48 SEO Statistics to Help You Rank Higher in 2023

There are not many people out there who consider themselves experts on the topic of SEO. In order to help you get a step closer to becoming one, below we collected some SEO statistics to help you understand and apply SEO in 2023. Let’s get ourselves familiar with the basics first:

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the act of influencing the online visibility of a website in a search engine’s unpaid results. Organic results are the main drive for ecommerce success and not only.

The main goal of SEO is to increase the traffic of the website or a web page, and the most commonly used method to achieve this goal is by ensuring the texts published on the website include commonly searched terms or keywords.

Sweet SEO Statistics

The following stats stand out when it comes to SEO:

• 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine.
• Second Page results are clicked on by 0.63% of Google searches.
• Google has 91.07% of the search engine market while Bing accounted for 3% and Yahoo was 2.87%.
• Organic search generates 53.3% of all website visitors.
• 69% of digital traffic is from local and organic searches.
• 86% say video helped them increase traffic.
• 27% of mobile users prefer voice search or a search engine app.
• 64% of marketers notice a rise in SEO effectiveness.
• Search engines drive 300% more traffic to content sites than social media.
• 21% of users access more than one of the search results.

SEO has become a necessary skill for everyone working online, especially for writers and publishers. Even those who are looking to advertise online need more than a basic grasp of the skill.

General Search Engine Statistics

Google is the largest playground for SEO specialists. It dominates the global search market and dictates the rules of engagement.

1. 68% of online activities start with a search engine.

(Source: SEJ)

Another piece of statistics that goes in favor of investing in proper SEO is that 68% of all website visits start with a search engine. Ranking your page high on the list of relevance for a particular search term can prove to be more important and useful than any form of advertising.

2. 0.63% of Google searches are clicked on the second page of results. 

(Source: Backlinko)

It is highly likely that searchers will change their query instead of clicking through to lower-ranking content on Google when more than 4 million search results are returned; as what they need is usually displayed on the first page.

3. Google holds nearly 85% of the search engine market as of 2022.

(Source: Statista)

Google is the most used search engine in the world. As of June 2022, it holds a staggering 83.6% of the global search engine market. According to 2022 SEO stats, Microsoft-owned Bing comes second with 8.8%. Yahoo! is third with a 2.5% piece of the pie.

4. 96% of mobile search traffic is done using Google.

(Source: HubSpot)

Searching using Google is even more prominent among smartphone users, mobile SEO stats show. Data shows that 96% of all mobile searches are conducted using Google search, while Bing is the distant runner-up. A few percents of participants and just over 100,000 people use the official Bing search app.

5. Apple's Safari is the most popular mobile browser among US users in 2023.

(Source: Statista)

As of January 2023, Apple’s Safari holds 52.93% of the US mobile browser market. Google Chrome comes second with a 40.91% share, while Samsung Internet is a distant third with 3.5%. 

Mobile Browser Market Share US

6. 8 in 10 people ignore sponsored search results.

(Source: Inter Growth)

Most users ignore sponsored results on search engines. This begs the question: Is it really beneficial to pay Google to rank your website? 

Google page statistics show that up to 86% of sponsored search results are skipped. In most cases, seeing a sponsored site sparks distrust towards the brand. It just might be more beneficial to have your website rank organically.

7. A 40% drop in internet traffic was seen when Google went down.

(Source: CNET)

Google experienced an outage in 2013. It lasted for less than five minutes, but its impact was significant.

 During the five minutes that Google was down, a 40% drop in global internet traffic was noticed, indicating how dependent we are on this search engine to take us to other websites.

8. 21% of users access more than one of the search results.

(Source: MoZ)

Roughly, every fifth user clicks on more than one of the search results, either because they haven’t found what they were looking for or to double check the information presented on the first page visited, 2020 SEO stats tell us.

This shows that ranking your page first isn’t a necessity, and even those ranked lower on the list can get plenty of visits. Remember that some users also find the aesthetic appearance relevant and some of them will probably click through more results in order to find one that visually appeals to them.

