Query Counting for SEO: Track Keyword Visibility with SEO Gets
Discover how SEO Gets' query counting feature helps you track total keyword visibility beyond GSC's 1,000 query limit. Monitor algorithm impacts, content performance, and SEO growth with comprehensive query data.
What Is Query Counting?
Query counting is tracking how many different search queries generated impressions for your site on any given day. Simple, right? But don’t let that simplicity fool you.
While traditional metrics like clicks and impressions show you how many eyeballs and visitors you’re getting, query counting reveals the width of your visibility — essentially, how wide a net your website casts in search results.
For example, if I look at April 20th in my Search Console, I can see there were 220 queries that generated impressions. If I select that date and check the total rows available, I’ll see that same number.
Why Query Counting Changes Everything
Here’s what makes query counting so valuable: it doesn’t always correlate with your other metrics (clicks, impressions, etc).
Sometimes you’ll see your query count increase while your clicks and impressions decrease. Other times, your clicks might grow while your query count falls. These patterns tell you different stories about what’s happening with your site’s SEO.
One important note: Search Console doesn’t show you all your queries. Due to Google’s anonymization of certain searches, you’re typically only seeing 60-70% of your actual data. That’s why we focus on trends rather than exact numbers.
How To Set Up Query Counting
You can track query counting for free in Search Console, but there’s a limitation — you can only see up to 1,000 queries. For sites ranking for more than 1,000 queries (which is common for growing websites), you’ll need an API solution like SEO Gets.
With SEO Gets, query counting is built right into your performance dashboard. Next to your branded and non-branded metrics, you’ll see your total query counts broken down by ranking position, so you can instantly see not just how many queries you’re ranking for, but how many are in those coveted top positions.
Three Query Counting Scenarios (And What They Mean For Your SEO)
Let me walk you through three common patterns you’ll encounter and how to interpret them:
1. Growth in Queries AND Clicks/Impressions
This is the golden scenario. When you see your query count rising alongside clicks and impressions, it means:
- Your SEO efforts are paying off
- You’re creating quality content that’s ranking for new topics
- You’re expanding your topical authority
- Your site is healthy and growing
This pattern shows you’re not just getting more traffic — you’re expanding your visibility across a wider range of search terms.
2. Clicks Up, Query Count Down
This interesting pattern often confuses SEOs. How can you be getting more clicks while ranking for fewer queries?
When I break down these situations by ranking positions, I usually see that:
- Positions 1-3 are stable or growing
- Most of the decline comes from positions 4-10 and 11-20
There are several possible explanations:
- Seasonality: The same core topics are generating more interest (like snow gear in winter)
- Brand growth: You’re not ranking for more branded terms, but each branded term is driving more clicks
- Ranking improvements: Google is showing you for fewer queries but ranking you higher for the ones that matter most
In this scenario, I recommend examining which terms you’ve lost visibility for. The intent probably doesn’t match your current content, so you might need to create new content targeting those specific queries.
This is where SEO Gets’ Striking Distance report becomes invaluable — it shows you the queries you were ranking on page two for, which could be perfect candidates for new, targeted content.
3. Query Count Up, Clicks Stagnant or Down
When you’re ranking for more queries but not getting more clicks, it typically means:
- Google is showing you for more topics
- Your page doesn’t answer those queries well enough to earn the click
This scenario requires careful analysis of the new queries you’re ranking for. You need to decide whether to:
- Enhance your existing page to better address these queries
- Create new, dedicated content that specifically targets these terms
Making The Most of Query Counting
Query counting isn’t just about tracking numbers — it’s about identifying opportunities and making data-driven decisions.
When I notice significant changes in my query counts, I immediately look for:
- Patterns in the types of queries gained or lost
- Shifts in ranking positions across different query groups
- Opportunities to create content for queries I’m getting impressions for but not clicks
The beauty of query counting is that it gives you both the forest and the trees — a high-level overview of your site’s visibility with the ability to drill down into specific query patterns when needed.
✨ Interested in simplifying your SEO analytics workflow? Try SEO Gets for free.
