If you want to level up your keyword strategy, a Search Engine Results Page (SERP) API is a powerful tool. Traject Data’s Scale SERP APIs let you automatically gather rich data from search engine results pages. That includes organic listings, AI Overviews, Shopping results, Ads and more. So how do you actually use a SERP API for keyword research?
In this post, we’ll break down what a SERP API is, how to choose the right provider, and how to use Traject Data’s SERP API to uncover valuable keyword insights.
What is a SERP API?
A SERP API (Search Engine Results Page API) allows you to programmatically collect data from search engine results—like those shown on Google or Bing—without having to scrape pages manually.
These APIs are essential for keyword research, SEO tracking, and competitive analysis.
What is a SERP?
SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page. It’s the page that appears when a user enters a query into a search engine like Google or Bing. A SERP typically includes a mix of organic results, paid ads, featured snippets, shopping listings. With AI reshaping search, the AI Overview has become an essential part of the SERP.
Key Features of a SERP API for Keyword Research
- Automation: No more manual scraping. Automate keyword data collection at scale.
- Structured Output: Get clean, structured data (usually in JSON format) that’s easy to parse.
- Scalability: Handle thousands (or millions) of queries across keywords, locations, and devices.
- Bypass Anti-Scraping Roadblocks: SERP APIs like Traject Data’s include rotating proxies, CAPTCHA solving, and other features to get consistent access to results pages.
Is Using a SERP Scraping API for Keyword Research Legal?
In general, scraping publicly available data is legal, but there are a few important caveats:
- Only scrape publicly accessible content.
- Respect the terms of service of individual websites.
- Follow data privacy laws like GDPR or CCPA, especially if storing personal data.
Always make sure your scraping strategy is compliant with local laws and platform guidelines.
How to Choose the Right SERP API for Keyword Research
Not all SERP APIs are created equal. Here’s what to consider:
✅ Search Engine Coverage
Google is critical—but you may also want coverage for Bing, Yahoo, Amazon, eBay, and even regional engines like Yandex (Russia), Baidu (China), or Naver (Korea).
✅ Structured, Clean Data
Choose a provider that delivers well-structured data—no extra noise, no need for manual parsing. Look for support for rich SERP features like featured snippets, AI Overviews, shopping results, ads, news, and reviews.
✅ Integration and Delivery Options
Can you pipe data into your analytics dashboard or SEO tools easily? Batch exports, scheduled delivery, and API-to-database workflows make a big difference.
✅ Support and Documentation
Clear documentation and responsive support teams are invaluable—especially when building custom keyword research pipelines.
✅ Resilience to SERP Changes
Search engines constantly update their result formats. Choose an API that adapts fast. For instance, some SERP providers had downtime after Google’s latest SERP format changes—Traject Data’s infrastructure held up.
How to Use a SERP API for Keyword Research
Here’s a step-by-step process to use a SERP API for keyword research using Traject Data’s Scale SERP API.
1. Start With Seed Keywords
Begin with a core list of keywords related to your niche—e.g., “shoes for spring.”
2. Define Search Parameters
Use the API’s parameters to customize your search:
- Search Engine – Choose Google, Bing, Amazon or others
- Location – Local SEO? Target specific regions
- Device Type – Analyze mobile vs. desktop results
- Language – Specify the language of results
- Date Range – Useful for trending topics
3. Make Your API Request
Example: Requesting SERP Data for “Shoes for Spring”
Here’s a simple example using Traject Data’s Scale SERP API to retrieve Google mobile results for the keyword “shoes for spring”:
https://api.scaleserp.com/search?api_key=YOUR_API_KEY&q=shoes+for+spring&location=United+States&device=mobile
Just replace YOUR_API_KEY
with your actual API key to get started.
Use Traject Data’s Scale SERP API documentation to explore more query options.
4. Extract Keyword Data Points
Once you receive structured SERP results (usually in JSON), extract:
- Organic Results – See who’s ranking and why
- Ads – Track top-performing competitors
- Featured Snippets / Knowledge Panels – See what’s dominating the SERP visually
- AI Overviews – Identify AI-generated summaries and insights
Analyze the Keyword Data
Once you’ve collected your data, here’s how to turn it into SEO insights:
- Identify Keyword Opportunities: Spot high-volume, low-competition terms
- Understand Search Intent: Informational, navigational, transactional?
- Track Rankings: Monitor where you (and competitors) appear in the results
- Refine Content Strategy: Use featured snippets, and related keywords to build smarter content
- Spy on Competitors: See which keywords competitors are ranking for and what kind of content they’re creating
Real Example: “Shoes for Spring”
Let’s say you’re planning a new blog post or product campaign around the keyword “shoes for spring.”
Start by sending a request to Traject Data’s SERP API using that seed keyword. You’ll receive:
- Top-ranking product pages, editorial guides, and eCommerce listings
- Follow-up questions from the “People Also Ask” box (e.g., “What shoes are best for spring weather?”)
- Shopping ads and image carousels featuring trending styles
- Seasonal articles and fashion listicles with titles like “Top 10 Spring Shoes for 2025”
From this, you might uncover valuable related keywords like:
- “best spring shoes for women”
- “lightweight shoes for spring”
- “spring fashion shoes 2025”
- “water-resistant spring sneakers”
You’ll also gain insight into search intent. Users might be looking for seasonal fashion ideas, weather-appropriate materials, style trends, or online deals—helping you tailor your content or product listings to what shoppers are really searching for.
Boost Your SEO Strategy with Traject Data’s SERP API
Traject Data’s SERP API helps you unlock the full potential of keyword research—without the mess of manual scraping or unreliable data feeds.
With fast, accurate, and structured SERP data, you can:
- Discover keyword gaps
- Monitor competitors
- Track rankings at scale
- Create data-driven content strategies
Ready to try it out?
Explore Traject Data’s SERP API offerings and start turning search data into SEO wins.
Ready to See What Traject Data Can Help You Do?
We’re your premier partner in web scraping for SERP data. Get started with one of our APIs for free and see the data possibilities that you can start to collect.