What is search volume?
Search volume is the estimated number of times a keyword is searched per month in a given country and language.
Open this screen in the panelSearch volume is the average number of monthly searches for a keyword in the selected location and language. It's usually an average over the last 12 months based on Google Ads data. It's an estimate, not an exact count: low-volume keywords are rounded into ranges and close variants are sometimes counted together.
Why it matters
Volume shows a keyword's traffic ceiling. Even at position 1, a keyword searched 30 times a month brings few clicks. High volume isn't automatically good, though: weigh it against difficulty and search intent. For seasonal keywords, the 12-month trend says more than the average.
Where you see it in SEOAsist
On the Keywords → Research tab, running Ideas or Long tail shows each keyword's volume, 12-month trend, CPC and KD. The Tracking table has a Volume column too; fill in missing values with Fill volume/KD. The data comes from your own DataForSEO account: Connect DataForSEO.
Example
| Keyword | Monthly volume | Note |
|---|---|---|
| boiler | high | Very broad, unclear intent |
| boiler service | medium | Someone looking for a service |
| how long does a boiler service take | low | Informational, easy target |
The keyword with the highest volume rarely brings the most business; the one with the right balance of intent and difficulty for your site usually does.
Common mistakes
- Treating volume as a traffic forecast; CTR varies a lot with SERP features.
- Checking volume with the wrong country or language.
- Dropping low-volume keywords that convert well.
- Looking only at the average for seasonal keywords instead of the trend.
Related articles
- Keyword tracking, research and SERP positionsHow to review Search Console queries, add keywords to the daily SERP check and find new keyword ideas on the Keywords page.
- What is keyword difficulty (KD)?Keyword difficulty (KD) is a 0–100 score estimating how hard it is to reach Google's first page for a keyword.
- What is a long-tail keyword?A long-tail keyword is a longer, more specific search phrase, usually three or more words, with lower volume but clearer intent.