Build a ChatGPT Keyword Research Project Powered by Semrush Data

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for new content ideas that address your clients’ pain points and are AI-visible and SEO-worthy.

Also like me, you may have been doing this with a series of prompts and research…each time.

I’m here to show you how to create a ChatGPT Semrush Keyword Project to save time and increase efficiency.

What is a ChatGPT Project?

According to the OpenAI Help Center, ChatGPT Projects are dedicated, smart workspaces that group related chats, reference files, and custom instructions in one organized place.

The Semrush Keyword Project

For this Project, the Semrush plugin supplies the keyword data, while your uploaded core knowledge files teach the Project how you want that data interpreted and turned into recommendations.

I’d use the following core knowledge (files you upload once) and optional files (for each context) structure:

The Client Research Brief

If you plan to use this across different personas, services, website structures, or competitors, I wouldn’t make that a core knowledge file. Instead, I’d create a simple Client Research Brief, like the one below, to provide context. You upload or complete that information when you begin a new research assignment.

Example:

• Company: Penheel Marketing
• Website: Penheel.com
• Industry: Fractional CFO/accounting
• Target market: Law firms
• Company size: $5M–$20M revenue
• Geography: United States/East Coast
• Primary services: Fractional CFO, accounting, financial reporting, forecasting
• Primary buyer: Managing partner
• Business objective: Lead generation
• Competitors: [domains]
• Existing content: [URLs or sitemap]
• Topics/services to research: [topics]

Create the Project

1. Download the Zip file.
2. It includes 10 editable Word documents: the START HERE guide, master Project Instructions, research methodology, SEO + AI search framework, buyer persona framework, content decision rules, output templates, QC checklist, client brief template, and the optional accounting-industry context file.
3. Create a Project folder. See instructions below.
4. Start with 00_START_HERE.docx. It tells you exactly what to load where and includes the prompts you need to work with the Project.

Notes

The Project will not treat search volume as the primary decision maker, and it won’t classify something as “emerging” just because it has a big percentage increase from a tiny base. It weighs buyer relevance, intent, demand, trend strength, service fit, and the existing content situation.

I also added create / refresh / consolidate / expand / skip decisions. That’s the piece I think makes this much more useful for client work than a typical keyword-research exercise.

How to Create a Project Folder

Watch a quick tutorial or follow the instructions below to set up and use project folders.

To create a project folder in ChatGPT,

1. Open ChatGPT on the web, desktop, or mobile app and look at the left sidebar.
2. Locate the Projects section, hover over the word “Projects,” and click the (+) icon.
3. Type a clear Project Name that describes the topic or task (e.g., Keyword Content Strategy or Client Keyword Research).
4. Change Default Memory to Project-only Memory. See image below.
5. Optional: Select a custom Color and Icon to visually organize your workspace.
6. Click Create project to save it to your sidebar.

Adding Context and Files

• Add files: Upload reference documents, PDFs, data sheets, or images so ChatGPT can draw from a shared knowledge base during your chats. Click the (+) icon to upload the Core Knowledge Files only. Do NOT upload the Instructions or Start Here files. Click the Up arrow.
• Add instructions: Next to the Project Folder, click the (…). Go to Project Settings. Write or paste the instructions that tell ChatGPT how to behave or format outputs specifically for this project. Click Save.
• ChatGPT should prompt you to enter the client brief, website/domain, topic, or keyword set you want to start with, and it can apply the framework from there.

Tip: For each client you want to research, duplicate the Project and replace #8 with an Insurance Industry Search Context, Financial Services Search Context, or another vertical. The research engine stays the same. Only its industry knowledge changes.

Test It

Once you’ve set up the Project and connected Semrush, your next move should be fun: test-drive it on your brand first. Run a real topic through it, see where the Project follows the methodology well, find where it goes sideways, and tighten the instructions before you use it for a client.

Example Test Client Brief

Here is the client brief I pasted into the prompt. Note: I chose a random NJ accounting firm for this test.

• Company: [Random Firm Name]
• Website: [RandomFirm.com]
• Industry: Fractional CFO/accounting
• Target market: Law firms
• Company size: $5M–$20M revenue
• Geography: United States/East Coast
• Primary services: Fractional CFO, accounting, financial reporting, forecasting
• Primary buyer: Managing partner
• Business objective: Lead generation
• Competitors: Baker Tilly USA, KPMG US, Citrin Cooperman
• Existing content: https://rothspellman.com/resources/
• Topics/services to research: tax planning, fractional cfo services, forecasting, and M&A

ChatGPT prompts me with: “The next step is the full Semrush research and content-opportunity analysis across those four topic families.”

I enter, OK.

Check out the test results here.

Next Step

Try this project with your firm, client, and keywords. If the results are not what you’re expecting, edit the Instruction file and then replace it in the Project instructions.

I hope you found this Project helpful. Let me know in the comments.

Disclaimer: Becky Livingston is a Semrush Ambassador.