If we ask you to pick one of the best SEO tools, then we bet that Ahrefs and Semrush would bag spots in top 3 preferences right away.
While Ahrefs dominates as much as 30% of the total seo-sem market, Semrush also makes up for 10% of the industry.
And if you open their respective social media profiles, the competition just stiffens to a whole new level.
Both have loyal followers and their communities stand their ground firmly. They will be ready to pounce on anyone to prove their tool outdoes the other.
But what’s the secret behind such a raving base? This blog is the quest to find that.
Analysis of Semrush & Ahrefs social media accounts
Semrush’s story started back in 2008, thanks to two SEO geeks with big dreams: Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitry Melnikov. These guys had a vision—to create a tool that would help marketers make sense of the chaotic online world. Little did they know, their little passion project would explode into one of the most popular digital marketing platforms out there.
Back then, Semrush was just a scrappy SEO toolkit that helped users track keywords and website rankings. It was basic but effective. Over time, Oleg, Dmitry, and their team kept leveling up, adding more and more features. They didn’t just stop at SEO; they brought in tools for content marketing, social media, PPC, competitive analysis—you name it! Suddenly, Semrush wasn’t just a tool; it was the Swiss Army knife of digital marketing.
Fast forward to today, and Semrush is used by 10 million users worldwide with 2 million signups each year. It’s even gone public—how cool is that?
Here’s a quick snapshot of their following on social media:
- Instagram: 158K
- Facebook: 245K
- Twitter: 284.4K
- LinkedIn: 495K
- TikTok: 50.9K
- YouTube: 194K
Semrush’s Instagram account has 158K followers and is a hub of creativity, insights, and marketing inspiration. It’s where digital marketers, SEO enthusiasts, and content creators gather to soak up tips, tricks, and a bit of fun!
The account strikes a perfect balance between education and entertainment. You’ll find actionable marketing advice, SEO hacks, social media strategies, and highlights of their latest tools and features.
But it’s not all serious business—they sprinkle in humor, relatable memes, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Semrush team to keep things lively.
Their Facebook page has 207K likes and 245K followers, which is more than their IG followers. The real MVP here is their educational content—think quick tips, tutorials, and infographics breaking down SEO, social media, and PPC in ways anyone can understand.
They’re also big on webinars and live videos. These are like free mini-classes where industry pros spill the beans on the latest trends and strategies. From keyword hacks to marketing insights, it’s all there to level up your skills.
Their official TikTok page has 51K followers and 746.1K likes. That means they have been getting almost 14 times more likes than their follower base. Pretty decent reach, you must admit.
On TikTok, they mix quick tips and marketing hacks with trendy music. Whether it’s breaking down SEO concepts in 30 seconds or showing you how to use their tools, Semrush knows how to keep things snappy and entertaining. Their content is designed for anyone—from total beginners to seasoned pros—so you’ll always find something useful, no matter your skill level.
What’s even cooler is how they jump on TikTok trends, blending educational content with popular challenges or memes. It’s marketing knowledge wrapped up in a fun, bite-sized package, making it easy to consume and share. Plus, they’ve got that perfect mix of playful yet professional, so it’s both enjoyable and informative.
With 495K followers on LinkedIn, the page focuses on thought leadership, with posts that dive into industry trends, reports, and actionable strategies. What makes it even more engaging is their emphasis on company culture.
Through posts that showcase their team, behind-the-scenes moments, and company milestones, Semrush adds a personal touch, making their brand feel approachable and authentic.
Semrush’s official YouTube channel has 194K subscribers and 717 videos. The channel is loaded with tutorials and how-tos on SEO, social media, PPC, and content marketing.
Semrush also shines with its tool walkthroughs, showing users how to get the most out of the platform. The videos are clear, visually engaging, and delivered in a friendly tone that makes learning easy and fun.
Ahrefs claims that 44% of the Fortune 500 companies use Ahrefs. It started back in 2010, founded by Dmytro Gyrasimenko with a passion for making the web more transparent and accessible.
The company began with a focus on building one of the best backlink databases out there. Dmytro’s idea was simple but game-changing: to help marketers and SEO professionals understand the web’s link structure and use it to grow their online presence.
At first, Ahrefs was all about backlinks, and their tool quickly gained a reputation for its massive and constantly updated link index. But they didn’t stop there. Over the years, they’ve expanded their platform to become an all-in-one SEO suite. Today, Ahrefs offers tools for keyword research, site audits, content exploration, rank tracking, and more—all designed to make SEO easier and more effective.
Here’s a quick snapshot of their following on social media:
- Instagram: 33.4K
- Facebook: 106K
- Twitter: 158.4K
- LinkedIn: 186K
- TikTok: 45
- YouTube: 590K
Ahref’s Instagram account has 33.4K followers and all you’ll find is people. The team that has been making the dream work fills in each square grid on Instagram. It’s not your typical “product promotion” feed—instead, it’s a celebration of the people who make Ahrefs what it is.
Their posts are filled with team snaps, fun outings, and in-person meetings, showcasing the vibrant and collaborative culture they’ve built. Whether it’s photos from company retreats, office celebrations, or casual team gatherings, the feed radiates positivity and a sense of family.
Ahref’s Facebook page has 95K likes and 106K followers. But unlike Semrush, Ahrefs is stressing about getting Ahrefs-certified. They have their branded hashtag on the cover page and traditional CTA is replaced with educational and contextual CTA.
They blend SEO education with guided tutorials and showcase the power of their tools while offering much-needed insights for marketers.
A big highlight is their focus on the Ahrefs team, posting behind-the-scenes moments and celebrating milestones, giving followers a peek into the company culture. They also keep things fun with relatable SEO memes and lighthearted content, making the page both informative and entertaining.
