← Semrush
Semrush role-play cheat sheet
For the mock cold call at the end of most SDR interviews.
What they sell, in one line
Online tools that show how websites rank on Google, plus competitor research for SEO, ads and content.
Who you'd be calling
SEO managers, content and digital marketing leads, and agency owners at marketing teams and agencies of all sizes.
Your opener
“Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from Semrush. I know I'm calling unexpectedly. I work with marketing teams on how they get found on Google, so I'm curious how you're tracking that today. Do you have a quick minute?”
Problems you solve for them
- Hard to know why competitors rank higher on Google
- Teams waste time guessing which keywords and content to focus on
- Agencies need to report results to clients quickly
- Marketing spend is tough to tie back to website traffic
Discovery questions to ask
- How do you decide which keywords or topics to write about?
- How do you keep an eye on what your competitors are doing online?
- How do you report SEO and traffic results to your boss or clients?
Objections they'll throw at you
“I'm busy right now.”
→ No worries, I'll keep it short. I'm just curious if getting more website traffic is a goal this quarter. Could we set up 15 minutes later this week?
“Not interested.”
→ Fair enough, thanks for telling me straight. Is that because SEO is going well already, or it's not a focus right now?
“We already use something for this.”
→ Good, it means SEO matters to you. What tool are you using now, and is there anything you wish it showed you?
“Just send me an email.”
→ Happy to. To make it relevant, what's your main goal right now: more traffic, beating a competitor, or better reporting?
Competitors worth knowing
Ahrefs, Moz, Similarweb
Interview tips for this company
- Learn the basics of SEO: keywords, rankings, backlinks and organic traffic. Be ready to explain each simply.
- Semrush sells to both in-house teams and agencies, so ask early who you're talking to and adjust your pitch.
Written from public information about Semrush to help you practice. Ask an insider what their role play looked like; it's the best prep there is.