Lavender_Strings
Junior Member
- Mar 11, 2023
- 114
- 66
We're seeing estimated search volumes decline across some non-brand keywords in Semrush. Is anyone else seeing this across their niche or is it just us?
Keyword search volumes dropping in 2025–2026?
- Thread starter Lavender_Strings
- Start date
- Nov 11, 2018
- 12,044
- 10,805
Semrush don't have a good way to calculate and categorize traffic. Ahrefs gives a better idea. It goes further and determines if the traffic is increasing exponentially, increasing linearly, demped out or falling.
If you want better estimate use ahrefs.
If you want better estimate use ahrefs.
Voxlane
Registered Member
- Jun 25, 2026
- 75
- 22
both semrush and ahrefs update their databases at different times so you will always see weird drops. honestly, unless your actual impressions in gsc are tanking, i wouldnt sweat it too much. semrush adjusted their volume algorithm a while back to filter out more bot traffic and zero click searches, which made a lot of non-brand keywords look like they died overnight even though the actual search intent is still there. check google trends for those terms, it usually gives a cleaner picture of whether the niche is actually dying or if it is just semrush messing with their math again.
Yeah I am seeing the same thing in a few niches. Part of it is people moving to AI tools and part is that keyword tools keep adjusting their estimates. Traffic is still there sometimes but it gets spread across more long tail queries than before.
Miron Hat
Registered Member
- Jun 4, 2026
- 54
- 41
Yes i have noticed something similar in a few niches. A lot of informational keywords seem to have lower reported volumes but i think part of it is also shifting search behavior and more zero click results. I have been relying more on trend direction and intent rather than absolute volume numbers.
- Aug 4, 2015
- 4,538
- 680
We've noticed the same. It could be due to semrush updating its search volume database or changes in search trends. I'd compare it with GSC before making any decisions.
Isaac Grey
Newbie
- Mar 23, 2026
- 27
- 5
I have noticed that too.At first I thought it was just my niche but it seems like its happening in a few areas.I am not sure if search demand is really dropping or if the tools are just updating their estimates,
KeywordNinjaa
Newbie
- Jul 2, 2026
- 5
- 1
another perspective to consider is the fragmentation of the keyword clustr. from my own experience I have had instance wherein the head keyword loses trafic however fifty other long tail keyword step in to fill in for the loss.
Munazaguestpost
Newbie
- Jun 26, 2026
- 5
- 3
Yes, we've noticed this too. It looks like search behavior is changing, and some keyword volumes in Semrush may not be as accurate as before.
voxeltoon
Registered Member
- Jul 1, 2026
- 50
- 34
U are not alone. I have seen some non brand keywords have lower estimated volumes recently, but the actual performance of those pages has not changed much. That makes me think that the estimates are not always the full pictture.
- Feb 28, 2019
- 7,419
- 7,853
Many people are using AI tools for information, so a drop in search volume is reasonable. You should do a little research to see if AI is stealing your traffic or you are losing positions to your competitors.
the story repeat itself but I do not think it is a pure fall of demand. It is likely to be a combination of long tail keyword segmentation along with AI involvement in zero click search.
ClickPilotPro
Registered Member
- Apr 24, 2026
- 51
- 17
Semrush volume changes do not always reflect real search behavior. They are estimates based on data models, not exact Google numbers.
Gulnazar CN
Newbie
- Sep 6, 2023
- 38
- 7
search volume isn't really dropping it's shifting more queries are going to ai results, zero click answer & different search formats so tools like semrush show lower estimates
- Sep 7, 2017
- 7,134
- 6,394
I really don't think this is much of a problem. If you're concerned about said keyword search dropping, check out the keyword om Google keyword planner.
For me, the numbers between Semrush and keyword planner are very similar, so even if less people are searching for the keyword, there's nothing you could do about it anyway.
lighteigami
Junior Member
- Nov 23, 2024
- 112
- 24
In my case, some non brand keywords also show lower volume, but traffic has not dropped the same way. So I think it is more estimation change than real demand loss.
Crypto Man
BANNED
- Nov 8, 2025
- 246
- 49
i've noticed it too, although some of it feels like the tools are adjusting their estimates rather than demand disappearing.
Lavender_Strings
Junior Member
- Mar 11, 2023
- 114
- 66
B2B MarTech. Is this niche getting affected more now a days?
do u see drop in volume in B2B related niches?