Striking Distance Keywords: How to Find and Win Them
Find keywords ranking just off page one and prioritize improvements.
Striking-distance keywords are queries where a page ranks just off page one — typically positions 11 through 20. These are quick-win opportunities because the page is already close, and small improvements can move it to page one. This guide covers how to find and win them. See Reading Search Console Performance Reports for the data source.
Finding striking-distance keywords
- Open Search Console Performance report.
- Filter by position 11–20 (or 5–15 for a broader range).
- Sort by impressions (highest first) to find the most valuable opportunities.
- Identify the page ranking for each query.
Winning them
| Opportunity | Action |
|---|---|
| Low CTR despite high impressions | Improve title tag and meta description |
| Thin content | Add depth, examples, and a practical element |
| Missing internal links | Add contextual internal links from authoritative pages |
| Outdated content | Update with current information |
| Poor on-page optimization | Improve headings, add the query naturally |
Primary sources
- Search Console performance data — Google Search Console Help (accessed 2025-01-15)