How Many Searches Is A Good Number?

[sheriesmith]

OK, I know, Shame On Me! I'm JUST NOW getting around to registering domains for my blogs, per Lynn's suggestions 2 weeks ago. I need some feedback if you please... How many searches minimum would be considered a good number? Please say if your # is per day or per month. Thanks for your help!
Sherie

[russell]

I like to go with 1000 per month, but would consider choosing a lesser keyword if it helped toward the same goal of a few other ones.

It also depends which position you think you can get to. If you may have a hard time beating #1 and #2, then the traffic in #3 may not be worth it.

[sheriesmith]

Thanks Russell, is Wordtracker per day or per month?

[russell]

Wordtracker, the free version says its the number of times it was searched over the whole last year.

I'm not sure if the pay version gives different stats or not. But wordtracker only used some smaller search engines data I think, so the numbers will be way different in there than in google. The ratio should be very similar though.

I use google, since I can ask google both questions. How many searches do you get? And, how many results do you have?

But, I think you can get the same end result from wordtracker if you only use it. I think comparing the 2 would give you mixed results.

Im sure someone else has a different opinion though.

[angienewton]

Sherie,
It really depends!

I have chosen keyword phrases with a wide variety of searches (Wordtracker's (http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com/) free version is # of daily searches).

You could choose a keyword phrase with only 25 searches according to Wordtracker and hit the top 10 in Google pretty quickly. Then you want keyword phrases for every post, category, website page, etc. You categories could be the higher number of searches as could your main site keyword phrase.

Just play around and don't worry too much about it. You'll find yourself hitting the top 10 in Google before you know it. As for using keyword phrases for your domain, it's not necessary. Google looks at pages not at websites so the domain really doesn't carry that much weight.

[MikeF421]

Generally, I don't bother with anything that is getting less than 100 searches a day for a main keyword. Anything less is not worth the effort IMO.

Now if it is a secondary keyword or a long-tail keyword I am targeting for extra traffic, I may go down to 40-50 searches a day.

You have to remember, even if you get to #1 on Google's listing, you are probably going to get half of that traffic at best. So for the very top spot on a phrase that is searched 100 times a day, you may get 50 hits. What if you never get to #1? Well if you hit #2 or #3, at best you may get 25 hits a day. If you are beyond #3, it drops considerably.

Although I have made it to #1, I don't assume I am going to get there. If I can't make the phrase worth my while if I only end up in the top 5, but not #1, I'm not bothering with it.

Now having said all of that, if the traffic is a little lighter, but the competition is pathetic, I may target the word or phrase anyhow with the idea that a #1 ranking is very achievable.

[jkgourmet]

Wordtracker, the free version says its the number of times it was searched over the whole last year.

I'm not sure if the pay version gives different stats or not. But wordtracker only used some smaller search engines data I think, so the numbers will be way different in there than in google. The ratio should be very similar though.

I use google, since I can ask google both questions. How many searches do you get? And, how many results do you have?

But, I think you can get the same end result from wordtracker if you only use it. I think comparing the 2 would give you mixed results.

Im sure someone else has a different opinion though.

WAIT - I thought wordtracker showed the number of times a KW was searched PER DAY???!!!!????? What's with the per year?

[angienewton]

It is searches per day, Jeanette.

[jkgourmet]

That's what I thought - russell's wording said something about the entire year and I wanted to clarify.

Thanks, Angie.

[russell]

I derived my info from doing a search here http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com

There is a little tip that says the following next to the results.

"The number of times that the keyword has been searched for in our partner search engines in the US over the last 365 days"

Maybe im just not seeing the daily stats

[Engage]

What's the opinion about the Global Monthly Search Volume in the Google Keyword Tool? A useful stat?

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

In your opinion, is this tool sufficient for a casual keyword researcher?

[russell]

The monthly is based on the last month, in your territory, so in my case it would be for the traffic in the US for the previous month.

This is a good seasonal indicator, but I like to use the global searches for my research, but as I just stated in my live case study thread, its all about consistency, and using past results to give you some insight as to how the number will work out in the future.

There are a million ways to do it, and they only give you a rough estimate.

[Engage]

There are a million ways to do it, and they only give you a rough estimate.

I gotcha, that seems like a sensible practical way to look at it.

[sheriesmith]

I'm blown away by all the 'goodness' here, as Perry Lawrence likes to say (askmrvideo.com) Everyone is so helpful and kind, so giving with their experience and knowledge.

In taking Lynn's advice, I now have to hussle to find 2 domain names for my 2 most important blogs. Have just posted a new thread asking about my two name options for blog #1 about home appraisal tips. (toss in your 2 cents, if you have time)

Soon as I get that domain purchased, I'll be back to print out each of your great posts here about keyword searches, what you recommend and what you do. I'll put that in a binder to study offline better. Thought I had keyword searches down about a year ago, but I can see I did not know nearly enough. I'm so thankful for Lynn's forum here and each of you members. Hope to meet many of you in person at some point.

Thanks again,
Sherie Smith

[jkgourmet]

As I understand it, and maybe I don't, the WT tool shows the number of searches per day, averaged over the last 365 days.

so, the keyword term 'hunting cameras' is getting 28 searches per day (as an average of the searches that have occurred over the last 365 days). The seasonal variations get washed out a bit by the 365 look back.

If I recall correctly, Google Adwords averages over a shorter period of time - 90 days maybe???? The shorter period of time will make the season variations affect your results more than what you are seeing in WT.

for example, the google results for 'roses' are much higher in Feb, March and April (due to Valentine's Day) than they would be in Aug, Sept and Nov.

[AlexNewell]

Russell is right the number in free wordtracker are measured ove rthe year and that I guess is to average out seasonal factors.

There is no one answer as to how many searches?

Some people demand more - some sites make money from 50 visitors a day...it depends on whether it is an adsense site, a hard goods sites and the price and profit margin of the product.

Also what kind of purchase - does it solve a burning desire?

If not it will be harder to make money from it.