9. Search engines drive 300% more traffic to content sites than social media.

(Source: Ironpaper)

Even though we consider social media to be the main driving force behind everything that happens online, search engines have them beaten in one category:

SEO statistics indicate that searches drive up to 300% more traffic to content sites than social media, once again showing the importance of optimizing your content for searches.

10. 54.4% of users click on one of the top three search results.

(Source: SEJ)

After they’ve scrolled past the ads, most of those searching for something online will click on one of the top three results. Having your page shown in one of those spots isn’t necessary, but it definitely helps with traffic to your website.

11. 50% of searches are four words or longer.

(Source: HubSpot)

Internet search statistics can sometimes demonstrate just how inefficient we are at googling.

50% of all searches are longer than four words, and they can most commonly be shortened. Most people will search for complete terms, such as what’s the weather like in LA, instead of typing simply weather LA.

Those dealing with SEO need to take this into account, no matter how infuriated they might feel about it.

12. As of January 2022, there are 246 million Google users in the US.

(Source: Review42)

There are currently 246 million Google users in the US alone. This is over 75% of the country’s population.

13. Pages ranked in the top 10 results for any keyword have about 1,890 words on average.

(Source: MonsterInsights)

As of February 2022, the average word count for the top 10 search results for any keyword is 1,890. This means that Google’s algorithm prioritizes long-form content. Also, pages with over 1,000 words are more likely to have more shares than shorter ones.

14. Google’s algorithm changes more than 500 times per year.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Google SEO insights indicate it’s basically impossible to master the art and science that SEO has become, considering the fact that Google implements over 500 changes per year. The changes most often don’t change drastically the way pages are ranked.

15. 20% of Google searches are searched for the first time.

(Source: Internet live stats)

Up to a fifth of all Google searches have never been conducted before. The way that the search engine is able to find what we’re looking for is by going through millions of search precedents established in the algorithm.

Local SEO Statistics for Businesses

Local searches expand quickly as smartphone usage and applications grow.

16. 4 in 5 consumers use search engines to find local information.

(Source: Google)

Every fifth consumer isn’t interested in finding local info using a search engine, while 75% of consumers search for local stores, events, and locations on their phones, computers, or tablets.

17. 50% of mobile users visit a store after conducting a local search.

(Source: Google)

Local searches happen daily. These searches’ goal is to find things near the users’ location. They can be used to find directions to local stores, as well as their business hours and inventory. As such, optimizing for local searches becomes an intrinsic part of many m-commerce marketing efforts.

Local SEO stats show that 50% of consumers who conduct a local search visit the store found within a day. This piece of data refers to smartphone users. The number drops to 34% when it comes to desktop and tablet users.

18. 28% of local searches lead to a purchase.

(Source: 99firms)

If a user is searching for something on Google, there's often an intention to purchase. As a result, it's estimated that around one-third of all searches end with a transaction. The location also plays an important role in this, as customers are less likely to be worried about the product's whereabouts if they don't plan to buy it.

19. 71% of consumers prefer ads customized to their location.

(Source: Small Biz Genius)

Research shows that most consumers prefer ads relevant to their location. This is hardly surprising as ads that are targeted at users’ close neighbourhoods, ZIP codes, or cities tend to be more useful.

20. 53% of consumers search for business hours among local information.

(Source: Google)

SEO facts and figures derived from local searches include the information that business hours of nearby businesses account for 54% of all local searches. 53% of consumers search for directions to local stores, while 45% of them want to find out more about the availability of products in local stores.

Incorporating these pieces of data into the “online business card”, so to speak, will definitely improve in-store traffic from the locals.

21. 51% of smartphone users have discovered a new company through search.

(Source: HubSpot)

More than half of all smartphone users reported discovering a new business or a product while searching online for something else, SEO stats show. Websites that are optimized for mobile use, in both SEO and compatibility sense, are far more likely to gain new visitors that happen upon the website on accident.

22. 53% of smartphone consumers search for local information from home.

(Source: Google)

While the statistic that 76% of laptop and desktop consumers search for local information from the comfort of their home is not a giant shock, info that more than half of smartphone users do the same might be.

