Wondering what counts as a good keyword search volume?
The honest answer is: IT DEPENDS.
I get it – you probably wanted a straightforward number, but unfortunately, it’s not that simple.
Factors like:
↳ Cost
↳ Competition
↳ Potential conversions
Play a role in determining if a keyword is worth targeting.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to use these factors to decide what search volume range is good for you. Let’s dive in!
What Is Keyword Search Volume in SEO?
Keyword search volume is the average number of times a specific word or phrase is searched in a search engine (usually Google) over a set period, often a month. It shows how much interest or demand there is for a particular topic.
For example, if a keyword has a monthly search volume of 1,000, it means people type it into Google about 1,000 times each month.
Here I searched for german roaches in Semrush Keyword Overview tool, and I got a 27.1K volume in the US:
It means german roaches is searched on Google an estimated 27,100 times in the US each month.
However, not all keywords behave the same way over time:
↳ Evergreen Keywords: These stay relevant year-round and provide consistent traffic. Examples include how to cook rice or best laptops for work. They’re perfect for long-term content and SEO strategies.
↳ Seasonal Keywords: These spike in popularity during specific times of the year or events, like Christmas gift ideas or Black Friday deals. Leveraging these keywords can help you tap into seasonal trends and boost visibility when it matters most.
So What is a ‘Good’ Keyword Search Volume?
There’s no one-size-fits-all number for what makes a “good” keyword search volume. It depends on factors like competition, user intent, and how the keyword aligns with your goals.
Here’s what I think:
↳ For beginners or niche topics: Lower search volumes can be great, especially if there’s less competition and a high chance of conversions.
↳ For larger, established sites: Higher search volumes might make sense, even if it means competing with major brands.
The end goal of a “good” keyword is to help you get real results for your business.
Low-volume keywords might not have tons of searches, but they often match what people are looking for, which means higher chances of conversions.
High-volume keywords, on the other hand, can bring in a lot of traffic but are usually more competitive and less focused.
A “good” keyword search volume hits that balance where you can realistically rank and attract the right kind of traffic—helping you meet your goals, whether that’s building your brand, generating leads, or boosting sales.
Here’s an overview of what good keyword search volume may look like for different use cases. But take it a flexible reference rather than strict rules—actual “good” search volumes vary by niche, competition, and goals:
| Category | Monthly Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hyper-Specific | 0 – 35 | Perfect for targeting highly specific keywords, detailed questions, or rare search terms. |
| Niche | 35 – 100 | Ideal for localized searches, unique product offerings, or highly specific content. |
| Mid-Range | 100 – 1100 | A sweet spot for many topics, including popular products and well-known services. |
| High | 1100 – 10,000 | These keywords usually focus on broader topics with various angles or use cases. They often come with high competition, so strong content and quality backlinks are essential to rank well. |
| Very Broad | 10,000+ | These keywords are usually dominated by high-authority websites or major brands. Ranking for them requires strong domain authority and substantial resources. |
Which Factors Should You Consider in Keyword Search Volume?
Picking the right keyword isn’t just about the numbers. There’s a lot at play:
↳ Relevance & Intent: High volume is pointless if the traffic isn’t relevant. Make sure the keyword matches what your audience is searching for and aligns with your content, products, or services.
↳ Competition & Difficulty: High search volume often means tough competition. I use Semrush to check keyword difficulty and see if it’s realistic for it to rank (I’ll show you how in a second).
↳ Seasonality & Trends: Some keywords are seasonal, peaking during holidays or events. I use Google Trends find seasonal keywords and see when the interest for a certain keyword spikes or drops.
↳ Cost & ROI: For paid campaigns, consider the cost per click (CPC). High-volume keywords can be pricey, so weigh the costs against the potential return.
↳ SERP Features & Click Potential: Even with high search volume, SERP features like ads, snippets, Google Local Pack, etc. can steal clicks from websites ranking organically.
To manually gauge how a term triggers SERP features and how it can impact your clicks, simply Google it.
For example, in the image above, the term “pet grooming” triggers Google Local Pack (basically a box that lists local businesses related to your searched term).
So, even if the search volume may be high for this term, you can’t simply write a blog around this keyword or have a service page on your website and hope to get clicks.
The likeliness of the searchers scrolling down to organic results and clicking them decreases.
However, if you have hundreds of keywords, it’d be a tedious task to Google each keyword.
This is why I use Semrush. It tells me all I need to know all at one place and at once.
How to Use Semrush to Find Important Metrics for Keywords?
Let’s say you have a list of keywords.
You want to see how easy or hard it is to rank for them.
With Semrush, you can learn that and other things like a keyword’s seasonal performance and intent.
Open the Semrush Keyword Overview Tool, plug in the keywords, select the target location, and hit Search.
