What Is Search Volume? How to Check It and Apply It to SEO Keyword Selection

When choosing keywords for SEO, "search volume" is something you always want to check. If you create content without knowing how much a keyword is searched, you can end up targeting a keyword that essentially no one reads. This article clearly explains what search volume is, from the basics through concrete ways to check it and how to apply it to SEO keyword selection.

What Is Search Volume?

Search volume is the number of times a keyword is searched on a search engine such as Google. It generally refers to the number of times per month, and is also called "monthly search volume." The larger the figure, the more people are searching that keyword—meaning the greater the demand.

Note that search volume is not an exact measured figure but merely an approximate estimate. It also fluctuates by season and trend, so it's common to view it as monthly data. A keyword searched a lot last month may have decreased the next month.

Classifying Keywords by Search Volume

Depending on the size of the search volume, keywords broadly divide into three types, each with different characteristics.

• Big keywords: broad 1-to-2-word keywords with very large search volume (e.g., "SEO"). Traffic can be expected, but competition is fierce and ranking is difficult.

• Middle keywords: keywords of about two words with moderate volume. Between big and long-tail, with a good balance.

• Long-tail keywords: specific keywords of three or more words with small search volume. Low competition and clear search intent make them easy to connect to results.

How to Check Search Volume

You check search volume using dedicated tools. Here are the representative ones.

1. Google Keyword Planner

A free tool officially provided by Google. In addition to search volume, you can check "competition" and "related keywords" and more. It is originally a tool for Google Ads (search ads), but it is plenty useful for SEO keyword research as well. The basic usage is as follows.

1. Log in to Google Ads and select "Keyword Planner" from "Tools and settings."

2. Select "Discover search volume and forecasts."

3. Enter the keyword you want to check and start; an estimate of the search volume is displayed.

As a caveat, however, accounts that aren't running ads only see a rough range like "10K–100K." If you want more detailed figures, you need to use it on an account that is running ads.

2. Keyword Research Tools Such as Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest displays SEO difficulty as a number in addition to search volume, making it an easy-to-understand tool for beginners. In addition, paid tools such as Ahrefs and Semrush let you do search volume, competition, related keywords, and analysis of top sites all together, which helps when working on SEO in earnest.

3. Google Trends

Google Trends is a tool that shows relative popularity with the peak set at 100, rather than the actual number of searches. It is suited to comparing multiple keywords and to grasping the trend of whether search demand is rising or falling. It is handy for seeing "the direction of the trend" rather than the figures themselves.

Applying It to SEO Keyword Selection

Search volume has meaning only when you apply it to keyword selection, not just check it. Here are concrete points for applying it.

1. Identify Keywords With Demand

Search volume is an indicator of "how much demand there is for that theme." Even if you write an article for a keyword with almost zero volume and manage to rank it, you can expect almost no traffic. First, check whether it's a keyword with a certain level of search demand.

2. Balance Volume and Competition

Keywords with large search volume are attractive, but rival sites are putting effort into them too, making ranking difficult. On the other hand, if the volume is too small, it won't lead to traffic. It is important to choose keywords with a balance of volume and competition that suits your site's scale and strength.

3. Target Long-Tail Keywords

Especially in the early stage after launching a site, it is difficult to compete on big keywords right away. Even if the search volume is small, accumulating long-tail keywords with low competition and clear search intent makes it easier to steadily gain traffic and results.

4. Judge Together With Search Intent

Choosing by the search-volume figure alone is risky. Even at the same volume, the contribution to results changes greatly depending on whether the person searching that keyword "just wants to know" or "is considering a purchase." Treat volume as one piece of judgment material, and select comprehensively together with search intent and your own purpose (traffic, purchase, inquiry, etc.).

Summary

Search volume is the monthly number of times (an estimate) a keyword is searched on a search engine, a basic indicator for measuring demand for that theme. You can check it with Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest and various paid tools, and Google Trends, which shows relative trends.

In keyword selection, the points are to identify keywords with demand, balance volume and competition, and target long-tail keywords according to your site's situation. By not relying on the figures alone but judging together with search intent and your own purpose, you can choose keywords that lead to traffic and results.