Identify the report first
Start by checking the report name:
| Report | Meaning to check |
|---|---|
| Organic Rankings, Positions | Estimated monthly advertising cost of the search traffic associated with the organic keywords. |
| Advertising Research, Positions | Estimated cost of paid-search traffic based on CPC values. |
These definitions come from Semrush’s Organic Positions guide and Advertising Research guide. Keep the tool, database, device, month and displayed currency with the amount you save.
For the distinction between visit estimates and keyword-based figures, read how Semrush estimates website traffic.
What the metric estimates
In Organic Rankings, read the cost figure alongside the expected monthly traffic from keywords in the selected database. It gives a monetary view of search visibility.
For Advertising Research, note the database, device and date covered by the Positions report.
Use the same settings before comparing amounts. The Traffic Cost glossary entry gives a short definition.
A worked example
Illustrative arithmetic with assumed inputs. The following example shows a CPC-based valuation; it is not a Semrush export or an Extcorp campaign result.
Assume two keyword rows with estimated monthly clicks and CPC values:
| Example row | Estimated clicks | Assumed CPC | Calculated value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keyword A | 100 | $2.00 | $200 |
| Keyword B | 50 | $1.00 | $50 |
| Total | 150 | Varies by row | $250 |
The arithmetic is 100 × $2.00 + 50 × $1.00 = $250 for the assumed month. It illustrates how traffic volume and a price per click can produce a monetary estimate.
Why Traffic Cost changes when traffic stays the same
Keep the example’s 100 clicks for keyword A and 50 for B. If A’s assumed CPC rises from $2.00 to $3.00 while B stays at $1.00, the calculation becomes:
100 × $3.00 + 50 × $1.00 = $350, with the same 150 clicks.
A traffic total alone does not fix its estimated value. CPC and the split of clicks between differently priced keywords also matter. Semrush documents the advertising equivalent in Organic Rankings and current CPC values in Advertising Research.
This arithmetic does not reproduce Semrush’s full algorithm.
Traffic Cost and campaign pricing
An Extcorp campaign is priced by its agreed traffic scope. Current rates are $3.90 per 1,000 sessions with mixed countries, or $4.90 per 1,000 sessions with one chosen region. See traffic prices and the free test for the tariff.
Free test: 10,000 sessions in 5 daysTo discuss a campaign, use the Semrush traffic service and name the report you want to review.
Extcorp is not affiliated with Similarweb, Semrush or Google.