10 Crazy SEO Statistics You Have to Read

Search engine optimisation (SEO). Whether you’re a newcomer or a battle-hardened veteran, you will be aware the SEO landscape is vivid and complex, and traversing it requires the right set of tools and guidance. For the latter, mapping out an effective, refined SEO strategy can be helped significantly by studying data-backed insights.

That’s where this guide will help.

We haven’t just compiled any old statistics. These are crazy SEO statistics you simply must read. Below are 10 eye-opening SEO statistics that help to better understand the current search environment in 2023 and what is required to boost the success levels of your current marketing plan.

Let’s get started!

#1: A Search Engine Is The Starting Point For 68% Of Experiences Online

When it comes to statistics you can’t ignore, this one is right at the top of the list. You might read some naysayers argue that SEO is dead in 2023. Well, show them this little detail to put an end to that viewpoint.

As revealed in research by BrightEdge, 68% of online experiences have the same starting point: a search engine. That’s more than 2/3 who visit Google or another search platform to find what they seek while on the internet. That means to ensure your business provides the answer to relevant enquiries, your SEO efforts have to be in tip-top shape.

Bonus statistic: Google takes up the lion’s share of these searches. Statista notes that, as of the end of 2022, Google received over 84% of desktop searches. Bing was second with nearly 9%, while Yahoo had 2.6%. The result: your main focus should be on Google and its SEO guidelines.

#2: Mobile Devices Make Up 59% Of Global Website Traffic

Statista is back with another juicy statistic. According to their research for the 4th quarter of 2022, 59.16% of website traffic was generated through mobile devices.

Mobile traffic having a bigger market share than desktop is not a new trend. It first took the majority back in 2017. What it does demonstrate, however, is how mobile continues to grow into a dominant force. At the start of 2015, its share of worldwide website traffic sat above 31%. Mobile then climbed to 50.03% in just 2 years, while it is now close to having 60% of the pie at present.

Due to this, it’s essential you place an emphasis on mobile traffic with your SEO efforts. A mobile-friendly website has been a must for a long time at this stage. Make sure to use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to see if your site is up to standard.

#3: 95% Of Webpages Have No Backlinks

When ranking the most important SEO factors, the top 2 places are filled by high-quality crafted content and backlinks. Yet Backlinko analysed almost 12 million Google search results, and their findings uncovered that around 95% of webpages receive no backlinks pointing back to their content.

That’s not good for their hopes of reaching the first page of search results.

This is evident based on the number of backlinks that the top-ranking pages receive. Backlinko also notes that, when matched up against all other pages in the top 10, the number 1 page for a search enquiry has 3.8 times more backlinks on average.

#4: Location-related Enquiries Are Made By 93% Of Consumers

Every small business, particularly one with a physical location that can be visited, should zone in on local SEOLocal SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank on the 1st page of Google for a search term and geographic location that is relevant to your business.. Why? Well, just look at that statistic. 93% of consumers – close to nearly every internet user – will try and find local businesses with an online search.

These searches are typically not only done once in a blue moon, either. Local business searches are done on a weekly basis by 73% of consumers, while 34% will do it on a day-by-day basis.

#5: Featured Snippets Appear For 19% Of Keywords

Semrush notes that approximately 19% of keywords now include a featured snippetA featured snippet is a search result that is specially formatted to include a summary of the answer, extracted from a web page. in Google search results. As you likely know, the featured snippet appears in a prominent, standalone position at the top of search results pages.

This point, combined with so many keywords that now have featured snippets, demonstrates the importance of trying to target this section with your SEO efforts.

#6: The Number 1 Google Search Is Not What You Think

“Cricbuzz” is the number 1 global search on Google. Not what you were expecting, right? Note: Cricbuzz is a cricket news website where fans of the sport can follow live scores. While these global results from Ahrefs are not the most informative for your own SEO strategy, they do highlight 2 main points.

Firstly, general queries such as “weather” and brand names like “Facebook” and “Amazon” will always take centre stage – and that’s why general keywords for your industry will always be the most competitive. Secondly, as the appearance of “Wordle” in the top 10 demonstrates, trends can crop up fast, have lasting appeal, and be a savvy target for your SEO plan.

#7: 1,447 Words Is The Average Word Count For Pages On Google’s First Page

On-page optimisation requires an assortment of elements for success. High-quality content is a must, obviously, but it is also highly recommended to pump up the word count. This is due to more research done by Backlinko. Their work has uncovered that if a page ends up on the first page of Google, the word count for this page is at an average of approximately 1,447 words.

Of course, this can fluctuate significantly depending on the industry and competitiveness for keywords. What this statistic demonstrates, however, is that long-form content is something that is greatly appreciated by Google.

#8: A Website That Takes Longer Than 3 Seconds To Load Loses 53% Of Visitors

When you think about the value of SEO, it is easy to focus on keywords, content production, and backlinks. This can see you overlook the necessity of technical SEO. Although as this statistic shows, it’s something you must pay close attention to with your website.

Because it’s true: a slow-loading website can ruin your chances of retaining visitors and making those conversions. Actually, it doesn’t even have to be that slow – a 3-second delay will see 53% of people abandon your site. That may not seem that long, but for impatient internet users that expect instant results, it is an eternity.

#9: “General Web Searches” By Voice Are Being Made By 48% Of Users

Another element that is easy to overlook is the power of voice search. Although voice searches are on the rise – as this statistic demonstrates. 48% of users perform “general web searches” by voice. Now, this could be for something as simple as getting the answer to a question, but the convenience of voice searches is understandably appealing.

To be in with a chance of being the answer for a voice search, you will have to adjust your SEO strategy. For instance, many answers are taken from Google’s featured snippet, while a voice search result is generally under 30 words in length.

#10: 47% Of Small Businesses Do Not Invest In SEO

Based on findings from Visual Objects, only 53% of small businesses are currently investing in SEO. There are numerous reasons why this is the case. They could feel the market is too competitive when going up against the big players in their industry, for instance, or their focus could be on other marketing avenues.

However, take it from us: it’s definitely worth your time to invest in SEO due to the long-term benefits available!

Conclusion

With the above SEO statistics for 2023, you should have a more clear picture of the current – and future – landscape of SEO. If you’d like any further advice, make sure to check out our other blog content. You can also get in touch if you require any hands-on assistance with your SEO campaign.