Striking distance keywords: the fastest SEO wins you already have
Striking distance keywords are searches where a page already ranks just below where the clicks are — usually positions 5 to 20. Google already considers the page relevant. A focused improvement can move it into the top results far faster than a new page could get there from nothing.
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Why they are worth more than new keywords
Most clicks go to the first few results. A page at position 12 gets a small share of what the same page gets at position 4, so the same amount of work earns far more on a page that is already close than on a new one.
They are also lower risk. You are improving a page Google already ranks, not guessing whether a new one will be indexed at all — a real question for stores where many pages sit in Crawled – currently not indexed.
The work depends on where the page sits. On page one but below the clicks, the title and description need to win the click. On page two, the page needs more depth than the pages above it. Further back, it needs a bigger rewrite and links.
What to do at each position
- Positions 5–10: Rewrite the title and description to match the search and earn the click.
- Positions 11–20: Add the sections, specs and answers the top pages have; add structured data.
- Positions 21–30: A deeper rewrite, plus internal links from related pages.
- Any position: Make sure the page matches the intent — a guide cannot rank for a buying search led by category pages.
How to find them in Search Console
- Open Performance → Search results for the last 3 months.
- Show average position, then filter queries to a position greater than 4 and smaller than 21.
- Sort by impressions: high impressions at these positions are the biggest opportunities.
- For each search, note the page that ranks, then compare it with the pages above it — the SERP checker shows them.
- Change one page at a time and compare clicks for four weeks before and after.
Questions people ask
- What positions count as striking distance?
- Usually 5 to 20; some include up to 30. The idea is the same: close enough that improving the page can move it to the top results.
- Is Search Console’s position exact?
- It is an average across all searches and places, so treat it as a guide, not a fixed rank.
- Can NicheSEO Pro do this automatically?
- The revenue opportunities scan finds pages in positions 5–30 with impressions, ranks them by what moving up could be worth, and turns the ones you approve into proposals for the autopilots.