Semrush
{{Short description|American search engine metrics company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Semrush Holdings, Inc.
| logo = Semrush logo.svg
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2008||}}
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{NYSE|SEMR}}
| founders = Oleg Shchegolev
Dmitri Melnikov
| key_people ={{Unbulleted list|Bill Wagner (CEO)|Oleg Shchegolev (CTO)|Andrew Warden (CMO) |Brian Mulroy (CFO) |Eugene Levin (President)}}
| industry = Search engine marketing
| hq_location_city = Boston, Massachusetts{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/1613705D:US| title=Semrush Inc | website=Bloomberg |access-date=12 July 2021}}
| hq_location_country = United States
| num_employees = ~1,600 (2024){{cite web |url=https://investors.semrush.com/events-and-presentations/event-details/2024/Semrush-Analyst-Day-2024-2024-HESyJOxawl/default.aspx |title=Semrush Analyst Day 2024 |website=Semrush Investor Relations}}
| revenue =$376.8 million (2024){{cite web |url=https://investors.semrush.com/news/news-details/2025/Semrush-Announces-Fourth-Quarter-and-Full-Year-2024-Financial-Results/default.aspx |title=Semrush Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results
|website=investors.semrush.com |access-date = 2025-04-28}}
| parent =
| website = {{URL|https://www.semrush.com}}
}}
Semrush Holdings, Inc. is an American public company that has a SaaS platform known as Semrush.{{cite book |title = The SEO Battlefield: Winning Strategies for Search Marketing Programs |page = 64 |publisher = O’Reilly Media, Inc. |location=Newton, Massachusetts|year = 2017 |first = Anne |last = Ward |isbn = 978-1491958377 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jixzDgAAQBAJ&dq=semrush&pg=PA64}}{{cite web |first=Lucia|last=Maffei|newspaper=Boston Business Journal|date=March 2, 2021|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2021/03/02/boston-software-company-semrush-plans-ipo.html |title=Boston software company SEMrush plans IPO |via=Bizjournals}} The platform is used for keyword research, competitive analysis, site audits, backlink tracking, and online visibility insights.{{cite book |title = WordPress All-in-One For Dummies |page = 429 |publisher =For Dummies |year = 2013 |first = Lisa |last = Sabin-Wilson |isbn = 978-1118383346 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7VUA-mw1YQC&dq=semrush&pg=PA429}} The keyword research tool provides various data points on each keyword.{{cite book |title = Search Engine Optimization: Your Visual Blueprint for Effective Internet Marketing |page = 21 |publisher =Wiley |location=Hoboken, New Jersey|year = 2013 |first = Kristopher |last = Jones |isbn = 978-1118551745 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jrkOERKcjtkC&dq=semrush&pg=PA21}} The platform also collects information about online keywords gathered from Google and Bing search engines.{{cite book |title = Teach Yourself VISUALLY Search Engine Optimization|page = 68 |publisher =Apress |location=New York City|year = 2013 |first1 = Aravind
|last1=Shenoy|first2=Anirudh|last2=Prabhu |isbn = 978-1118470664|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hpe-DAAAQBAJ&dq=semrush&pg=PA80}}{{cite book |title = Introducing SEO: Your quick-start guide to effective SEO practices|page = 68 |publisher =Wiley |location=Hoboken, New Jersey|year = 2013 |first=Rafiq |last=Elmansy |isbn = 978-1484218532|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n6mC5GDasTEC&dq=semrush&pg=PA68}} It was released by Boston-based company Semrush Inc, founded by Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitri Melnikov.{{cite web |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oleg-shchegolev-dmitri-melnikov-how-these-two-self_b_58e79624e4b00dd8e016eadd |last=Shulman
|first=Robyn D. |title=Oleg Shchegolev & Dmitri Melnikov: How These Two Self-Proclaimed Enthusiastic Nerds Built A Global SEO Company |website=Huffington Post |date=7 April 2017 |access-date=9 July 2021}}{{cite web |first=Rob|last=Marvin|date=August 31, 2019
|url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/semrush |title=Semrush Review |website=PCMag}}