Ahref just got started with their TikTok page and has just 45 followers with 57 likes. A similar approach follows here as well. Quick SEO tricks and tooltips are presented with humor and creativity, making learning feel like a breeze.
Ahrefs has 186K followers on LinkedIn. A similar vibe follows here with much stress on meetup highlights, product usage, and tons of SEO-related updates.
It’s not just about business—Ahrefs gives you a behind-the-scenes look at their team and milestones, making it feel like you’re part of the journey. Whether you’re there to learn or just see the human side of the brand, their LinkedIn page is the perfect blend of education and personality.
Ahref’s best bet is on YouTube. Their channel has 590K subscribers and 305 videos. They have categorized each of their playlist that’s like a mini-course in itself. The best part is they have more than just one channel for dedicated product updates and geography-specific channels.
Read More: Calm vs. Headspace On Social: Who’s Bringing Mindfulness To Your Timeline?
How different are Ahrefs & Semrush social media strategies
1. Community focus vs. product-centric
Semrush is all about building relationships and community. Their social media is filled with personal moments, memes, gifs, and templates—showing that they’re more than just a tool. It’s like they’re inviting followers to be part of the Semrush family.
On the flip side, Ahrefs is all business. They focus heavily on SEO expertise, posting in-depth content about their tools and offering advice for users. While Semrush gets personal, Ahrefs stays tool-centric, giving followers clear, actionable insights.
2. Tone of voice
Semrush keeps it casual and friendly. Their tone is like chatting with a colleague over coffee—light, approachable, and filled with fun. Whether it’s a meme, a quick tip, or an office photo, Semrush feels like a brand that cares about making learning fun.
Ahrefs, however, sticks to a more serious vibe. They want to be seen as the SEO go-to expert, so their posts are professional and full of value. It’s like they’re here to teach you something useful but without the extra fluff.
3. Contrast in graphics
Semrush’s feeds are visually gripping and packed with colorful imagery, infographics, and team photos. They use fun, dynamic visuals that make their educational posts feel approachable. Think bright colors and quick, snackable content.
Ahrefs keeps their visuals clean and to the point. They prefer simple, data-driven graphics and tool tutorials, showcasing the power of their tools with no extra decoration. Where Semrush focuses on engaging, eye-catching posts, Ahrefs sticks to functional, no-nonsense visuals.
4. Prioritizing platform usage
Semrush’s use of TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn is all about storytelling. They share behind-the-scenes glimpses of life at Semrush, highlight team achievements and educational tips. It’s human-first content with a sprinkle of SEO wisdom.
Ahrefs uses YouTube more strategically. Their content focuses on quick, impactful SEO tips and tool demos that show exactly how their product works. They’re on it to teach and on Instagram to showcase their culture. It’s about positioning themselves as the experts rather than just engaging in casual storytelling.
5. Discrepancy in content frequency
Semrush is on social media all the time. Whether it’s a quick tip on TikTok, an Instagram Story, or a LinkedIn post, they keep their audience constantly engaged with fresh content. It’s like they’re always there, keeping you in the loop.
Ahrefs posts less frequently but with purpose. They prioritize quality over quantity, delivering well-thought-out content that dives deeper into SEO strategies.
While Semrush might post multiple times a day, Ahrefs tends to post only when they have something valuable to share. Both keep things interesting, just in different ways.
Semrush vs Ahrefs social media strategies in a glimpse
Here’s a platform-by-platform breakdown of their social media growth:
1. Instagram
From Aug to Nov 2024, Semrush got 38.7K engagements while Ahrefs just received 828. A similar trend is followed for engagement rate, Semrush is leading with 24.3% compared to Ahrefs at 2.5%.
This is because Ahrefs shared just 9 posts in 3 months while Semrush was quite active, sharing 111 posts for the same period.
While Semrush has a balanced mix of reels, carousels, and images, Ahrefs just relied on carousels and reels for Instagram marketing.
But did you notice that Ahrefs most engaging and most frequent post types are the same, whereas, for Semrush, it’s different? Despite posting more reels, Semrush’s most engaging post type on Instagram is carousels.
2. Facebook
A striking thing to note here is that with just 14 posts, Ahrefs got 4807 engagements while Semrush shared just 122 posts and still gained 3904 engagements. This resulted in a higher engagement rate of Ahrefs than Semrush by 3.1%.
Photos are the most engaging and the most frequent posts for Ahrefs. While Semrush continues to experiment with more content formats like photos, links, reels, and texts. Even though text posts make up for 6% of the total mix, they account for the maximum engagement.
3. Twitter
Semrush is an avid tweeter with 1,568 posts in the last 3 months. Ahrefs has kept it low here with 57 tweets. While Semrush’s total engagement is 26,923 and its engagement rate is 9.5%, Ahrefs just has a total of 1,346 with an engagement rate of 0.8%.
4. YouTube
For YouTube, Semrush has posted 16 videos from August while Ahrefs shared 4. However, Ahrefs is leading here with a total engagement of 15,712 and an engagement rate of 2.7%. Semrush is nowhere close and garnered a total engagement of 725 and an engagement rate of 0.4%.
Analyze your presence on social media
When it comes to social media, Semrush and Ahrefs are like two sides of the same SEO coin. Semrush is your fun, approachable friend who posts memes, and behind-the-scenes snippets, and keeps the vibe lively.
On the other hand, Ahrefs is more like that smart, straight-to-the-point mentor who always has a practical tip or insight ready.
Both bring immense value, just in different flavors. Ready to unlock your brand’s potential? Book a demo with Keyhole now, and let’s upgrade your social media strategy.
