What Is Search Volume?

Search volume is an estimate of how many times a specific keyword is searched for within a given time period, usually reported as a monthly average.

Example

A keyword tool might show “content marketing” with a search volume of 40,000 searches per month, while a more specific variation like “content marketing for startups” might show only 200 searches per month.

Why it matters

Search volume helps prioritize which keywords are worth targeting, though it should be weighed against keyword difficulty and relevance, since a lower-volume keyword that closely matches a business’s audience can be more valuable than a high-volume one that doesn’t.