"Best running shoes" might have 50,000 monthly searches. "Best running shoes for flat feet" might have 2,000. "Best running shoes for flat feet with arch support under $150" might have 300.
But here's what most people get wrong:* High search volume doesn't automatically equal business opportunity.A keyword with 100,000 monthly searches is useless if:
It's dominated by massive brands you can't outrankThe people searching it don't want to buy anything (they just want information)It's not related to your businessA keyword with 1,000 monthly searches is GOLD if:
You can realistically rank for itThe people searching have buying intentIt aligns with what you sellSo search volume matters, but it's not the only thing.* You need to combine it with difficulty, intent, and competition.Here's why search volume still matters: It represents opportunity. A keyword with 5,000 monthly searches represents real traffic potential. If you rank in the top 3, you could get 500–1,500 of those searches monthly. A keyword with 50 monthly searches, even if you rank #1, brings minimal traffic.
How to Check Search Volume (5 Different Methods)
Method 1: Google Keyword Planner (Free, Official)
Google's native tool. It's free and shows actual Google Ads search volume data.
How to use it:
1. Go to Google Keyword Planner (ads.google.com/keyword_planner)2. Sign in with a Google account3. Choose "Discover new keywords"4. Enter your seed keyword5. Click "Get results"You'll see monthly search volume, competition level (low/medium/high), and related keyword ideas.
Pros:* Free, official Google data, shows trendsCons:* Requires a Google Ads account, limited to Ads-relevant data, shows ranges not exact numbersBest for:* Confirming search volume with official Google dataMethod 2: KeywordNumbers (Free, No Signup)
A fast, free keyword research tool. Search a keyword, get instant difficulty and volume data. No account required.
This also has 13 totally free tools all in one place on the tools page. From word counters, DNS checkers, page loading speeds and more.
How to use it:
1. Go to KeywordNumbers.com2. Type your keyword3. Hit search4. See search volume, difficulty, and related keywords instantlyPros:* Instant results, no account signup, clean interface, good for quick checks and all in one place seo and traffic toolsCons:* No backlink analysis (Yet) no detailed (SERPS)Best for:* Quick volume checks and identifying low-competition keywords along with 13 other free tools.Method 3: Google Trends (Free, Shows Trends)
Google Trends shows search interest over time. It doesn't show absolute search volume, but it shows relative interest.
How to use it:
1. Go to Google Trends (trends.google.com)2. Enter your keyword3. See interest trend over time, regional data, and related topicsPros:* Shows trends and seasonality, free, official data, shows regional interestCons:* Doesn't show exact search volume, shows relative interest only, limited to Google searchesBest for:* Understanding if a keyword is seasonal, growing, or decliningMethod 4: Answer the Public (Free for Questions)
Visualizes questions people ask around your keyword. Great for finding question-based keywords.
How to use it:
1. Go to AnswerThePublic.com2. Enter your keyword3. See questions, prepositions, comparisons in visual format4. Identify question-based keywords to targetPros:* Unique visualization, great for finding FAQs and content angles, free tier availableCons:* Doesn't show search volume or difficulty, limited to question keywords, data from Google Suggest (not comprehensive)Best for:* Finding question-based content ideasMethod 5: Paid Tools (Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz)
The comprehensive solution. These tools show search volume, trends, keyword difficulty, backlink data, and competitive analysis all in one place.
How to use them:
1. Sign up for a free trial2. Enter your keyword3. See search volume, difficulty, trends, and top-ranking pages4. Use in combination with other data pointsPros:* Most comprehensive, accurate data, shows trends, backlink analysis, competitive intelligenceCons:* Expensive ($100–1,000+/month), steep learning curve, probably overkill for small sitesBest for:* Agencies, serious SEOs, competitive nichesHow to Read & Interpret Search Volume Data
Raw search volume numbers can be deceiving. Here's how to interpret them correctly.
Example search volumes:
| Keyword | Monthly Searches | What It Means |
|---|
| Running shoes | 450,000 | Massive volume, but hyper-competitive |
| Best running shoes | 150,000 | Still huge, very hard to rank |
| Running shoes for flat feet | 12,000 | Good volume, medium competition |
| Best running shoes for flat feet under $100 | 1,200 | Niche but realistic traffic opportunity |
| Running shoe inserts for flat feet | 800 | Smaller opportunity, easier to rank |
The interpretation:
A keyword with 150,000 searches looks huge until you realize the top 10 are Nike, Brooks, Zappos, and major running blogs. As a new site, you won't rank for it.
A keyword with 1,200 searches sounds small until you realize #1 ranking brings ~120–300 clicks per month. For a fitness e-commerce site, that's real revenue.
So how do you use this?
