undetectable AI tools ensure template-based content reads human and passes AI detection.
What Is the Semrush SEO Content Template?
The Semrush SEO Content Template is a tool designed to help content writers create blog articles that can rank in search engine results.
The tool works by analyzing the top 10 search results for any given keyword.
Based on this information, it then generates an outline with key SEO recommendations for writers to implement when drafting content.
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The idea is that by automating your content brief templates, SEO planning and writing processes can run a lot smoother (and in theory, faster).
Overview of Semrush’s SEO Content Brief Template
You only need two pieces of information to get started.
This includes:
- Your target keywords and
- The location you want to rank in.
From there, all you have to do is click “Create content template,” and then Semrush gets straight to work, crawling through the top-ranking competitors for your target keyword.
Within a few seconds, you’ll have a template of SEO recommendations you can then implement when you (or your writers) actually go to write your content.
You can always access your template directly within the Semrush platform. Or, you can export your template to a Word document and adapt it to fit your existing brief templates.
How It Fits Into the Semrush Suite
The SEO Content Template is not a standalone product.
It’s part of the broader Semrush Content Marketing Toolkit, making it mostly useful for teams who already use Semrush for keyword research, competitor analysis, and technical SEO.
Also, you can only create one template with the free version as a test… so it’s not really useful if you don’t already pay for a Semrush account.
Who Typically Uses It (Marketers, Writers, Agencies)
Anyone who creates online content with the goal of ranking high in search engines could find Semrush’s SEO content strategy template useful.
This could be…
- Content marketers looking to write keyword-focused, competitive content.
- Writers, content creators, and freelancers looking for a ready-made outline with all the essential SEO targets to hit.
- Agencies looking to standardize the briefing process when juggling multiple clients.
- Small business owners looking to nail the SEO basics without having to invest in a full SEO team.
This really is a tool that anyone with a base-level knowledge of SEO could use.
Semrush Review: Key Features of the SEO Content Template
Here’s a basic overview of the key features of Semrush’s SEO Content Template:
Semrush SEO Content Template Features | |
Keyword Suggestions | Lists semantically related keywords to integrate into your content. |
Optimal Text Length | Suggests the ideal word count based on the average word count of competitor pages. |
Readability Score | Provides a readability target to match competitors (based on the Flesch Reading Ease scale). |
Backlink Strategy | Recommends domains that commonly link to your content’s top-ranking competitors. |
SEO Best Practices | Reminds you of the key places to include your target keyword (such as H1 and H2 titles) |
While this template provides you with a very basic starting point, you’ll still need to actually transform the data you receive into something that people actually want to read.
This is where Undetectable’s AI SEO Writer can really make a difference, helping you take Semrush’s template guidelines and turn them into a fully-optimized, human-ready draft for publishing.
Pricing and Plans
The Semrush SEO Content Template is only available as part of Semrush’s SEO Toolkit.
So, unless you only need to write one article, you’ll need to purchase an SEO plan.
Here’s a breakdown of how pricing works:
- Pro – $139/month, best suited for beginners and small projects
- Guru – $249/month, best suited for freelancers, smaller agencies, and businesses
- Business – $499/month, best suited for agencies and medium-sized companies
These prices are a bit higher compared to other SEO SaaS platforms, like Surfer SEO and Ahrefs.
However, Semrush does offer a broader range of digital marketing tools, so it may be worth the price if you do more than just SEO.
Accuracy and Reliability of Recommendations
With any SEO tool, the elephant in the room is… how reliable and useful is it really?
Yes, the SEO Content Template is helpful on a surface level. But it doesn’t go very deep, so it may not be very useful if you tend to work with highly competitive keywords.
If you’re not sure if the recommendations from Semrush’s SEO Content Template are strong enough for your project, content creator Scott at TraderScooter recommends cross-referencing keyword recommendations against other platforms, like Ahrefs and even Google itself.
This is helpful for making sure you’re actually implementing the most relevant keywords.
It’s also important to remember that the template you receive is just a template. So you’ll still need to use your brain and common sense when actually creating your content.
Yes, readability scores and semantic keywords are helpful. But Google weighs up other factors when ranking content.
For example, a big factor that Google prioritizes now is human-first and human-written content.
This is why marketers have started supplementing SEO reports and templates with dedicated AI tools (like our own AI Stealth Writer) that can transform template-based content into undetectable, human-sounding SEO text.
Semrush SEO Content Template vs Competitors
Semrush’s SEO Content Template isn’t the only tool that can help you set your content up for SEO success.
Here are a few other tools in the SEO content space worth exploring.
Compared With Surfer SEO Content Editor
Surfer SEO is one of the most popular SEO content editing tools available, and for good reason.
Here’s why:
- Surfer SEO provides more detailed keyword usage recommendations compared to Semrush.
- You’ll also receive granular, line-by-line keyword recommendations that you can implement while you’re writing.
- This allows you to make sure each page is optimized to its full potential.
The only downside to Surfer SEO compared to Semrush is that you don’t get the full shebang of SEO tools (like backlink analysis) or digital marketing tools (like social media management).
So if your focus is only on optimizing content alone? Surfer SEO is the better pick.
If you have a broader SEO or digital marketing scope? Semrush is your best bet.
Compared With Undetectable AI SEO Tools
When using SEO content templates like Surfer SEO or Semrush, the temptation is always to copy/paste your results directly into ChatGPT and have it draft your final piece of content.
The problem with that, though, is that people don’t want to read content that sounds like it was written by robots. And neither does Google.
That’s why pairing your SEO tool with an accurate AI content detector (like our own AI Detector and Humanizer) is essential for the drafting process, helping you avoid detection pitfalls better than purely template-driven text.
Pros and Cons of the Semrush SEO Content Template
Like any SEO tool, Semrush’s SEO Content Template comes with its own pros and cons. Here’s our take.
Semrush SEO Content Template: Pros and Cons | |
Pros | Cons |
✔ Saves time during the SEO research and briefing process. ✔ Well-integrated with Semrush’s full suite of SEO tools. ✔ Perfect for teams already familiar with Semrush. ✔ Helps beginners and small teams create high-quality briefs backed by expert SEO recommendations. | X Recommendations can feel a bit generic. X Less detailed recommendations and insights compared to competitors like Surfer SEO. X Content risks feeling robotic if you follow the template too rigidly. X Higher costs compared to standalone SEO tools. |
To sum it up, Semrush’s SEO Content Template tool works great as a starting point for structuring your content and getting your keywords in order.
But it’s not really enough to create human-driven content that can actually compete in search engine rankings.
Once you have your template, it’s worth refining your content with a tool like our AI Paraphraser.
This can help you brainstorm ways to make your content written with Semrush templates sound a bit more unique and human.
Confidently publish content that sounds authentically human—start below.
Final Verdict
When you think of a “template”, you probably think of something you can pick up and start using straight away.
Unfortunately, the Semrush SEO Content Template doesn’t hit that mark (yet).
The output on its own can feel a bit vanilla.
So if you’re expecting detailed, ready-to-rank insights, you’ll probably need to use a few more SEO tools… plus a dash of creativity and AI detection to make sure your content can actually compete in search engines.
With Undetectable AI, you can refine, humanize, and optimize your content to stay authentic and competitive.