Search volume
Search volume is the estimated number of times per month a specific query is entered into a search engine, usually expressed as a 12-month average.
Search volume data comes from Google Keyword Planner (often bucketed at 10–100–1K for niches) or from clickstream-based tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Keywords Everywhere) which are more precise. Volume alone says little — always combine with buying intent, trend and seasonality to assess true value.
Example
'Buy bitcoin' has 33,000 NL monthly searches (high volume, high competition). 'Buy bitcoin via iDEAL under 100 euro' has 210 (low volume, much higher conversion intent).
Frequently asked questions
Are Keyword Planner volumes reliable?
Partially. Google groups similar terms and shows round numbers. Fine as an indicator, but for precise prioritisation use clickstream tools or Search Console itself.
What is 'good' search volume?
Context-dependent. For B2B niche 50/month is high; for consumer e-commerce low. Focus on cluster volume + commercial value.
Related terms
Further reading
- → Our service: SEO
- → Blog: ChatGPT citations are heavily concentrated