Welcome back to the world of SEO, where every website strives to be on top of the search engine results.
Think of SEO like a musical instrument that ignites the symphony of traffic on your website. It’s a powerful tool that helps you reach your target audience, and engage with them effectively. It enables you to optimize your website’s visibility and rank better on search engines results pages (SERPs).
With SEO, you can ensure that your website is suitably equipped to satisfy users’ search intent and deliver the best possible user experience. By providing high-quality content, optimizing your website structure, and using relevant keywords, your website can rank higher, boosting your online presence and driving more traffic.
But don’t just take our word for it. Let’s dive into some mind-blowing SEO facts and statistics that will surely convince even the most skeptical digital marketers.
12 Facts About the SEO industry
1. The global SEO industry is projected to be worth over $80 billion
The SEO industry has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception in the mid-1990s. Today, the industry is worth over $80 billion, a testament to its importance in the digital marketing world.
The explosive growth of the SEO industry can be attributed to several factors, including the proliferation of online businesses, the increasing importance of social media, and the rise of mobile devices. As more businesses recognize the importance of having a strong online presence, the demand for SEO services has increased.
The SEO industry is made up of a broad range of professionals and service providers, including SEO consultants, digital marketing agencies, and software companies. These professionals provide a range of services, including keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and content creation.
[Grand View Research]
2. There are 6 Major Search Engines to Account For
It’s difficult to determine the exact number of search engines that exist in the world, as new search engines are created frequently, and many smaller search engines may not be widely known or used. That being said, there are several popular search engines that are commonly used in the U.S. and worldwide, including:
- Google — Google is by far the most widely used search engine in the world, accounting for over 75% of all search engine traffic.
- Bing — Bing is owned by Microsoft and is the second most popular search engine in the world, accounting for approximately 9% of all search engine traffic.
- Yahoo! — Yahoo! is now owned by Verizon Media and receives around 2% of search engine traffic.
- Baidu — Baidu is a popular search engine in China, accounting for over 70% of all search engine traffic in the country.
- Yandex — Yandex is a popular search engine in Russia, with a market share of approximately 47%.
- DuckDuckGo — While less widely used than the above search engines, DuckDuckGo is a popular alternative for those who prioritize protecting their privacy online.
In summary, while there are countless search engines in the world, a handful of popular search engines account for the majority of search traffic worldwide.
[Search Engine Journal]
3. Google accounts for over 90% of total searches worldwide
This data shows the dominating presence of Google as the most used search engine around the world. This means that the vast majority of people use Google to look for answers to their queries, so optimizing your website for Google means you can expect to reach a larger potential audience.
4. An estimated 55% of households are expected to use voice search
With the rising popularity of voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple Siri, the number of people using voice search is increasing rapidly.
With voice search, people tend to use more natural language and longer queries as opposed to traditional text-based searches; a factor that could impact how digital marketers approach SEO.
[Comscore]
5. Over 50% of "near me" searches result in a physical store visit
The statistic highlights the value of local SEO for businesses, particularly those with a physical brick-and-mortar location. By optimizing their website and online presence for local search terms, such as “near me” or “in [city name],” businesses can increase their visibility to users who are actively looking for products or services in their area. Moreover, appearing in local search can increase the chances of users visiting the business’s physical location since they have demonstrated intent to purchase products or services.
[HubSpot]
6. Articles over 2,000 words typically rank higher on Google
Long-form content is becoming increasingly popular in the world of SEO. The reason for this is that long-form content typically provides more in-depth and comprehensive information on a particular topic.
This type of content is highly beneficial to readers as it covers a topic thoroughly, making readers perceive the content as high quality and informative which in turn results in better user engagement metrics.
7. Over 60% of searches are conducted on mobile devices
As more people use their smartphones to search for information, mobile optimization has become increasingly crucial for businesses. According to Google, over 60% of searches are now conducted on mobile devices, and this statistic is expected to keep rising in the coming years.
This statistic highlights the importance of having a mobile-responsive website that provides a good user experience across devices. Responsive design ensures that web pages where visitors are guided look good and work well, regardless of whether you view them on a desktop, laptop or smartphone.
In March 2021, Google introduced the Core Web Vitals update, which aims to improve user experience by focusing on three metrics: Loading time (Largest Contentful Paint), Interactivity (First Input Delay), and Visual stability (Cumulative Layout Shift).