Search engine traffic stats show that 53% of smartphone users search for local information from home, 51% search while in transit, and 41% of them search while they are in the store.

23. 92% of consumers will pick a business on the first page of local search results.

(Source: SEO Expert)

Just how important local SEO is for businesses is best shown by the fact that 92% of consumers will choose a business listed on the first page of results of a local search. Optimizing their page for local searches is probably the best strategic move for small businesses that depend on in-store purchases.

24. 46% of Google searches are local.

(Source: Main Street ROI)

Search engine optimization statistics say that 46% of all Google searches have local geographical parameters. The importance of optimizing business websites accordingly cannot be overstated.

25. 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

(Source: Search Engine Land)

Having your business’s positive online reviews front and center can aid the in-store traffic. This applies for both online and physical stores, as 88% of shoppers trust online reviews as much as they trust recommendations from family and friends.

26. Local searches are growing 50% faster than mobile searches.

(Source: Search Engine Land)

Local SEO statistics for 2022 show that the growth of local searches is 50% faster than overall mobile search growth. There’s little wonder why Google keeps emphasizing the importance of local map ads. It won’t be surprising to see an increase in local map ads in the near future.

27. Mobile advertising spending is expected to hit 399.6 billion by 2024.

(Source: Statista, Fortune India)

Current advertising trends depict the speedy growth of mobile advertising and the decline of TV adverts. By the end of 2022, it’s estimated that digital ads will account for 45% of overall ad spending, while TV and print would have 39% and 12% shares, respectively.

28. Mobile searches for store hours spike on Christmas Day.

(Source: Think with Google)

As mentioned before, users most commonly search for store location. However, Christmas Day is the time when store hours are the most searched items. Having this info displayed is a must for every business, especially on days when people need to buy presents for family members they completely forgot about.

29. 82% of consumers look for negative reviews.

(Source: Spiegel)

Search engine marketing stats claim that 82% of users search for negative online reviews of the business or service they are planning on visiting or using. Customers take negative reviews very seriously, and even one can impact the business negatively.

Services such as Yelp are a common source of this type of information, and they often offer to remove negative reviews for a fee. Avoiding negative reviews is, of course, much better, but as a last resort some business owners will gladly take the deal Yelp is offering.

30. 53% of marketers say blogging is their content marketing priority.

(Source: OptinMonster)

2022 blogging SEO stats show that blogging is a priority for more than half of online marketers. The medium has been a popular marketing method for years now. And this stat proves that it’ll probably retain its top position in the future too.

31. Mobile devices influenced $1.4 trillion in local sales in 2022.

(Source: MarTech)

We cannot stress the importance of mobile d*-evices enough. They already play a major role in the online show, and their significance is expected to grow over time. SEO stats 2022 show that mobile devices drove $1.4 trillion in local sales.

SEO Statistics and Tips

SEO is a blend of science and art. Since Google doesn't reveal exactly how it ranks sites, SEO specialists theorize, strategize, test, and invent ways to capture the users' attention.

32. Paid search advertising is 5.66 times less successful than SEO.

(Source: Safaridigital)

Using SEO has proved to be the most effective digital marketing strategy, as users often find more trust and reliability in organic results than in ads that Google serves. Consumers are also able to distinguish between sponsored results, which have typically been bought, from those earned through successful search engine optimization techniques.

In the coming years, this trend is expected to increase with 70% of marketers believing that SEO outperforms PPC advertising.

33. Updating old posts with new images and content can increase traffic by over 100% for bloggers.

(Source: Impact)

Bloggers can generate more organic traffic by simply updating their old posts with SEO-friendly content and new images.

SEO stats for bloggers predict that organic traffic can be increased by up to 111% this way.

34. Using the word because in outreach emails can increase the response rate by 45%.

(Source: Backlinko)

Adding just one word to your outreach emails can increase your response rate by up to 45%, according to a Harvard University research.

The research found that 89% of people would let a stranger cut in line in front of them if they explained why they need to by using the word because.

Explaining why your service is necessary by using the word because early on in outreach emails has the same psychological effect, leading to a potential 45% increase in response rate.

