Striking distance keywords

What are striking distance keywords?

Striking distance keywords are search queries a page already ranks for just below the top results, usually somewhere around positions 5 to 20. Because the page is already relevant enough to rank, modest improvements to its content, title or internal links can move it onto page one or into the top three, where most clicks happen.

The exact range varies by who you ask: some use positions 11-20 (the top of page two), others include the lower half of page one. The point is the same: these keywords have proven relevance and demand, so they are usually faster wins than new content. You find them in Google Search Console, which reports the average position and impressions for each query.

Why striking distance keywords matter for SEO

Clicks fall sharply as you move down the results, so a jump from position 12 to position 4 can multiply a page’s traffic for that query. Improving an existing page is also cheaper and quicker than writing a new one.

How to find striking distance keywords

1. In Search Console, open the Performance report for the last three months and show queries with position and impressions.
2. Filter for average position between about 5 and 20, and sort by impressions.
3. Check which page ranks for each query and that it is the right page.
4. Improve that page for the query: answer it more directly, add a section, update the title tag, refresh outdated details.
5. Add internal links to the page from related pages, using relevant anchor text.
6. Track the query and compare positions after a few weeks.

Striking distance keywords example

Search Console shows "how to clean a dishwasher filter" at average position 11 with 4,000 impressions and 40 clicks. The page mentions filters in one line. Adding a step-by-step section on filters and linking to it from two related posts moves it to position 4.