[Google]
8. Over 25% of search queries are expected to be done through image or video search
As the internet becomes more visual, there has been a significant increase in the number of users searching for images or videos on search engines.
This statistic demonstrates the growing importance of optimizing content with visually-focused elements, such as images and videos. Image and video search optimization can be achieved through keeping the file size small, adding descriptive captions or alt tags, and providing relevant information on the page since this also helps improve user experience. With the increase of image and video searches, it is essential for all businesses to take advantage of the growing popularity of visual content in their overall SEO strategies.
9. AI is changing the way search engines function with Google's RankBrain algorithm using AI to process search results
The use of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in search engine optimization has become increasingly popular in recent years. According to Google, their AI system named RankBrain is used to process search results and is one of the top factors that determine the ranking of web pages in Google’s search results.
RankBrain uses machine learning to identify relevant results for specific search queries by analyzing user behavior such as the length of the search query, click-through rates, and other factors. This means that the algorithm can identify and rank results for keywords that it may not have encountered previously, and in so doing, helps Google provide better search results to users.
The rise of machine learning and AI in SEO also means that SEO professionals need to continue evolving to efficiently adapt to these changes to properly take advantage of the technology. Furthermore, businesses can consider new SEO strategies specific to machine learning and AI-driven search engines to improve their ranking and stay ahead of their competitors.
10. SEO is becoming more integrated with other forms of digital marketing, including social media, email marketing and content marketing
As marketing evolves, the different channels of digital marketing are becoming increasingly integrated. SEO is no exception, as businesses are realizing the importance of using other forms of digital marketing such as social media, email marketing, and content marketing to improve their search engine ranking position.
According to a report by HubSpot, about 81% of businesses are now integrating their SEO strategy with their social media efforts, with a further 70% integrating their SEO with their email marketing campaigns. Nearly two-thirds of businesses have also integrated content marketing as a part of their SEO strategy.
[HubSpot]
11. Search Engines Deliver on Over 3.5 Billion Searches a Day
According to a report by Internet Live Stats, Google processes over 3.5 billion searches per day, accounting for the vast majority of search engine activity. In addition to Google, other popular search engines, such as Bing and Yahoo!, also process billions of searches each day.
Furthermore, with the increasing use of mobile devices, the number of daily searches is likely to continue to grow. In fact, it’s estimated that mobile devices now account for over 50% of all web traffic worldwide, and mobile search usage is growing at an even faster rate than overall web usage.
[Oberlo]
12. 93% of Online Experiences Begin with a Search Engine
This statistic shows how critical it is for businesses to have a solid SEO strategy in place to compete in today’s online space. To get in front of potential customers, businesses must ensure that their website pages are properly optimized to appear in search results for relevant search queries. This also emphasizes the importance of creating relevant and quality content that aligns with search intents and user interests.
For businesses, ranking high in search engine results pages (SERPs) can not only generate more traffic, but also increase brand recognition, generate leads and cement themselves as credible authority sources.
[WebFX]
10 SEO Statistics about Conversion Rates
13. Mobile-optimized websites have a 64% higher conversion rate
Mobile optimization plays a crucial role in creating a positive user experience for mobile users, and this is reflected in the conversion rates of mobile-optimized websites. A study conducted by Google found that mobile-optimized websites have a 64% higher conversion rate compared to non-mobile-optimized websites.
This means that businesses that optimize their website for mobile are more likely to convert website visitors into leads or customers. A mobile-optimized website ensures that the website is easy to navigate, read and use while on-the-go, delivering speed and efficiency, resulting in visitors being more likely to convert. Moreover, not having a mobile-friendly website can negatively impact a businesses’ brand image and decrease the chances of visitors engaging with the website.
[Google]
14. Websites with a clear CTA have 121% higher conversion rates
Having a well-defined CTA that is prominently displayed on a website can motivate visitors to take action, leading to higher levels of engagement, and ultimately result in increased conversion rates. CTA’s should be visually prominent, compelling and easy to understand, explaining in clear terms what the visitor needs to do next, provide clarity of action, and foster trust.
15. Organic website visitors have a 4.31% conversion rate on average
Organic website visitors have a 4.31% average conversion rate, compared to a 3.04% average conversion rate for website visitors from other channels.
This statistic demonstrates the value of organic search engine optimization in attracting high-quality leads to a website. The approach provides site visitors that come to a website specifically looking for the services or products the business offers, significantly increasing the possibility for conversion.