SEO and Social Media Trending

Social networks follow the logic of their own but optimizing your social media content for search engines is never a bad idea.

35. SEO is also important for YouTube videos.

(Source: Forbes)

Forbes SEO statistics point to the importance of SEO for YouTubers.

In order to increase the odds of Google showing their video as one of the top responses to a keyword search, YouTubers should start adding meaningful text descriptions to their videos.

The algorithm has no way to analyze the video yet, so it relies on the text provided. The text should be at least 200 words long and it needs to include common search terms.

36. The ideal length of the video on youtube is 5 to 15 minutes.

(Source: SocialMediaToday)

Different social media platforms have their own target audiences and different video requirements, so it's important to follow the recommended video lengths for each platform.

Social Media with ideal time length

37. 48% of consumers are using voice technology for general search queries.

(Source: Searchengineland)

Almost half of the users utilize voice search technology to find answers quickly to general questions online. As mentioned above, speaking is often much faster than typing, so this trend is to be expected.

SEO and Site Speed

Loading speed doesn't impact SEO directly all that much, but a slow site can ruin users' experience. In turn, disgruntled visitors will affect the ranking of any site.

38. The average load speed for top-ranking sites is 1.9s.

(Source: GR8 Services)

Top results share one thing in common: they are extremely fast to load. It takes an average of 1900 milliseconds, or 1.9 seconds, for them to load. The websites that are ranked 10 and below are usually 17% slower to load. Investing in infrastructure can prove to be as important as SEO.

39. The average mobile site loads in 19 seconds.

(Source: Hobo Web)

The average time it takes a site to load fully on mobile via a 3G connection is 19 seconds. This info is devastating for webmasters, especially when we consider that 53% of users abandon a page if it loads for more than 3 seconds.

40. 53% of users will leave the page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load.

(Source: Google)

Mobile pages that take more than 3 seconds to load will be abandoned by 53% of users. Google says that pages taking 10 seconds to load have 123% higher bounce rates compared to those that take less than 5 seconds to load.

SEO Strategies

A lot of SEO practices are educated guesses, but there are certain facts that cannot be denied.

41. Most #1 pages get about 5% to 14.5% of new backlinks monthly.

(Source: Backlinko)

Budding 2022 SEO stats explored the importance of backlinks in search rankings. Results show that having more links on-page helps your website rank higher. Moreover, the first 10 results typically have 6 times more links than sites on other pages.

42. The first result on Google was clicked in 28.5% of 2020 searches.

(Source: Backinko, WiredSEO)

SEO statistics highlight a drop in clicks on the first search result. Just a year earlier, the top organic Google page had a click-through rate of 31.7%.

43. Just 7% of users will go to the third page of search results.

(Source: Omnicore)

Even though ranking number one is not that important, landing your page on one of the first two pages is.

Statistics on search engines show indicate that just 7% of users ever visit the third page of search results.

44. 89% of online purchasers used SERPs to make their decision.

(Source: Dezzain)

According to recent SEO statistics, search engine optimization is crucial for finding new customers. Organic searches are the main revenue source for a vast majority of e-commerce stores and business owners.

B2B SEO Statistics

45. Google currently holds 71.98% of the search engine market share, so it's important to familiarize yourself with Google and its guidelines in order to ensure that you can optimize your content for maximum visibility.

(Source: B2bdigitalmarketers)

46. 53.3% of website traffic comes from organic search.

(Source: Entrepreneur)

While you may think investing in Google and Facebook ads is the best way to reach a wider audience, organic search rankings can be just as powerful - if not more - at a much lower cost. 

Conclusion

It is a sad truth that most of us will never become SEO experts, as its complexity is such that it can take a lifetime for you to even scratch the surface. Having some insight into the algorithm’s inner workings definitely helps, but that is not information available to the public and most of us can only dream about accessing it.

Determination and will are, however, a magical thing that can lead us to do the impossible. It’s not all bad news after all.

You can use the above SEO statistics to enhance your understanding of search engine optimization, as well as your web presence and business.