tldr:
High search volume = more traffic potential but also more competition.Low search volume = easier to rank for but less overall traffic.Balance is key: Incorporate both types to maximize your reach and relevance in search engines.

Search volume is a crucial metric in search engine optimization (SEO) that helps measure the demand for a particular keyword. It represents the average number of times users search for a specific keyword within a month on search engines like Google. Understanding search volume is essential for shaping an effective SEO strategy, as it helps determine which keywords are worth targeting to attract more traffic to your website.

Why Search Volume Matters:

1. Traffic Potential: Higher search volume keywords typically indicate greater interest or demand from users. Ranking for these keywords in the search engine results pages (SERPs) can drive substantial traffic to your site because more people are searching for that term.
   
2. Competitiveness: While high-volume keywords can lead to increased traffic, they are often more competitive. This means many websites are likely targeting these same keywords, making it harder to rank. SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz provide competitiveness scores (keyword difficulty), helping you evaluate whether your site can realistically rank for high-volume, high-competition keywords.
   
3. Conversion Relevance: While high search volume is appealing, it’s essential to ensure that the keyword aligns with your audience’s intent and your business goals. Some high-volume keywords may drive traffic, but if they aren’t relevant to your offerings, they may not convert visitors into customers.

Targeting Low-Volume Keywords:

On the opposite end of the spectrum, keywords with very low or no search volume are less likely to drive significant traffic, but they can offer other advantages:

1. Less Competition: Low-volume keywords often have lower competition, which can make it easier for a site to rank well in search results. These are often referred to as “long-tail keywords” — more specific phrases that, while searched less frequently, often indicate a user is closer to making a purchase or a decision (higher intent).
   
2. Niche Focus: If you operate in a niche industry, low-volume keywords may be highly relevant to your target audience, and despite low traffic, they can bring in highly qualified leads. For example, someone searching for “custom 3D-printed bike parts” may have lower search volume than a generic “bike parts” query, but they are likely looking for exactly what you offer.

Balance in Keyword Strategy:

A successful SEO strategy often balances targeting high-volume, competitive keywords with lower-volume, lower-competition keywords. The high-volume keywords can help drive traffic and brand visibility, while the lower-volume keywords can help capture niche markets and convert highly specific searches. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Keyword Planner assist in finding the right keywords based on search volume, difficulty, and potential traffic.