[Invesp]
16. Fast page load speeds have a conversion rate 2% higher than slower websites
Website speed is a critically important factor for driving conversions. Slow loading times can decrease website engagement as users will become frustrated and leave before the content fully loads. Site speed can also affect user experience negatively, leading to fewer conversions as interested potential customers may be deterred or face difficulty navigating the website due to laggy performance.
Improving page-load speeds is critical in order to facilitate smooth website navigation and increase time spent on the site by visitors — both of which can lead directly towards higher conversion rates. Investing in optimization efforts such as reducing page size, caching assets, properly minifying html/css/js code can help build an overall more efficient and better performing website resulting in more conversions.
17. Personalized messaging on websites can improve conversion rates by up to 80%
Engaging in personalized messaging on websites is a great way to increase website conversions. According to research by HubSpot, personalized messages on websites can improve conversion rates by up to 80%.
Personalized messaging enables businesses and marketers to target specific audiences with tailored messages for maximum impact. By customizing messages based on user demographics or preferences, businesses can present the most relevant and compelling content to the potential customer, increasing the likelihood of conversion from that interaction.
18. A/B testing of landing pages can improve conversion rates by up to 300%
A/B testing is a methodology used to compare two versions of the same webpage in order to determine which version outperforms the other based on specific goals and metrics. By making small changes such as copy or design elements and then testing them against one another allows businesses to continuously optimize website performance for better overall results.
By running A/B tests, businesses can measure the efficacy of different page designs and make informed decisions about their webpages content layout that will improve user experience and increase website engagement. This ultimately leads towards an improved conversion rate as more people are exposed to tailored experiences that are optimized for their preferences and needs
[Unbounce]
19. Websites with a clear value proposition have 50% conversion rates
A value proposition is a statement that outlines the unique benefits of a product or service and how it solves customers’ problems. By clearly defining this aspect of your business on your website, users understand immediately what they can get out of engaging with you over your competitors.
Having a clear value proposition makes it easier for customers to trust in a product or service, making them more likely to take action such as signing up for newsletters, purchasing products or subscribing to services.
20. Showcasing customer reviews generates an average of 270% increase in conversion rates
Customer reviews and ratings are one of the most powerful marketing tools available to eCommerce sites. Research has proven that up to 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, making it a great way for businesses to gain credibility and trust among their customers.
By incorporating customer perspectives into product pages, users can have a better understanding of how the product works in reality, further boosting their confidence in purchasing the product or service.
21. Good SEO can produce conversion rates of up to 14.6%
Websites with good SEO can see an average conversion rate of up to 14.6%, compared to just 1.7% for websites without strong SEO.
Strong SEO also creates a better user experience for consumers. When users are provided with relevant and high-quality search results, they have a better understanding of what information they will find on the website, leading towards increased engagement levels and ultimately higher conversion rates.
[HubSpot]
22. The average conversion rate for e-commerce websites is around 2.86% globally
The average conversion rate for e-commerce websites is around 2.86% globally. This figure shows that businesses have to optimize their sites in order to ensure they stand out among competitors and increase their overall customer base.
E-commerce businesses need to ensure they are utilizing the right tactics and strategies to drive traffic to their website, as this leads towards increased engagement levels and higher conversions. Strategies such as optimizing product pages, using effective SEO techniques, creating personalized content, focusing on user experience and customer service can all help improve website performance and boost conversion rates over time.
[Woosuite]
10 SEO Statistics on User Behavior
23. 53% of organic search clicks go to the top three organic search results
This figure highlights the importance of having a strong SEO presence, as it can have an influence on the overall success of a website from both an engagement and conversion standpoint.
Businesses need to ensure they are making use of effective SEO techniques in order to maximize their chances of appearing higher in SERPs, such as optimizing for relevant keywords, creating quality content and leveraging backlinks.
24. 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search engines
Research has revealed that 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search engines, regardless of what they are searching for. This demonstrates how important it is for businesses to ensure their website appears on the first page of SERPs in order to maximize their chances of visibility and engagement.
[Forbes]
25. Sites that appear on the first page of SERPs are seen as more credible
Studies have revealed that sites that appear on the first page of search results are more likely to be seen as credible and trustworthy by users. This shows that the presence of strong SEO practices can be beneficial for businesses in terms of establishing an online presence and building consumer trust.
