---
title: "What Are Striking Distance Keywords? | Kihan Marketing"
description: "Striking distance keywords are searches a page ranks for just off page one. How to find them in Search Console and move them up, with a roofing example."
url: https://kihanmarketing.com/glossary/striking-distance-keywords/
published: 2026-10-16
updated: 2026-10-16
author: "Atisam Elahi"
---

# Striking Distance Keywords

Searches you almost rank for, and how to move them up

Striking distance keywords are searches a page already ranks for just off the first page of Google, usually at average positions from about 8 to 20 in Search Console. They are often the quickest gains in SEO: the page is already relevant, so a clearer heading, a better answer or a few internal links can move it onto page one.

By [Atisam Elahi](https://kihanmarketing.com/atisam/), SEO Strategist

## Why do striking distance keywords matter for a roofer?

Because a roofer's site often ranks on page two for the exact jobs it wants: "roof replacement" plus a town, "storm damage roof repair", "metal roof installer". Page two gets very few clicks. Moving a handful of those searches up a few places is usually faster than ranking a new page from nothing.

For example, a roofer's Search Console shows its roof replacement page at position 12 for "roof replacement" plus a nearby town, with steady impressions and almost no clicks. The page mentions the town once, in the footer. Adding a short section on roof replacement in that town, a heading that uses the phrase, and links from the town's own page gives Google a clear reason to move it up.

## How do you find and work striking distance keywords?

1. **Open Search Console.** In Performance, set the last 3 months and show clicks, impressions and average position.
2. **Filter to positions 8 to 20.** Export the queries, then keep those with an average position between about 8 and 20.
3. **Sort by impressions.** The searches with the most impressions are worth the most if they move.
4. **Check the page against the search.** Make sure the ranking page answers the search's intent, then improve the heading, the first answer and the internal links.
5. **Change one page at a time.** Wait two to three weeks before judging, so you know which change moved it.

## Related terms

- **Search intent.** [What the searcher wants](https://kihanmarketing.com/glossary/search-intent/), the first thing to check on a page that stalls.
- **Conversion rate.** The [share of visitors who act](https://kihanmarketing.com/glossary/conversion-rate/), which decides whether a new click is worth the effort.
- **Local pack.** The [map results](https://kihanmarketing.com/glossary/local-pack/) that sit above the organic results for local searches.

Finding and moving these searches is a regular part of our [SEO](https://kihanmarketing.com/services/seo/) work, and for contractors of [roofing SEO](https://kihanmarketing.com/roofing-marketing/roofing-seo/).

## Keep reading

- [SEO and AI Search](https://kihanmarketing.com/services/seo/): Search work judged by where you rank.
- [Roofing SEO](https://kihanmarketing.com/roofing-marketing/roofing-seo/): Roofing SEO services: a page for every service and suburb, the Google Business Profile, project pages and technical SEO, with an Austin roofer as the case study.
- [Search Intent](https://kihanmarketing.com/glossary/search-intent/): What a person wants when they search, and how a page has to match it.