Keywords can either make or break your online ranking. The right words can make all the difference.
They help direct search engines to display the most relevant content to users.
But every keyword is different. Some are frequently searched, while some are rarely approached. This refers to keyword search volume.
In this read, let’s explore what keyword search volume is and understand its impact on a successful SEO strategy.
What Is Keyword Search Volume?
Keyword search volume measures the popularity and frequency of specific terms or phrases entered into search engines.
Simply put, it reflects the number of times a keyword is searched within a specific timeframe, usually a month.
What Factors Affect Keyword Search Volume?
Some of the factors that can affect the keyword search volume are:
· The industry and subject matter of the keyword.
· The level of competition and difficulty of ranking for the keyword.
· The location and language of the users searching for the keyword.
· The seasonality and trends of the keyword.
How To Calculate Keyword Search Volume?
There are many methods and tools available for calculating keyword search volume. Here’s a general guide to help you navigate the process:
Choose Your Tools:
Several options exist, each offering unique features and data sets.
Popular choices include Semrush, Google Keyword Planner, Moz Keyword Explorer, Ahrefs Keywords Explorer, and others.
Consider factors like budget, desired metrics (e.g., cost per click, competition, difficulty), and user interface when making your selection.
Enter Your Keywords or Phrases:
You can input individual keywords or phrases directly or utilize a seed keyword (a broader topic) to generate related suggestions.
For example, entering SEO as your seed keyword might yield suggestions like SEO services, SEO tips, and SEO audits.
Select Timeframe and Location:
Tailor your analysis based on your objectives. You can analyze historical data (past 12 months), current data (today), or forecasts for future months.
Specifying the geographic region of your target audience (country, city, state) further refines the results.
Analyze and Interpret Results:
Tools typically display various metrics, including:
- Monthly Search Volume: Average monthly searches for the keyword.
- Average Monthly Searches: Total searches divided by 12.
- Trend: Change in search volume over time.
- Competition: Difficulty of ranking for the keyword.
These metrics enable you to compare keywords and identify those most suitable for your SEO and PPC campaigns.
Understanding Absolute vs. Relative Numbers:
Some tools, like Semrush, present data in two formats: absolute and relative numbers.
- Absolute numbers: Based on actual Google searches across all regions and languages.
- Relative numbers: Based on Google Trends data across all regions and languages.
While absolute numbers offer greater accuracy, they hold less relevance for SEO and PPC.
Conversely, relative numbers are more useful for those purposes but come with inherent limitations in precision.
What Is The Ideal Keyword Search Volume?
Now, what makes a keyword search volume ideal? It’s not about chasing the highest numbers but rather identifying terms that strike a balance.
‘Good’ search volume varies based on the industry, niche, and specific goals of a website. A sweet spot exists where the keyword’s search volume aligns with the relevance of the content or services offered.
Relevance:
· High relevance: If the keyword is highly relevant to your content and services, even a moderate search volume can translate to valuable, targeted traffic.
· Low relevance: Conversely, a keyword with millions of searches but minimal relevance to your offerings will likely attract visitors who aren’t interested in what you have to offer, leading to high bounce rates and low engagement.
Competition:
· High competition: Keywords with high search volume often have fierce competition from other websites vying for the same ranking. This can be difficult for new or smaller websites to overcome.
· Low competition: Keywords with lower search volume may have less competition, making it easier to rank higher and attract organic traffic.
How Important Is Keyword Search Volume?
Keyword search volume serves as a vital indicator for the success of SEO strategies. Here’s why it’s important:
· Indicates success: Guides website owners and content creators towards topics resonating with their audience.
· Correlates with increased traffic: Higher search volumes often lead to more organic traffic.
· Hints at demand: Extensive keyword search volume suggests significant demand for specific information or products.
· Attracts the right traffic: Websites aligned with high-search-volume keywords attract genuinely interested visitors.
· Guides SEO efforts: Ensures SEO efforts are focused on relevant topics aligned with website objectives.
· Enhances visibility and engagement: Strategic use of keyword search volume paves the way for increased visibility and engagement, key pillars of SEO success.
When NOT To Use Keywords?
Keywords are important, but there are times when you shouldn’t use them.
Let’s explore some utterly nonsensical instances when using keywords would be an absolutely terrible idea!
When You Crave Obscurity
Feeling a bit too mainstream lately?
Perfect!
Don’t use keywords. *Sigh* Hey, who needs visibility, right?
What’s the use of anything called ‘visibility’?
Satire aside, sometimes you intentionally want some of your web pages to stay low for many reasons (thin content that you can’t remove because of some legal restriction).
When You Love Random Traffic
Why bother targeting specific audiences?
Skip keywords altogether! Let your content be discovered by chance.
Who needs the right audience when you can have everyone and their pet iguana stumbling upon your blog about knitting techniques when they’re actually looking for rocket science?
When You’re a Rebel Against SEO
SEO, schmeschmeo! Who needs search engine optimization anyway?
Keep those keywords away and let your content float aimlessly in the void.
Because, let’s face it, who needs a strategy when randomness is the way to go?
When You Adore Lost Opportunities
Opportunities? Nah, not for you!
Using keywords could actually lead people to your content, and who needs that kind of attention?
Hold the joy of missed chances and revel in the satisfaction of your content, sitting idly, waiting for a lucky soul to stumble upon it by accident.
When You Crave Silence
The sweet sound of silence! Who doesn’t love it?
Not using keywords makes certain your content remains serenely peaceful, undisturbed by the chaos of visitors seeking relevant information.
Enjoy the calmness of an echo chamber with only the crickets keeping your content company.
I’m kidding!
Jokes aside, there’s no real reason as to why you shouldn’t use keywords while writing for the web.
So, unless you’re aiming for obscurity, randomness, missed opportunities, and eternal quiet, please use relevant keywords to optimize your content for search engines.
In-A-Nutshell
Keywords have the power to make your brand visible on the internet only if used correctly and strategically.
We hope that this article untied the significance of keyword search volume and its profound impact on SEO success.
Keyword search directs us toward topics that capture the interest of our potential visitors. It’s not just the numbers but the relevance and alignment with our website’s goals.