26. 70-90% of users ignore sponsored search results
Up to 90% of users ignore sponsored search results, preferring instead to focus solely on the organic search results when searching for information. This highlights the importance of ensuring a website’s SEO is in order and optimized for higher rankings, as this will increase visibility and engagement while also generating more traffic to the website itself.
27. The average user spends 17 seconds on a website before deciding whether to stay or leave
The statistic that the average user spends only 17 seconds on a website before deciding whether to stay or leave is a well-known and often cited figure in the realm of website user experience.
According to the research, users “often leave web pages in 10–20 seconds, but pages with a clear value proposition can hold people’s attention for much longer.”
It’s recommended that websites aim to clearly communicate their value proposition within the first 10 seconds of a user’s visit in order to increase the likelihood of the user staying on the site.
28. Pages that load in under two seconds have an average bounce rate of 9%
The statistics regarding page load times and bounce rates are commonly cited in discussions about website load times and user experience.
The specific numbers referenced above come from a blog post published by Google in 2018, though variations of these statistics have been cited in other studies as well.
Google reported in the blog post that “as page load time goes from one second to 10 seconds, the probability of a mobile site visitor bouncing increases by 123%.” They also noted that pages that load within two seconds have a bounce rate of 9%, while pages that take five seconds to load have a bounce rate of 38%.
29. Websites that appear higher in search engine rankings receive more traffic and have a higher chance of converting visitors into customers
The statement that websites that appear higher in search engine rankings receive more traffic and have a higher chance of converting visitors into customers is a widely accepted fact in the SEO industry. There have been numerous studies and research done to support this claim.
[Moz]
30. The more website visitors engage with a website, the more likely they are to return
A study by Forrester Research found that “visitors who had a positive experience with a website – whether it was from great content, a great search experience, or an overall great user experience – were”likely to return to the site (69%) and tell others about it (61%).”
These findings highlight the importance of engaging website visitors through effective content and user experience design in order to increase the likelihood of visitors returning to the site.
31. Organic search engine results are 8.5 times more likely to be clicked on than paid search results
The statistic that organic search engine results are 8.5 times more likely to be clicked on than paid search results is a well-known finding in the realm of search engine marketing. The specific number may vary depending on the study, but the general trend is consistent across multiple sources.
32. The first organic search result gets 31.7%of all clicks
A study that analyzed 5 million Google search results found that the first organic search result gets 31.7% of clicks.
Another study found that the first organic result receives 28.5% of all clicks, while the second result gets 15.7%, and the third result gets 11%.
These figures underscore the importance of securing a high ranking in organic search results, particularly with respect to the first few results, as they can drive a significant amount of traffic to a website.
10 Facts About SEO vs. PPC
33. Organic search results generate up to 8.5 times more clicks than paid advertisements
According to a study by New Media Campaigns, organic search results generate up to 8.5 times more clicks than paid advertisements. The study analyzed more than 1.5 billion search queries across multiple industries, and found that when users are presented with both paid and organic search results, they are much more likely to click on the organic results. This underscores the importance of not only implementing a strong SEO strategy to improve your organic search rankings, but also carefully considering the role of paid advertising in your overall marketing mix.
[New Media Campaigns]
34. The average CPC for paid advertisements has continued to rise over the past decade
The average cost for a click on a paid advertisement, also known as Cost-Per-Click (CPC), has risen over the past decade and is expected to increase further in the coming years.
This trend can be attributed to an increase in competition for keyword rankings and placement in SERPs.
35. SEO is more cost-effective than PPC in the long run as it generates long-lasting "free" traffic whereas PPC campaigns need continuous investment
According to a study conducted by HubSpot, SEO is more cost-effective than PPC in the long run as it generates long-lasting “free” traffic. While paid advertising campaigns like PPC can give you almost instant results, as soon as you stop investing money in the campaign, the traffic and leads stop coming in.
On the other hand, effective SEO can provide your website with long-lasting traffic and higher rankings, without the need for continuous investment.
[HubSpot]
36. Traffic from SEO is free, which means that every click, impression, or conversion can be attributed to the ROI generated from that traffic
A study conducted by BrightEdge found that traffic from SEO is “free”, meaning every click, impression, or conversion can be attributed to the ROI generated from that traffic. Unlike PPC traffic, which requires a continual investment to maintain traffic and leads, traffic from SEO is earned through the creation of quality content and effective optimization of website pages. This allows businesses to achieve sustainable organic growth while minimizing their advertising expenses.
37. Organic search results are viewed as more trustworthy and credible by consumers than paid search results
A study by Search Engine Journal found that organic search results are viewed as more trustworthy and credible by consumers than paid search results. The study indicated that organic search results are viewed by users as more relevant, authoritative and authentic than paid ads, which are perceived as being influenced by paid promotion. This underlines the importance of investing in SEO to improve your organic search rankings and brand credibility in the eyes of your target audience.
38. SEO allows businesses to target users that are actively searching for a specific product or service. PPC can be less targeted and attract less qualified clicks
According to a study, SEO allows businesses to target users that are actively looking for a specific product or service online, whereas PPC can be less targeted and attract less qualified clicks. Organic search results are driven by a user’s intent, meaning the user is actively searching for a product or service, and is more likely to convert into a customer. On the other hand, PPC campaigns rely on keywords and targeting settings to reach an audience, and often require more work to refine targeting settings and weeding out low-quality clicks.
39. SEO generates more traffic over the long term than PPC, which fades once the campaign is over
A study conducted by BrightEdge found that SEO generates more traffic over the long term than PPC, which fades once the campaign is over. While PPC campaigns can give you instant results, organic traffic from SEO can result in higher organic rankings for keywords, and more sustainable growth over a longer period of time, resulting in greater long-term value for businesses.
40. SEO can have a lasting impact on the website's online presence, which makes it a long-term and valuable investment in comparison to PPC
According to a report by Forbes, SEO requires continuous optimization and content creation, but can have a lasting impact on the website’s online presence, which makes it a long-term and valuable investment compared to PPC. Unlike PPC, where traffic stops as soon as the campaign ends, SEO’s ongoing optimization efforts can help a website maintain long-term search visibility and bring in a steady stream of organic traffic. SEO investments, therefore, have the potential to deliver long-term ROI.
[Forbes]
41. SEO leads have a 14.6% conversion rate on average, compared to 1.7% for traditional outbound marketing methods like print ads or direct mail
SEO leads have a 14.6% conversion rate on average, compared to 1.7% for traditional outbound marketing methods like print ads or direct mail. This significant difference in conversion rates is attributed to the fact that SEO targets individuals who are already showing purchase intent by searching for relevant keywords, whereas traditional outbound marketing methods typically target broader audiences. This highlights the importance of prioritizing SEO as a digital marketing strategy to increase conversions and drive business growth.
2023 SEO Trends
42. 12.3% of Search Queries Contain a Featured Snippet
According to a recent study, 12.3% of search queries contain a featured snippet, or “answer box,” which appears at the top of the organic search results. Featured snippets offer an additional opportunity for businesses to improve their visibility in the SERPs and help prospective customers find faster and more accurate answers to their questions.
Moreover, it can provide added context to potential customers since featured snippets often contain images, tables and summaries that cover relevant topics in-depth. This can create a more engaging user experience for potential customers who are looking for specific information about products, services or industry terms.
43. 50% of Search Queries Contain Over 4 Words
According to a recent study, 50% of search queries contain four or more words.
This illustrates the importance of businesses employing long-tail keyword strategies in their SEO campaigns in order to capture more of the market share. Long-tail keywords, which are phrases with three or more words, can help businesses reach a more targeted audience as it is much easier to narrow down relevant results with a longer phrase than with one or two words.
[Ahrefs]
44. Approximately 18% of Searchers Change Their Search Terms without Clicking on any Result
This indicates that the first results displayed by a search may not always be what the user is looking for, or that the user is unable to find the content they desire with their initial query.
[CXL]
It's Always A Good Time To Invest in SEO
In conclusion, the world of SEO is evolving faster than ever before.
As new technologies, search algorithms, and user behaviors emerge, businesses must stay attuned to the latest SEO statistics and trends in order to stay ahead of the curve.
By investing in SEO, businesses can gain a competitive edge by improving their search engine rankings, reaching more customers, and driving more conversions.
As digital marketers and business owners, it’s crucial to remain vigilant and ready to adapt to the latest changes in the SEO landscape to succeed. So, keep these SEO statistics and trends in mind as you shape your SEO strategy for the next few years, and reap the benefits of a well-optimized online presence.
