Understanding Search Volume in Keyword Research Tools

Last Updated April 22, 2024

When you’re diving into the world of keyword research, one of the most important metrics you’ll come across is search volume. But what exactly does search volume mean, and how can you use it to make strategic decisions for your blog?

Let’s break it down.

What is Search Volume?

Search volume is an estimate of how many searches are being conducted each month for a particular keyword or phrase. When you use a keyword research tool like RightBlogger’s Keyword Research Tool, you’ll see a “search volume” field that displays this estimate.

It’s crucial to understand that these numbers are not exact, but rather approximations based on the tool’s methodology, APIs, and data sources. Each tool may provide slightly different search volume estimates for the same keyword.

Why Search Volume Fluctuates

Search volume is not a static metric. It can fluctuate over time due to various factors, such as:

Trending topics
Seasonal changes
Shifts in consumer behavior

As a keyword becomes more popular, its search volume will likely increase. Conversely, as a keyword loses popularity, its search volume will typically decrease.

Using Search Volume for Strategic Decisions

Despite the variability in search volume estimates, this metric is still incredibly valuable for making strategic decisions about your blog’s content. By identifying keywords with high search volumes, you can:

Determine which topics are most popular among your target audience
Prioritize content creation around high-demand keywords
Optimize your blog posts for search engines to attract more organic traffic

However, it’s essential to consider other factors alongside search volume, such as keyword difficulty and relevance to your blog’s niche.

Conclusion

Search volume is a powerful metric that can help guide your keyword research and content strategy. By understanding what search volume represents and how it can fluctuate, you can make data-driven decisions to grow your blog’s visibility and attract more targeted traffic.

Remember to use reliable keyword research tools, like RightBlogger’s Keyword Research Tool, to access accurate search volume estimates and make the most of this valuable data in your blogging journey.

What is a good search volume to target for my blog posts?

A good search volume is one that gives you enough potential traffic but is not so high that you cannot compete. For many bloggers, keywords with medium search volume are a smart place to start, especially if your site is still growing.

Very high search volume keywords usually have strong competition from big sites. Lower volume keywords can still bring steady traffic and are often easier to rank for, especially if they are very relevant to your niche.

You can use the RightBlogger Keyword Research Tool to compare search volume and competition in one place. This helps you build a list of terms that are realistic and valuable for your blog.

Over time, as your site gains authority, you can start targeting higher volume keywords. This balanced approach builds traffic step by step, instead of chasing only big, hard-to-rank terms.

How often does search volume change, and should I recheck my keywords?

Search volume can change every month because people’s interests change. Trends, news, and seasons can all cause spikes or drops in how often a keyword is searched.

You should recheck your main keywords every few months to see if their search volume has changed. This is especially helpful for seasonal topics like holidays, travel, or certain sports.

When you see a keyword gaining volume, you can update or expand your content around it. Tools like Keyword Clustering help you find related terms so you can cover a whole topic and capture more of that search interest.

Staying on top of search volume helps you keep your blog content fresh and aligned with what your audience is actually looking for right now.

Should I only choose keywords with high search volume?

You should not only chase high search volume keywords. High volume often means high competition, which can make it difficult for newer or smaller blogs to rank.

Low and medium volume keywords, especially long tail keywords, are often easier to rank for and bring more targeted visitors. These people usually know what they want, so they are more likely to stay on your site and take action.

You can read more about using long tail keywords in this guide on finding and using long tail keywords for SEO. Combining high, medium, and low volume terms gives you a healthier mix of traffic sources.

This balanced keyword strategy helps you get quicker wins now while still building toward bigger, high volume topics in the future.

How can RightBlogger help me use search volume to plan my content?

RightBlogger helps you turn search volume data into an actual content plan. You can start in the Keyword Research Tool to find keywords with the right mix of volume and difficulty.

Then, use tools like Keyword Cluster to group related keywords into topics. This makes it easy to plan full posts or series that cover a subject in depth and match what people are searching for.

You can write those posts faster with the RightBlogger AI Article Writer, which can draft content around your chosen keywords and headings. This saves you time and keeps your content focused on real search demand.

Later, you can review how your content performs and improve it using their SEO tools and workflows. This lets you keep adjusting your content to match search volume changes instead of guessing what to write next.

How do search volume and keyword difficulty work together for SEO?

Search volume tells you how many people are searching for a keyword. Keyword difficulty hints at how hard it will be to rank for that keyword, based on your competition.

For smart SEO, you want a balance. A keyword with huge search volume but very high difficulty may not bring you results, while a very easy keyword with almost no volume might not be worth a full post.

Using tools that show both search volume and difficulty helps you pick “sweet spot” keywords that are realistic but still valuable. You can also use content planning tools or SEO-focused workflows, like the ones covered in RightBlogger’s guide to free keyword research tools.

By weighing both numbers together, you create content that has a real chance to rank and bring ongoing traffic, instead of publishing posts that never get seen.