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DomainTastic

Hi All,

I'm struggling to understand something and I'm hoping you can help me out.

I currently use the Google Adwords free tool to locate good keywords with traffic volume at https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/KeywordToolExternal

I'll select UK, enter my keyword and select EXACT under match type.

I recently discovered a keyword that generates 5,400 local volume per month. Over the last 6 months I then set about optimising a website for the exact keyword phrase. After some hard work I was top of Google.co.uk if you simply typed in these two words.........however......the level of traffic I receive is considerably smaller than what Google Adwords said was up for grabs.

I have also done a similar thing with two other websites and cannot understand why I'm not getting loads more traffic.

The domain name and subject description...everything possible is related to the search term, so my question is.....am I getting confussed with the google traffic prediction.

Kindest regards,

James

davedevelopment

Just because you're top doesn't mean you'll get every person searching clicking through to your site.

Maybe there's a well known brand in second place, who users will know and go for first.

Here's some indication of where peoples eyes go when searching google. The top spot gets the most attention, but not all of it.

http://blog.eyetools.com/images/blog...gle_search.jpg

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bensd

That's the first reason. The second is: although the keyword tool is very good for a guide, the results can be inaccurate.

retired_member12

I see your point, i just searched for 'domain names' for example!

bensd

..........

DomainTastic

Okay, so people will click the adwords, maybe go for second place, but I'd still expect more than I'm getting currently. Infact my website has the keyword1keyword2.co.uk where as all my competitors have keyword1keyword2otherkeyword.co.uk for example.

I guess I just need to optimise the website for the other keywords that may attract visitors. It just goes to show if you drop below top three, you can loose out in a big way.

Also, even if I think...if I get top of a 30,000 exact phrase....it's not going to be all that huge.

Kindest regards,

James

retired_member13

There are a few rules of thumb to take into account when calculating traffic from Exact match:

Firstly, the Exact Match numbers are VERY susceptible to being gamed - ie bumped up by automated queries and the like. Also, it's worth noting that multiple searches, or multiple pages of results all add to the score - so 1 person viewing 4 pages of results for [keyword phrase] = 4 exact matches.

Secondly, even when the figures are accurate, the Google numbers are derived from ALL Google search activity in the UK, so you have to have the same position in Google.co.uk, Google.com etc to get the full benefit of whatever the real number of searches is.

Thirdly, and probably most important, lets assume the figures are accurate and that you have the same position in all Google searches whatever the site used, there have been a number of studies that have shown that:

a) Only half of the searches actually result in a click.
b) On a results list of 10, roughly half the people click on the 1st result, ~12% on the second, ~4% on the third, then between 1% and 3% on the remaining positions with the remaining couple of percent going to page 2.
c) The figures in point (b) are further diluted by sponsored links, Google shopping links, YouTube links etc etc.

So, putting it all together:

5,400 exacts per month reported.
=180 exacts per day.
50% don't click on a result but perform another search:
=90 exacts per day
50% at most click on your #1 spot:
=45 exacts per day.

So 45 visits is the most you can expect for the [keyword1 keyword2] search, but that number would be reduced (ie diluted) if:

- Google puts sponsored links over the results, or:
- The term is a hard to find object (ie a lot of the exacts were from multiple searches by single people).
- The terms has a big info or research element to it (again multiple searches)
- you weren't also number 1 for the same search on Google.com for UK users (these are often different)
- Someone or something was ramping up the numbers to begin with.
- You had poorly written Titles and or Meta.

There's a lot more to it, but that's the basic calculation. For more on search percentages & clicks and eye maps etc see places like SEOMoz or SEOBook.

Also, make sure that you're not checking rank on a computer logged into Google, as they personalise your search results for pages you visit a lot lol...

Regards

Ty

DomainTastic

Thanks for that last tip...I noticed that a few weeks ago on a new website of mine.

The more I try the harder this game gets..it's like a cat chasing a piece of string. It certainly isn't simple.

newguy

Fantastic post ty, especially the third point. Bookmarked

Darren

Excellent Ty, +REP.

Thanks.