1. For traffic potential: Higher volume = more potential traffic IF you can rank2. For opportunity: Lower volume keywords with lower difficulty = faster rankings3. For strategy: Use volume + difficulty to prioritize (high volume + low difficulty = top priority)Search Volume Myths Debunked
Myth 1: "I need a keyword with at least 10,000 monthly searches to be worth writing about"
False.* A keyword with 500 monthly searches that brings even 50 clicks/month (10% CTR for position 1) is 600 qualified visitors per year. For many businesses, that's meaningful.Reality:* 200+ monthly searches is enough if difficulty is low and intent is strong.Myth 2: "The search volume number is exact"
False.* All tools estimate search volume with a margin of error. Google Keyword Planner shows ranges. Third-party tools show approximate numbers.Reality:* Treat search volume as a range, not an exact number. 2,000 might actually be 1,500–2,500. That's fine for planning purposes.Myth 3: "High search volume = high competition"
Usually true, but not always.* Some high-volume keywords are less competitive than you'd think if they're newer or niche-specific.Reality:* Check keyword difficulty AND SERP separately. Don't assume high volume = unbeatable competition.Myth 4: "Seasonal keywords aren't worth targeting"
False.* A seasonal keyword with 10,000 monthly searches during peak season is perfect for seasonal businesses.Reality:* Use Google Trends to understand seasonality. If your business is seasonal, target keywords with matching seasonal patterns.Myth 5: "I can succeed with only zero-competition keywords"
False. All the traffic keywords have some* competition. If you only target super-low-volume keywords, you'll never build meaningful traffic.Reality:* Target a mix: easy keywords (build authority) + medium keywords (real traffic) + aspirational keywords (long-term bets).High Volume ≠ Easy Rankings (The Competition Factor)
Here's the critical lesson: High search volume attracts high competition.
A keyword with 100,000 monthly searches likely has:
Major brands competingHigh-authority sites rankingMassive backlink requirementsDifficulty score of 70+A keyword with 2,000 monthly searches might have:
Small blogs and mid-tier sitesLower authority requirementsFewer backlinks on top resultsDifficulty score of 30–40So which should you target?
If you're a brand-new site: The 2,000-volume keyword. You'll rank in 8 weeks instead of 6 months (or never).
If you have authority: Go after the 100,000-volume keyword. You can win.
The formula:* Volume × Achievability = OpportunityA 2,000 monthly search keyword where you rank #1 in 8 weeks = real traffic fast.
A 100,000 monthly search keyword where you can't rank for 12+ months = delayed opportunity.
Pick based on your site's current authority, not on raw search volume.
Finding the Sweet Spot: High Volume + Low Difficulty
This is the holy grail: Keywords with meaningful search volume (1,000+ monthly) and beatable difficulty (under 40).
Here's how to find them:
1. Use a search volume checker (KeywordNumbers or Google Keyword Planner)2. Filter for keywords with 500–5,000 monthly searches3. Check difficulty (target under 30–40)4. Verify SERP manually (can you beat the top 10?)If you find a keyword that checks all three boxes, write about it immediately. These are rare and valuable.
Example hunt:
Keyword: "Content marketing"
Volume: 100,000/monthDifficulty: 80Verdict: Skip. Too competitive.Keyword: "Content marketing for B2B"
Volume: 8,000/monthDifficulty: 45Verdict: Maybe. Medium difficulty, good volume.Keyword: "Content marketing for B2B SaaS"
Volume: 2,400/monthDifficulty: 35Verdict: Gold. Specific, searchable, beatable.The pattern: More specific keywords typically have lower difficulty but still real search volume. That's the sweet spot.
Seasonal Keywords: When Search Volume Spikes
Some keywords have massive seasonal patterns. Ignoring this can waste your effort.
Examples of seasonal keywords:
"Best Christmas gifts" - Massive in November/December, basically 0 in summer"How to file taxes" - Spikes in January–April, quiet rest of year"Ski resorts near me" - Peaks in winter months"Summer body workout" - Spikes in late spring/early summerHow to identify seasonal keywords:
Use Google Trends. Enter your keyword and look at the interest graph over time. If it spikes in certain months, it's seasonal.
Should you target seasonal keywords?
Yes, if:
Your business is seasonal (ski rental, tax prep service)You can prepare content in advance and publish before the spikeYou have time to rank before the peak seasonNo, if:
You need consistent year-round trafficYou only published recently (not enough time to rank)Pro tip:* If you're targeting a seasonal keyword, publish 2–3 months before the peak season. Google needs time to crawl, index, and rank your content.Using Search Volume Data to Plan Content
Search volume should directly inform your content strategy.
Priority framework:
1. High volume + Low difficulty - First priority. Write these immediately.2. Medium volume + Low difficulty - Second priority. Quick wins for authority.3. High volume + Medium difficulty - Third priority. Long-term plays once you have authority.4. Low volume - Lower priority unless they're conversion keywords or brand-specific.Building a content strategy:
Month 1: Target keywords with 500–1,000 searches/month and difficulty under 30Month 2–3: Add keywords with 1,000–3,000 searches/month and difficulty 30–45Month 4+: Go after higher-volume keywords now that you have domain authority