Striking Distance Keywords: The Fastest Path to Page 1

Want the fastest path to more organic traffic? Stop chasing new keywords. Instead, find queries where you already rank #4-20 and push them to page 1.

These are called "striking distance" keywords — you're close, but not quite there. A small improvement can mean a 10x traffic increase.

Why Striking Distance Wins

The click distribution in search is brutal:

• Position 1: ~30% of clicks
• Position 2: ~15% of clicks
• Position 3: ~10% of clicks
• Position 4-10: 2-5% each
• Position 11+: Almost nothing

Moving from position #11 to #3 can increase traffic 10-20x. Moving from #3 to #1 doubles it again. That's why striking distance keywords are so valuable.

How to Find Striking Distance Keywords

Step 1: Open Google Search Console

Go to Performance → Search Results → Queries tab.

Step 2: Filter by Position

1. Click "+ New" above the data table
2. Select "Position"
3. Set filter: Greater than 3
4. Add another filter: Less than 21

Step 3: Sort by Impressions

Click the Impressions column to sort highest first. High impressions = high search volume. These are your biggest opportunities.

Step 4: Evaluate the List

For each keyword, consider:

• Relevance: Does this keyword match your business?
• Intent: Are searchers looking for what you offer?
• Current page: Which page is ranking? Is it the right one?

How to Improve Striking Distance Rankings

Quick Wins (Do First)

1. Optimize the Title Tag

• Include the exact keyword (or close variant)
• Put keyword near the beginning
• Make it compelling (numbers, brackets, power words)

2. Improve the Meta Description

• Include the keyword naturally
• Add a call-to-action
• Make it relevant to search intent

3. Add Internal Links

• Find 3-5 pages that could link to this one
• Use the target keyword as anchor text
• Link from high-authority pages when possible

Deeper Improvements

4. Content Enhancement

• Add a section specifically addressing the keyword
• Answer the question better than competitors
• Update any outdated information

5. Match Search Intent

• Look at what's ranking in positions 1-3
• What format are they using? (list, guide, tool, etc.)
• Match the format searchers expect

Prioritizing Your Opportunities

Not all striking distance keywords are equal. Prioritize by:

Timeline for Results

After making improvements:

• Week 1-2: Google recrawls the page
• Week 2-4: Position changes begin
• Week 4-8: Stable new position established

This is why we recommend waiting 2-4 weeks before measuring impact. SEO isn't instant.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong page ranking: If your homepage ranks for a blog keyword, create dedicated content
• Keyword stuffing: Natural usage only — Google knows when you're overdoing it
• Ignoring intent: If you're selling but they're researching, you won't rank
• Too many at once: Focus on 3-5 keywords at a time

Your Action Plan

1. Find your top 5 striking distance keywords (high impressions, position 4-10)
2. Optimize titles and metas for each
3. Add 2-3 internal links per page
4. Wait 3-4 weeks
5. Check results in GSC
6. Repeat with next batch

PageSEO automates this process. We analyze your GSC data daily and surface striking distance opportunities — one action per day, already prioritized for you.