As a business owner or digital marketer, you may think that ranking on the first page of Google search result is of utmost importance. However, this is easier said than done, especially when you are competing against numerous other websites on the internet.
One key strategy to rank higher on Google search results is to target specific keywords or phrases that are relevant to your business or niche. You may have heard about using quotations when searching for keywords, but how many search results should you aim for to achieve better SEO?
In this article, we’ll explore the concept of using quotations when searching for keywords, and how to find the sweet spot between low and high competition keywords.
Understanding Quotations in Google Search Results
When you search for a keyword or phrase on Google, it provides you with a list of results based on the algorithm’s evaluation of relevance and quality of each webpage. The number of search results references the number of web pages that Google deems relevant for that particular keyword or phrase.
Adding quotations around a keyword or phrase when searching on Google tells the search engine to look for an exact match of the phrase. For example, searching for “SEO expert” with quotations gives you results only for the exact phrase “SEO expert” and not for pages containing the words “expert in SEO”.
The number of search results you should target when using quotations around your keywords and phrases depends on various factors. Here’s how to find the sweet spot.
Factors to Consider When Evaluating Search Results
- Relevance: If the search result has too low a number of results, it may not be relevant enough to your business or niche. For example, if you are a travel blogger hoping to rank for “best beaches in the world,” then finding only 50 results is too low where it is expected to have at least 1000 results or more.
- Competition: If the search result has too high a number of results, it may be too competitive, and you may fail to rank higher. For example, if you intend to rank for “SEO tips,” it may have thousands of search results – making it too competitive, and difficult to rank high.
- Authority: The websites that rank on the first page of Google search results have a high authority given their track record of delivering high-quality content. If you have a new website with low authority, targeting a keyword with a high number of search results might be difficult. In this case, aiming for a keyword with a lower number of search results is the best fit.
Determining the Optimal Number of Search Results for Better SEO
The ideal number of search results you should target when using quotations will depend on the factors above. Here’s a general guideline to help you get started.
- For less competitive niches and businesses, aim for keywords with anywhere from 100 to 10,000 search results in quotations. This will provide you with enough relevance to your niche and competitive enough to drive traffic to your blog.
- For more competitive niches, focus on keywords with anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000 search results in quotations to avoid getting lost in the competition.
It’s essential to choose the right keywords and phrases for your website’s SEO success. The optimal number of search results depends on your niche, competition and authority. Therefore, you should continually research and monitor your keywords for any changes in the number of search results.