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Re SEO competition - Am I right to ignore the number of search pages returned?

by tonywarrior2
7 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Hi

in some SEO training we are advised to look at the number of pages returned in a search as one of the factors of competition, i.e. the more pages returned, the tougher the competition, especially for an [exact match].

However this doesn't seem at all intuitive to me and I wanted to check my understanding with you guys. Personally I am not at all concerned by how many pages are returned in a search, whether it's 1.5million or 58,000. To me this is a supply issue, not an SEO issue. Also, I don't think Google takes much interest beyond 1000 results anyway (and you can check this yourself).

To me the thing to know, related to other SERPs, is the strength of the results on the first page. I only want to beat them.

Any thoughts?
#competition #ignore #number #pages #returned #search #seo
  • Profile picture of the author Tyrus Antas
    You are correct. First page SERPS strenght is
    much more important.

    Use open site explorer to get an overview of each
    page's strength:

    Open Site Explorer: Link Popularity & Backlink Analysis Tool

    Tyrus
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  • Profile picture of the author Davidoff
    Tony, Google couldn't care less about those "1 mio" results etc. In fact, they ONLY consider the GENUINE results - ever. The GENUINE results Google DOES show are a max of 999, you're right.

    It seems millions of "internet marketers" are always jumping on the latest fad about what Google does do and does not do, what Google does like and does not like, etc. - WITHOUT ever engaging their brain ONCE, and investigating(!) before they repeat a fad for the million'th time.

    My investigations documented without the shadow of a doubt (only for me(!), not for "religious" other people who WANT to believe what they believe...) that considering the GENUINE competition counts (plus the RELATIVE popularity, depending on your aims) is enough.

    However, on the other hand you can also be very successful with a site that has tremendous GENUINE competition, say 890 (yes, exist!).

    I don't give "the first page" as much weight as the ordinary public is doing, again I have my reasons (from investigations). For me the ONLY reason for any "1st page relevancy" is that, sadly, in surveys only a mere 1.5 to 2% raise their hand saying they click through to the second search results page...

    Hope this helps (if it doesn't, never mind)



    Originally Posted by tonywarrior2 View Post

    Hi

    in some SEO training we are advised to look at the number of pages returned in a search as one of the factors of competition, i.e. the more pages returned, the tougher the competition, especially for an [exact match].

    However this doesn't seem at all intuitive to me and I wanted to check my understanding with you guys. Personally I am not at all concerned by how many pages are returned in a search, whether it's 1.5million or 58,000. To me this is a supply issue, not an SEO issue. Also, I don't think Google takes much interest beyond 1000 results anyway (and you can check this yourself).

    To me the thing to know, related to other SERPs, is the strength of the results on the first page. I only want to beat them.

    Any thoughts?
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    • Profile picture of the author srbilles
      Originally Posted by Davidoff View Post

      Tony, Google couldn't care less about those "1 mio" results etc. In fact, they ONLY consider the GENUINE results - ever. The GENUINE results Google DOES show are a max of 999, you're right.

      It seems millions of "internet marketers" are always jumping on the latest fad about what Google does do and does not do, what Google does like and does not like, etc. - WITHOUT ever engaging their brain ONCE, and investigating(!) before they repeat a fad for the million'th time.

      My investigations documented without the shadow of a doubt (only for me(!), not for "religious" other people who WANT to believe what they believe...) that considering the GENUINE competition counts (plus the RELATIVE popularity, depending on your aims) is enough.

      However, on the other hand you can also be very successful with a site that has tremendous GENUINE competition, say 890 (yes, exist!).

      I don't give "the first page" as much weight as the ordinary public is doing, again I have my reasons (from investigations). For me the ONLY reason for any "1st page relevancy" is that, sadly, in surveys only a mere 1.5 to 2% raise their hand saying they click through to the second search results page...

      Hope this helps (if it doesn't, never mind)
      No offend but I couldn't make heads nor tails on what you just said. Maybe you could dumb it down a little so that I can make sense of what your saying.
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    • Profile picture of the author tonywarrior2
      thanks for your post here davidoff.

      Am interested if you have written any guides or reports.

      Tony


      Originally Posted by Davidoff View Post

      Tony, Google couldn't care less about those "1 mio" results etc. In fact, they ONLY consider the GENUINE results - ever. The GENUINE results Google DOES show are a max of 999, you're right.

      It seems millions of "internet marketers" are always jumping on the latest fad about what Google does do and does not do, what Google does like and does not like, etc. - WITHOUT ever engaging their brain ONCE, and investigating(!) before they repeat a fad for the million'th time.

      My investigations documented without the shadow of a doubt (only for me(!), not for "religious" other people who WANT to believe what they believe...) that considering the GENUINE competition counts (plus the RELATIVE popularity, depending on your aims) is enough.

      However, on the other hand you can also be very successful with a site that has tremendous GENUINE competition, say 890 (yes, exist!).

      I don't give "the first page" as much weight as the ordinary public is doing, again I have my reasons (from investigations). For me the ONLY reason for any "1st page relevancy" is that, sadly, in surveys only a mere 1.5 to 2% raise their hand saying they click through to the second search results page...

      Hope this helps (if it doesn't, never mind)
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[5729750].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author srbilles
    Originally Posted by tonywarrior2 View Post

    Hi

    in some SEO training we are advised to look at the number of pages returned in a search as one of the factors of competition, i.e. the more pages returned, the tougher the competition, especially for an [exact match].

    However this doesn't seem at all intuitive to me and I wanted to check my understanding with you guys. Personally I am not at all concerned by how many pages are returned in a search, whether it's 1.5million or 58,000. To me this is a supply issue, not an SEO issue. Also, I don't think Google takes much interest beyond 1000 results anyway (and you can check this yourself).

    To me the thing to know, related to other SERPs, is the strength of the results on the first page. I only want to beat them.

    Any thoughts?
    Yup your right but I'd go a little further and only concern myself with the top 3. The top 3 spots consume around 80% of the search traffic so if you can't make the top 3 it almost makes the keyphrase not worth going after.
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  • Profile picture of the author socialbookmark
    However top three results get the most traffic, but i think it worths if you can have a position even in first 20 results for competitive keywords. Its very difficult to be in top three results for many keywords and its not a reason for leaving competition for that keywords.
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