In a couple of seconds, you’ll have a report of the entered terms.
Each will be accompanied by important metrics like:
→ Intent may be marked as such:
[T] is transactional
[C] is commercial
[N] is navigational
[I] is informational
→ Volume, of course, tells the search volume of a term.
→ Trend shows how the keyword has performed over a period of time.
→ KD% score suggests how hard/easy it may be to rank for a keyword.
→ SERP Features show what kind of SERP features a query may trigger.
→ CPC suggests cost per click, in case you want to run ads for a keyword.
Based on these features, whether a keyword is worth it or not and how you want to target it.
More Factors to Consider:
↳ Conversion Potential: A potential buyer who is closer to making the decision tends to use smaller, more targeted keyword that directly match his/her needs. So, a long keyword like “mobile pet groomer near me” might not have a very high search volume but targeting it might drive serious conversions.
↳ Industry & Niche Variations: Different industries have different benchmarks. For example, specialized B2B keywords may naturally have lower search volumes, while consumer-focused eCom keywords tend to have much higher volumes. You can’t view the search volume of these two with the same lens.
↳ Domain Authority & Resources: Google trusts established websites better and so they are more likely to rank for high-volume keywords. If you have a smaller site, it may be better to target low to mid volume niche keywords that are easier to rank for.
So, Is Keyword Search Volume Important?
Yes and No.
What that means is that all search volume data tools are just making calculated “assumptions” but at the end of the day, they are just “assumptions.”
Moreover, there is a “delay” in many cases for trending keywords.
Semrush and Ahrefs– the legit best SEO tools out there– are also not the best at predicting search volume data for trending or incident based keywords.
For example, until 4-5 months after the release of ChatGPT, while the internet was going wild, keyword tools were still showing zero search volume for the topic as they took a while to analyse the data.
To give you a real example of this disparity, let’s see how Semrush and Ahrefs suggest different search volumes for the same keyword.
According to Semrush, the Global Volume of the keyword “pet groomers near me” is 130.2K and the search volume in the US is 33.1k.
On the other hand, Ahrefs shows 20K Global Search Volume and 15K US search volume for the same term “pet groomers near me.”
See how even the best SEO tools can’t estimate the search volume correctly!?
So while you can use search volume to guide your strategy, you can’t follow it like a gospel.
Why Search Volume Still Matters
If your keyword strategy is running well, you might wonder if checking search volumes is still necessary.
The answer is yes, and here’s why:
↳ Search volume shows how many people are looking for a term, giving you a broad picture of user demand.
↳ High-volume keywords can highlight popular or trending topics in your niche. You should use them (while also considering other important metrics discussed earlier) to guide your content planning.
↳ Finding a keyword’s search volume can also help you optimize your PPC campaigns. For example, higher-volume keywords may cost more, so if you have a smaller ad budget, it’s better to not target those specific keywords.
↳ Lower-volume keywords can still bring in valuable traffic if they match your niche and align with user intent, often leading to better conversions.
↳ Search volumes change with seasons, holidays, and consumer habits. Monitoring these shifts helps you adapt quickly.
↳ Knowing the estimated search volume of your keywords can help you create a healthy mix of high- and low-volume keywords so your site can rank for different search intents and user needs.
How to Find Keyword Search Volume?
I’ve already explained how to find the volume for existing keywords using Semrush Keyword Overview.
But using Semrush, you can also find brand new keywords along with their volume and other metrics.
Use Semrush Keyword Magic Tool to Find the “Right Volume” Keywords
Semrush provides extensive keyword analytics, showing monthly search volumes alongside related terms, competitor rankings, and keyword difficulty scores.
I use Semrush Keyword Magic Tool to get keyword ideas along with their search volumes and other metrics.
Open the Keyword Magic Tool > type a seed keyword> select your target country > click Search.
You’ll get a list of Broad Match keywords with your term or close variations. You’ll also see their monthly search volumes in the Volume column.
Click the small magnifying glass icon in the column next to CPC. This will open SERP and you can see the results for your chosen location to find content that performs well for the keyword.
You can also explore other metrics, depending on your type of research.
For example, when I’m doing SEO research, I type my domain in the purple box. It displays the Personal Keyword Difficulty (PKD %) column next to the Volume column.
This shows how hard it’ll be for my specific site to rank in the top 10 results.
You should also compare it to the Keyword Difficulty (KD %). If your PKD score is lower, the term is particularly relevant to your website.
If you’re doing PPC research, check the CPC (USD) column for the average cost per click advertisers pay for the keyword.
By analyzing these metrics, you can evaluate keywords for relevance, competition, and cost. Then, make smarter SEO and PPC decisions.
