What are striking distance keywords?

Striking distance keywords are search queries a page already ranks for just below the positions that get most of the clicks, commonly defined as positions 4 to 20 (bottom of page one and page two). Google already considers the page relevant, so a focused improvement can move it into the top three, where clicks multiply.

Why focus on striking distance keywords?

Moving from position 15 to 5 is usually far easier than ranking a new page from nothing, and the payoff is large because click-through rates rise steeply near the top. It is one of the best uses of limited time for a small site. The term is industry slang, not a Google metric; the exact range varies by tool.

How do you find them?

1. In Search Console, open Performance, then Search results, and turn on Average position.
2. Group by query, filter position from 4 to 20, and sort by impressions.
3. Skip branded queries and ones that don’t fit the page’s purpose.
4. Note which page ranks for each query (the Pages tab, with the query filter applied).

How do you push them up?

• Put the query, or its natural wording, in the title and main heading.
• Add the section the page is missing: the answer, comparison or detail that the top results have.
• Link to the page from related pages with descriptive anchor text (internal linking).
• Refresh outdated facts and dates.

Example

A page about kayak storage ranks 9th for “how to store a kayak in winter” with 1,800 impressions a month and almost no clicks. Adding a clear winter section with steps and linking to it from the kayak buying guide can lift it onto the top half of page one.

SEO Rank Fixer finds these queries in your Search Console data every night (positions 4 to 20, brand terms excluded) and ranks them by the clicks a top three spot would add. Related: average position, impressions.