21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
21 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

#4 in Google, but only getting 0.2% of searches?

by TooHigh
19 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hi guys,

There's something going on with my business that I can't understand. Maybe someone can explain this to me?

I am targeting a niche keyword. According to Google Keyword Searches, this keyword has 33,100 global monthly searches.

My site appears 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the rankings depending on what IP address I search from. So I would expect to be getting visits from at least 5% or 10% of those searches.

The weird thing is this: according to Google Analytics, I am only getting 47 visits a month from people searching the keyword.

Obviously there's something I don't understand. Can anyone explain to me what is going on here?

Many thanks,
TooHigh
#02% #google #searches
  • Profile picture of the author rmolina88
    That's the nature of SEO. It's never super accurate. Did you check it's broad and exact matches?

    How much is it's exact match?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7572417].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Studio13
    You have to understand the gap between Googles "estimated" global monthly searches and the reality.

    I've been dramatically disappointed by investing time and money on a project targeting a niche that had 100,000 global monthly searches and low competition. Come to find out those 100K global monthly searches were only about 38,000 according to my adwords impressions served 100% of the time.

    I believe what we have here is Google rounding up, as well as combining related terms, as well as combing Google.au, Google.ca, etc., in your USA based google search engine.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7572424].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      Like rmolina88, I first want to know if the 30+k is exact.

      Also, look at the pattern. Some keywords have steady stream of searchers, some go up and down. Also, if you look at previous months, you might see that most months it was 330 or so searches and one month 200,000... Yup, Google makes that kind of mistake.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7572441].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author TooHigh
    It would make sense if Google Keyword Tool were massively overreporting the amount of monthly searches. Is that possible? Is there some other tool I can use to check monthly searches?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7572435].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    I would bet you are looking at the broad search results in the Google Keyword Tool.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7572453].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author UMS
    Ditto to what Mike said.

    It's a very common mistake to look at the broad match figures.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7572715].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author dotgirish
    Also you should target long tail keywords related to your niche. You would get more targeted visitors by doing so . Competition also would be too low to rank those.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7573286].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TooHigh
      Mike Friedman was right. Thanks for explaining that to me. You guys are absolute gentlemen.

      dotgirish, I'm already getting most of my traffic from long-tail keywords. How would I go about researching good ones to target? Should I use Google Keywords Tool or is there something better.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7578010].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author ahefner33
        Setup a adwords campaign for the 'exact' keywords your judging and see how many impressions you are getting.
        Signature

        Adam Hefner

        http://foodgawker.com/ - Warning - Don't go to if you are hawngry

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7579291].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author DABK
        Look at the keywords that are bringing you traffic right now, the ones you were not aiming for. If any of them are getting you several visitors in one month, find out what's the exact traffic for them and where you're ranking. Moving closer to #1 will get you more traffic.
        Originally Posted by TooHigh View Post

        Mike Friedman was right. Thanks for explaining that to me. You guys are absolute gentlemen.

        dotgirish, I'm already getting most of my traffic from long-tail keywords. How would I go about researching good ones to target? Should I use Google Keywords Tool or is there something better.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7580038].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author kakucis
    Check how many impression does your website gets from this keyword using Google Webmaster Tools. This will give you a exact information because Google Keywords Tools is not that accurate.

    And Google search results depends from one location to another so if you are ranking Nr1 in US doesn't mean that you are in Top 20 in India and vice vera.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7579330].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author michealburns
    Our keywords are ranking on top 10 position for highly competitive keywords but still we are getting very less clicks.

    I feel Google Keyword Tool is all fake.
    Signature
    Hire PHP Programmer | Wordpress Customization | Outsourcing Services | Outsourcing Companies - OUTSOURCING PARTNERS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7579359].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author aygabtu
      Google Webmaster Tools is the best place to look. While they do round the numbers and are a few days behind, they will show you the exact keywords you are ranking for, the impressions and CTR for various SERP positions.

      From that you can tell exactly how many searches are being performed and what your CTR is. Depending on the niche, CTR can drop off significantly, although 0.2% for 4th position is horrible for almost any niche.

      Additionally, have you looked at the title and description Google is showing for your listing? Maybe it isn't compelling enough?
      Signature

      Check top 300 Google SERP results free. WhatsMySERP.com tracks and graphs changes for multiple domains/keywords/regions. Also includes advanced keyword density tool.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7579479].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author KirkMcD
      Originally Posted by michealburns View Post

      I feel Google Keyword Tool is all fake.
      Yes, Google is just trying to trick you into using it so that you waste time and money.
      Or maybe, you're just using it wrong.

      Again, it's designed for Adwords advertisers and the search estimates come from the Search Partner network, not just Google proper.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7580382].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Toyota Hilux Dealer
    "Exact Search" and "Broad Search" gets many. One of my friend hired a SEO firm and was very proud that he was ranking number 1 on high traffic searches. When I did keyword search all of the searches had thousands of hits in broad searches but less than a hundred in "exact" searches. His website has not made any net gains in traffic.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7580199].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author GamingOn
    If you are not searching "Exact Match" you don't really know the traffic its getting.
    SO search exact match on Google Adwords Keyword Tool and you will see what % of traffic you are actually getting.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7580267].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seoed
    you also have to keep in mind the adwords ads above you which means that the first 3 places are already given away which acounts roughly 40% + 15% + 10% = 65%. The rest, 35% is spread to the first organic result, the 2nd, the 3rd and then yours. I guess you would get around 5%.
    Signature
    120% in 3 days
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7581628].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
      Originally Posted by seoed View Post

      you also have to keep in mind the adwords ads above you which means that the first 3 places are already given away which acounts roughly 40% + 15% + 10% = 65%. The rest, 35% is spread to the first organic result, the 2nd, the 3rd and then yours. I guess you would get around 5%.
      Yeah except those numbers are bogus. Adwords is not getting that percentage of clicks.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7581698].message }}

Trending Topics