Use Google Keyword Planner to Find Average Search Volume for FREE
As Google’s official tool, Keyword Planner is quite reliable for search volume data.
While it’s designed for Google Ads, it works just as well for organic keyword research.
Open the Google Keyword Planner and if you already have keywords you want to check, click Get search volume and forecasts.
Enter all your keywords and hit Get Started.
This will show you Average Monthly Searches for each keyword.
Now, if you don’t have a list of keywords already, go to Keyword Planner dashboard and select
Enter a couple of seed keywords (terms that broadly describe your core business offerings).
Hit Get results.
This will show you the list of you a report of your entered terms and related keywords along with their average search volume ranges and other metrics.
Use Google Trends to Find Seasonal Popularity of Keywords
To find keywords with Google Trends along with their estimated seasonal popularity, just enter your seed keyword into it and hit Explore.
The Interest over time graphs shows how popular this topic has been across different points in a time period.
Though it doesn’t provide exact search volumes, you can still use Google Trends for spotting seasonal changes and comparing terms.
It shows whether interest in a keyword is rising or falling, helping you stay ahead of market trends.
Latest Trends That Should Influence Your Keyword Selection
Figuring out what makes a “good” keyword search volume isn’t just about the numbers—it’s also about keeping up with how people search today.
With more detailed questions, voice searches, and Google’s quick answers, you need to adapt.
By aligning your keywords with these trends, you’ll pick terms that not only fit your goals but also keep your content relevant and competitive.
Here are some latest trends that should influence your keyword selection:
↳ Semantic Search: Google now understands topics and context better through AI advancements like BERT and MUM. So, focus on creating detailed, well-structured content that answers user questions. Include synonyms, related terms, and clear context to improve visibility for related queries.
↳ Voice Search: With the rise of digital assistants, natural language queries like “how can i clean a dirty car seat” are growing. These longer, question-based searches have lower volume but high intent. Use FAQ pages, structured data, and clear Q&A formats to target them effectively.
↳ Zero-Click Searches: Features like snippets and Knowledge Graphs give answers directly on Google, reducing clicks but increasing brand exposure. Optimize for snippets, add structured data, and answer common questions clearly to keep your brand visible.
So Basically: It depends!
What’s a “good” volume depends on your niche, competition, and goals. Other metrics like keyword difficulty, search intent, and even CPC in case you’re researching keywords for Google ads.
Use my free keyword research template and checklist to find keywords with high search volumes and low-medium KD scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
I find Semrush for finding search volume and other important metrics because it offers detailed insights and easy-to-read reports. If you’re on a budget, Google Keyword Planner is a solid, free choice. Both tools give you the monthly search numbers you need to decide which keywords match your goals.
You can estimate keyword volume by using past search data that shows how many times a word or phrase is looked up each month. Tools like Semrush or Google Keyword Planner pull this data and provide you with an average number. Although these figures are approximations, they help guide your keyword and content planning.
A search volume of 10,000 can be high, but it really depends on your niche and goals. For some broad topics, 10,000 searches may be common, while in more specific areas it might mean tough competition. Always check other factors like relevance and conversion potential to see if it suits your strategy.
A high volume keyword typically gets several thousand searches a month, often ranging from around 1,100 up to more than 10,000. However, high volume can also bring high competition. It’s important to balance search volume with how well the keyword matches your audience’s needs and your overall business goals.
A good keyword density is usually between 1% and 2% of your total content. This means your main keyword appears naturally without feeling forced. Instead of fixating on numbers, focus on writing useful content that naturally includes your keywords so readers and search engines can easily understand your message.
There is no exact “good number” for keywords. Rather than a fixed number, focus on using a mix of main and related keywords that naturally fit your content. For shorter articles, two to three well-chosen keywords work well, while longer pieces can include a few extra long-tail phrases. Keep your writing natural and helpful for your readers.
In a 1000-word article, three to five carefully selected keywords are ideal. This range allows you to cover your main topic and include a few supporting phrases without overstuffing. Using keywords naturally helps keep your content engaging and clear, making it easier for readers and search engines to understand.
A 500-word article can work well if the topic is clear and focused. While longer posts often offer more depth, a short piece can rank if it answers user questions and uses keywords effectively. Quality is more important than word count, so ensure your content meets your readers’ needs even in fewer words.
An ideal SEO score is usually above 80 out of 100. This indicates that your page is well-optimized, with clear content, proper keyword use, and strong on-page elements. Although the perfect score can differ by industry, aiming for 80 or higher shows that your page is in good shape for both search engines and your audience.
The best approach is to use a mix of broad keywords and long-tail phrases. Broad keywords attract a wider audience, while long-tail keywords target specific searches and often lead to better conversions. Choose keywords that fit your topic naturally and meet your audience’s needs, making your content both useful and easy to find.