As of 2025, the company has 1000+ employees and offices in Barcelona, Belgrade, Berlin, Yerevan, Limassol, Prague, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Boston, and Dallas.{{cite web |url=https://www.clay.com/dossier/semrush-headquarters-office-locations|title=Semrush Headquarters & Office Locations|publisher=Clay}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1831840/000162828021003658/semrushforms-1.htm |title=Semrush |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |date= March 1, 2021 |access-date= February 8, 2022}} It went public in March 2021 and trades on {{NYSE|SEMR}}.{{Cite web |title=Document |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1831840/000162828021003658/semrushforms-1.htm |access-date=2022-11-02 |website=www.sec.gov}}
History
Semrush was first released as Seodigger before becoming an extension of Firefox, then renamed SeoQuake Company in 2007,{{cite web |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/06/prweb530661.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091206050726/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/06/prweb530661.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2009 |title=SeoQuake Presents New SEO Product for Analyzing Web Sites' Search Engines Traffic |website=PR Web |date=4 June 2007 |access-date=9 July 2021}} before landing on Semrush (the acronym SEM stands for Search engine marketing).
In April 2018, the company received $40 million in funding as part of a financing transaction co-led by venture capital firms Greycroft, E.ventures and Siguler Guff, in preparation for its expansion into various platforms of research, including those owned by Amazon, Microsoft, and Baidu.{{cite news |first=Benjamin|last=Mullin|date=April 24, 2018|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/search-marketing-firm-semrush-raises-40-million-to-fund-expansion-1524582001?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=1|title=Search Marketing Firm SEMrush Raises $40 Million to Fund Expansion |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}{{cite news |first=Mark|last=Shapland|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/tech-tracker-roundup-twitter-posts-healthy-profit-pusher-raises-8-million-in-funding-a3823456.html|title=Tech Tracker round-up |newspaper=Evening Standard|date=25 April 2018}}
In December 2020, the company rebranded with a new visual identity, updating its name from "SEMrush" to "Semrush".{{cite web |url=https://www.semrush.com/news/semrush-unveils-new-logo-and-refreshed-visual-identity/ |title=Semrush Unveils New Logo and Refreshed Visual Identity
|website=Semrush |date=11 December 2020 |access-date=9 July 2021}}
In March 2021, Semrush had an initial public offering and went public on NYSE under the symbol {{NYSE|SEMR}}.{{Cite web |last=Hill |first=Chris |date=2022-01-27 |title=SEMrush: What to Know About This Overlooked IPO Stock |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2022/01/27/semrush-what-to-know-about-overlooked-ipo-stock/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=The Motley Fool |language=en}} The S-1 form revealed that the company had sales of $213 million and more than 82,000 customers.{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/semrush-announces-fourth-quarter-full-234500092.html | title= Yahoo news}}{{cite web |url=https://www.softwarepundit.com/technology-research/semrush-ipo |title=Semrush IPO: S-1 Data, Product Overview & Competitive Landscape |last=Hogan |first=Bruce
|website=SoftwarePundit |date=21 May 2021 |access-date=9 July 2021}}
Semrush's founders are Russian, and relocated to the US in 2017. In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the company ceased all operations in Russia and offered relocation to Russian-based staff to other European countries.{{cite web|last1=Warden|first1=Andrew|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/message-from-semrushs-cmo-our-community-standing-ukraine-semrush/| title=A message from Semrush's CMO to our community — Standing with Ukraine|website=LinkedIn}}
