Extracting search results into a spreadsheet is a deceptively simple affair.
However, due to Google’s restrictions on automated queries, and other search enginesit can become prohibitive search results.
Compounding the problem is that there aren’t many tools to do this in an easy way, producing spreadsheets with sought-after data.
Here’s an overview of how to export Google search results to a spreadsheet, including relevant keyword data.
Extract SERPs to Spreadsheets with Chrome Extension
The first is (arguably) the best Chrome extension for pulling search results directly into a spreadsheet.
There are many other extensions that scrape the SERPs, but they don’t actually pull the data into a spreadsheet.
For example, Surfer SEO has a great Chrome extension that pulls in a lot of useful information about the top 10 sites and provides keyword data that can help with article writing.
However, it doesn’t actually export the SERPs to a spreadsheet.
There is one well done and it comes from SEOquake.
SEOquake Chrome Extension
Screenshot by author, May 2022SEO Earthquake Offers a free SEO Chrome extension that provides multiple SEO data points on search results, including numbers corresponding to the search position of each site listed in the SERP.
The SEOquake Privacy Policy states It does not collect or use your data.
The extension will calculate each people also ask question as a search result, so a SERP with 10 results plus 4 People Also Ask would therefore be listed as having 14 search results.
In order to export only a simple list of search results, it is necessary to first remove all parameters from the report.
Otherwise, the report will contain more information than might be required.
Step 1: Parameters button
The first step is to click the Parameters menu button:
Screenshot by author, May 2022Step 2: Deselect parameters
A popup menu will pop up on the search results next.
The popup menu contains a large number of parameters.
Uncheck all parameters.
Screenshot by author, May 2022Step 3: Export to CSV
You can now download search results directly into a spreadsheet.
In the left menu, there is an item labeled “Export to CSV”. Just click it and the spreadsheet will start downloading.
SEOquake is a convenient way to download the top 10 search results directly into a spreadsheet.
Export search function to spreadsheet
Another useful tool is SERP keyword scraper for Searchanalyzer Chrome extension.
SERP Keyword Crawler for Search Analyzer
Screenshot by author, May 2022This tool focuses on extracting keyword phrases from the Google search function.
The SERP Keyword Scraper generates useful information about keywords related to your keyword phrase, as shown in Google’s search function.
The Chrome extension exports the following search functions:
- Search suggestions.
- related search.
- Search refinement.
- FAQ rich results.
- Image entity.
The Chrome extension pulls keyword data from:
- Google search.
- Google Shopping.
- Google image search.
- Bing Search.
Using this tool is very simple.
Just install the plugin and pin it to your browser for easy access.
The next step is to do a search on Google (or Bing) and click the SERP keyword scraper icon, and the keyword is immediately copied to the clipboard.
Finally, open a spreadsheet program and paste. It’s that simple. Look, right?
The spreadsheet generated by the extension is clean and organized, so it’s easy to determine what all the features are.
The tool starts by listing all the keyword phrases extracted from the visible section of the search function (like People Also Ask, etc.).
There is a little trick to be aware of when using this extension.
Before clicking the Chrome extension icon to generate a report, be sure to click Generate Report in the search box Google suggested keywords.
For example, for keyword phrases, What is structured data:
- The first set of keywords in the spreadsheet was crawled from Google Suggest.
- The second set of keywords in the spreadsheet was extracted from the People Also Ask search function.
- The third set of keyword phrases was extracted from the “Related Searches” search function.
- The fourth set of keywords was extracted from FAQ Rich Results.
- The fifth set of keyword phrases was extracted from the People Also Search For search function.
This is very useful data and is easy to extract.
Just click the icon button and the data will be saved in the copy clipboard. All you have to do next is paste it into a spreadsheet.
One thing I particularly appreciate about the SERP Keyword Scraper Chrome extension is that it respects your privacy.
This tool does not collect any of your surfing data nor sell it.
According to privacy practices:
“How does the SERP keyword crawler work?
Everything happens on your machine! We access the source code of the search results and extract the data for you. The plugin does not use any third party data.
The publisher has disclosed that your data will not be collected or used
This publisher states that your data is:
Not sold to third parties outside of approved use cases.
Not used or transferred for purposes unrelated to the core functionality of the project.
Not to be used or transferred to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes. “
Crawl Google’s SERPs with Screaming Frog
You can use Screaming Frog to Crawl search results and Search function.
In fact, there are many other crawlers that do this too. However, Google may ban your IP address.
If this happens, you will be banned from Google.
It should also be noted that Google strictly prohibits automated search queries.
Google’s Terms of Service There is a clearly titled “no automatic query. “
Google’s ban statement said:
“You may not send automated queries of any kind to Google’s systems without Google’s prior express permission.
Note that “Send Auto Query” includes:
use any software that sends queries to Google to determine the “ranking” of a website or web page on Google for various queries;”
Crawling Google using automated queries may result in your IP address being banned.
SerpsBot
SerpsBot is an API that allows you to pull in Google’s search results, including all search features like People Also Ask and Featured Snippet.
Search results are exported to a JSON file, which can then be converted to a spreadsheet as needed.
This is an API, so programming language capabilities are a must.
Multiple ways to extract SERPs
If you search online, you’ll find websites, solutions, and tools for exporting Google search results.
I’ve found some online tools that might display the first page of Google’s SERPs and provide a way to export them to a spreadsheet.
One such site is SERPs to Excel. It does a decent job of pulling 10 search results.
However, the site does not count search results in featured snippets, nor does it count video results. It provides results based on the old 10 blue link paradigm.
For example, search [what is google palm?] Produces seven search results minus featured snippets and videos, and includes one search result from the second page of the SERPs.
For 100+ search results, results beyond the second page of the SERP cost $2.
One nice thing about this site is that it doesn’t track you on your browser as a Chrome extension.
However, if you prefer the convenience of downloading data directly from search results, then a Chrome extension is better suited for this workflow.
Keyword Tool workarounds
There are many tools that provide rank tracking and keyword research.But surprisingly, there aren’t many free tools that provide this functionality without doing anything Solution Get what you need.
Semrush Keyword Overview Tool
For example, the free version of Semrush offers the Keyword Overview tool, which conveniently provides you with SERPs.
Step 1: Select the Keyword Overview Tool
In the left navigation menu, select the Keyword Overview link located in the Keyword Research section.
Screenshot by author, May 2022Step 2: Search for keywords
Next, look at the top right corner of the page, where there is a search box.
Enter a keyword phrase and click the “Search” button.
Screenshot by author, May 2022Step 3: SERP Analysis
After the tool extracts the search results, scroll down to the section labeled SERP Analysis.
Here, you can copy a list of the top 10 URLs for the selected keyword phrase.
Screenshot by author, May 2022Step 4: Paste into the spreadsheet
Finally, copy and paste the list of search result URLs into the spreadsheet.
Screenshot by author, May 2022As you can see, it’s possible to create a spreadsheet of the top 10 for various search results using a free keyword research tool, but it’s an imperfect solution.
Extract search results to spreadsheet
At first, extracting search results into a spreadsheet may seem like an easy task, but it’s not.
There are a variety of solutions available, each with their pros and cons.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which tool is best for you work process.
More resources:
Featured image: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock
