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17 Insightful SEO Statistics

Online presence is more important than ever. But just being online is not enough – you have to rank well to be noticed. SEO statistics show that websites that rank in the top five get more than two third of all clicks.

So, do you get there?

Good search engine optimization is the key.

Few things in this world have a mythical status that SEO enjoys. Bermuda Triangle and the building of the pyramids, maybe. But the good news is that its secrets can be revealed (SEO, not the Bermuda Triangle), and the first step is getting to know the SEO better through available data. And we are going to help you do that.

  • Google is the leading search engine — with almost 85% share
  • Websites that rank in the top five get 67.6% of all the clicks
  • 61% of B2B marketers say that SEO and organic traffic generate the most leads
  • Around 80% of people online use search engines to find local information
  • 88% of consumers will visit or call a store within a day of doing a local search
  • Almost 1 in 3 of all mobile searches are local
  • One-second delay during website load can mean a 20% drop in conversion

Latest Search Engine Optimization Statistics

1. July 2022 saw Google leading the search engine market with almost 85% share.

(Statista)

According to the latest data, the IT giant still holds the leading position, with 83.84%. Bing, the second-best ranked search engine is far behind, with 8.88%. However, if we take a closer look, we can see that Google is slightly declining over time while Bing is slowly rising.

Namely, near the end of 2018, Google had more than 90% of the market, while Bing was at 3.82%. SEO statistics by Statista show the difference is decreasing, but Bing is still far from endangering Google as a ruler of the search engine market.

2. Only 49% of the best-ranked pages get the most traffic.

(Ahrefs)

Being first is important but is not crucial for success. Namely, the top-ranking page gets the most traffic in only half of the searches. That’s because some web admins try to rank for the keyword, disregarding user intent. A person will click on the result that matches their search intent, not because it has great SEO.

3. SEO statistics show that websites that rank in the top five get 67.6% of all the clicks.

(Impact), (Backlinko)

This clearly shows that putting effort into SEO pays off. You can’t get traffic without ranking well. The best place to be is, without a doubt, number one in the Google Search Console. Pages that hold the first spot have the highest bounty, though – they get approximately 32% of the traffic.

4. 39% of marketers view keyword research as the most challenging part of search engine optimization, stats say.

(WebFX)

Keyword research and its proper implementation are one of the basics of on-page SEO. You could call it a foundation for all other work that comes later.

The searcher’s intent is the most important part of the keyword research, and it takes effort to get into the searcher’s mind. Sometimes, things that people type in and the things they are actually looking for are different.

5. According to B2B SEO statistics, 61% of marketers believe SEO and organic traffic generate the most leads.

(Intergrowth)

No matter how challenging SEO sometimes can be, devoting resources to do it properly pays off. Namely, almost two-thirds of B2B marketers claim SEO and organic traffic are better than any other marketing approach.

(Ahrefs)

One of the key factors in improving your SEO stats is link building. Google says that the more links a page has linking to it, the better it will rank. So, it is no wonder web admins spare no effort in getting them.

But getting a backlink for free is difficult and requires a unique approach and phenomenal content that’s unobtainable for most website owners. That’s why they resort to link buying, paid guest posting, and link exchange. The last two options are cheaper than link buying — the average cost of publishing a guest post is $77.8, and 73.6% of domains have reciprocal links.

Local SEO Statistics

7. Four in five people online use search engines to find local information.

(Hubspot)

The world is a global village, and we are connected to every part of the globe, but we live in our communities, and they matter to us the most. That’s why around 80% of consumers use search engines to find local information. The number of “near me” and “close by” searches grew by a whopping 900% over the past two years.

8. Local SEO stats show that 72% of people who did a local search visited a physical store if it was within five miles.

(Hubspot)

When people surf the internet, they scroll, inform themselves, look for ways to pass the time, etc. However, when doing a local search, they usually have a need to be satisfied. And, they will most probably visit the nearby store if they find what they are looking for.

According to the SEO statistics by Hubspot, more than two-thirds of consumers who do a local search will visit a store if it is in a five-mile radius. Furthermore, they take the information they find online quite seriously — 97% of people use online sources to get information about local companies.

(Hubspot)

This perfectly shows how local SEO is vital in increasing traffic and sales. Furthermore, the customers come in with preexisting knowledge about products and services, which reduces the need for further assistance. In turn, this shortens the time between entering and buying, and the staff can service a lot more customers.

10. Local SEO stats show that almost 1 in 3 of all mobile searches are local

(Search Engine Journal)

We are using our smartphones more than ever, and that trend will continue. A mobile-optimized website with good local SEO is essential, as 2 out of 3 smartphone users say they are more likely to buy from businesses with websites and apps with customized local information and maps to the physical location.

11. 28% of visits after local searches result in a purchase.

(Search Engine Journal)

Almost one out of every three people visiting businesses after an online search become customers. That’s because they come in with their minds already made up. They’ve done the research, and now they are looking to finalize the purchase of the product or service.

12. B2B SEO statistics show that 89% of B2B researchers get their information about potential business partners from the internet

(Backlinko)

Word of mouth and traditional offline publications are losing the battle against the much faster (and more trustworthy, apparently) internet. It is simple — traditional sources offer just one point of view, and you can find thousands of opinions and experiences online.

SEO and good UX are essential for presenting your company to your B2B clients properly because they only visit one page per search on average.

SEO Statistics 2022

13. Compared to digital advertising, SEO can reduce the cost of customer acquisition (CAC) by 87.41%.

(Terakeet)

A study by Terakeet has shown that by adequately utilizing SEO strategies and procedures, companies can reduce the cost of getting new clients by roughly nine times.

14. One-second delay during website load can mean a 20% drop in conversion.

(Safary Digital)

2022 Google data shows that website loading speed is essential, particularly on mobile devices. The cut-off load time there is 5 seconds. People are always rushing, even on the internet, and if the website is slow to load, they will not wait.

According to SEO stats, sites that take more than five seconds to load on mobile have a 70% longer session rate than sites that take less than five seconds.

15. Technical SEO is no1 on the SEO managers’ priority list

(Search Engine Journal)

A survey that included more than 3,600 SEO professionals showed that in 2022 they are dedicating most time to:

  • Technical SEO – 15.0% 
  • SEO strategy and planning – 13.5%
  • Keyword research – 13.5%
  • On-page SEO -12.9%

They also believe this trend will continue in 2023. Businesses may be refocusing on technical SEO because of Google updates that prioritize website speed, stability and security. Another reason is the enormous growth of digital channels and their interconnectivity.

16. Video SEO statistics say that 68.2% of the top 10 videos on YouTube are HD quality.

(Backlinko)

Videos are slowly taking over the top positions in SERPs for many search queries. But it is not enough to have a video – quality is essential. Namely, the number of views, shares, likes and comments strongly correlates with higher YouTube and SERP rankings.

17. A surprising 29% of SEO professionals were undecided (neither satisfied nor dissatisfied) – about their SEO results in 2022

(Search Engine Journal)

SEO is constantly changing, and it is up to SEO professionals to adapt. Like in any trial-and-error process, there are hits and misses. Only 13.7% of SEO professionals were completely satisfied, 47.6% were satisfied, and almost 10% were disappointed by the results.

Recapping SEO Statistics for 2022

If you want to be noticed online, Google is your best choice, as it accounts for more than 85% of the search engine market. And to get on its good side, good SEO is essential. Paid marketing campaigns can drain your budget and need constant investment to work, while SEO requires a more considerable initial investment, with the costs dropping later. 

In the long run, there is a vast difference in cost. Let’s not forget the most important thing – there is a massive difference between the quality of leads created through SEO and paid marketing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Google SEO Statistics

How effective is SEO according to statistics?

Statistics say that SEO is very effective in getting traffic, qualified leads and sales. 61% of B2B marketers claim that SEO and organic traffic generate the most leads. They outperform any other marketing channel. A study conducted by Terakeet showed that, compared to digital advertising, SEO could reduce the cost of customer acquisition (CAC) by 87.41%.

Why are SEO stats important?

SEO requires a lot of effort because of Google’s constant core updates. These statistics give us an insight into other businesses and their experiences. It is better to learn from someone else’s mistakes than your own. If your website is not optimized to get some of the search traffic, you will miss out on a significant amount of potential income. Traffic doesn’t guarantee conversions and revenue, but it is a starting point.

Is SEO still relevant in 2022?

Yes, SEO is still relevant in 2022, and it will be in the years to come. It is the best way to get organic traffic and scalable earnings. Compared to paid advertising, it brings cheaper traffic. It allows you to invest in transforming visitors into buyers instead of spending all your money on simply getting them to your website. However, SEO is changing, and professionals now focus more on technical SEO. This trend will probably continue because the latest Google updates show it prioritizes speed, stability and safety.

What is SEO data analytics?

SEO data is information related to page rank, impressions, traffic, and other similar topics directly linked to SEO. SEO data analytics is a method of collecting and analyzing data to understand a specific website’s organic performance better. This data also helps SEO professionals find ways to improve that performance.

How much traffic can I get from SEO?

The amount of traffic you can get through SEO is practically unlimited. However, it depends on your positioning in SERPs and the subject’s popularity. Traffic-wise, it is different being No1 for a topic with millions of searches per day and something a few people search for. When people are interested in some product or service (or some topic in general), they will first go to the internet. SEO statistics show websites that rank in the top five get 67.6% of all clicks, so investing in SEO is a good decision.