In June 2022, the company launched a beta tool for content generation called Content Outline Builder. The tool will suggest ideas for article writing and blog posts.{{Cite web |title=Semrush Introduces Tools To Help Build Content, Expands Support For List Management |url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/374684/semrush-introduces-tools-to-help-build-content-ex.html |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=www.mediapost.com |language=en}} Semrush also announced on June 27, 2022, that their Backlinks insights data is now integrated with SurferSEO, a marketing tool focused on content creation.{{Cite web |title=Introducing a Powerful Semrush Backlinks Integration |url=https://www.semrush.com/news/integration-with-surferseo/ |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=Semrush |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Surfer ╳ Semrush {{!}} The dynamic duo you've been waiting for |url=https://surferseo.com/integrations/semrush/ |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=surferseo.com |language=en}}
In June 2024, Semrush launched "Semrush Enterprise", an AI-driven platform to streamline digital marketing for large businesses.{{Cite news|title='AI will alter the role of the SEO practitioner': How SEO giant sees AI, the future of search analytics and beyond|url=https://www.techradar.com/pro/website-building/we-spoke-to-semrush-known-for-their-content-marketing-and-seo-tools-about-ai-the-future-of-search-analytics-and-their-new-semrush-enterprise-platform |work=Techradar}}
In March 2025, Bill R. Wagner became CEO of Semrush, succeeding co-founder Oleg Shchegolev, who transitioned to the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Wagner is the former CEO of GoTo Group.{{Cite news|title=Semrush says director William Wagner to become CEO, Oleg Shchegolev to be CTO
|url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/semrush-says-director-william-wagner-to-become-ceo-oleg-shchegolev-to-be-cto-1034414302|work=Business Insider}}
Acquisitions
Acquisitions made by Semrush include:
- 2022 – Backlinko{{cite web |last1=Nguyen |first1=George |date=20 January 2022 |title=Semrush acquires SEO training website Backlinko |url=https://searchengineland.com/semrush-acquires-seo-training-website-backlinko-378806 |access-date=January 20, 2022 |website=Search Engine Land}}
- 2022 – Kompyte, an intelligence and sales platform{{Cite web |last=Nguyen |first=George |date=March 2, 2022 |title=Semrush buys Kompyte so it can upsell competitive intelligence tools |url=https://searchengineland.com/semrush-acquires-kompyte-upsell-to-customers-381535 |website=Search Engine Land}}
- 2023 – Traffic Think Tank, a SEO community{{Cite news |last=Southern |first=Matt G. |date=16 March 2023 |title=After Semrush Acquired Traffic Think Tank, What's Next? Insights From Co-founder Matthew Howells-Barby |url=https://www.searchenginejournal.com/semrush-acquire-traffic-think-tank/482099/ |work=Search Engine Journal}}
- 2024 – Third Door Media, the publisher of publisher of Search Engine Land{{Cite news |last=Goodwin |first=Danny |date=16 October 2024 |title=Semrush acquires Search Engine Land |url=https://searchengineland.com/semrush-acquires-search-engine-land-447555 |work=Search Engine Land}}
- 2024 – Brand24, a brand monitoring platform{{Cite news |title=Semrush completed the acquisition of a 57.6% stake in Brand24 |url=https://app.mergerlinks.com/transactions/2024-05-08-brand24/dealmakers |work=Merger Links}}
- 2024 – Ryte, for SEO and user experience{{Cite news |title=Semrush acquires German SaaS company Ryte |url=https://tech.eu/2024/07/15/semrush-acquires-german-saas-company-ryte/ |work=TechEU}}
- 2024 – Datos, for data analytics{{Cite news |title=Semrush (SEMR) Boosts Digital Marketing With Datos Integration |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/semrush-semr-boosts-digital-marketing-datos-integration |work=Nasdaq}}
- 2024 – Exploding Topics, a SEO training platform{{Cite news |title=Semrush Buys Exploding Topics to Strengthen Market Research Capabilities |url=https://www.designrush.com/news/semrush-buys-exploding-topics-to-strengthen-market-research-capabilities |work=Designrush}}