A forecast is designed to predict the results against your goal for a certain period of time using historical data.
In digital marketing, a forecast is typically based on data over a period of time and is measured against your goals for that same period.
Your client may ask for an SEO forecast to predict future traffic over a period of time.
For example:
- What can we expect from organic traffic growth over the next quarter?
- How many incremental organic clicks can we expect if we rank #3 for this keyword?
- Based on the last year, how can we expect traffic to change this year?
Organic search (SEO) web traffic forecast
With SEO forecasting, a tool like SE Ranking can help automate the task of website traffic forecasting against SEO goals.
To calculate future traffic, you can use the following metrics:
Keyword search volume
How many searches per month does the keyword receive on average?
How much traffic are you currently receiving from this keyword?
Using tools like Google search console and Google analytics, you can determine both!
Keyword ranking
In SEO forecasting, determine what your current keyword ranking is for your target keyword.
Search engine volume
Which search engine are you completing your SEO forecasting against?
For example, Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
If you’re using Google keyword planner, you can use a rough estimate of relative volume by applying a percentage like 30% (0.3) for Bing to assume Google will send 3x the traffic.
Click-through rate (CTR)
How many clicks can you estimate to receive based on position?
Using a site like Advanced Web Ranking, you can utilize the average percent of clicks by average position on the SERP.
For example, you could estimate in your SEO forecasting that your keyword ranking number 1 will receive 24% of total clicks.
Paid search forecast
In paid search, you can forecast against your lead goal by measuring spend against your average CPL or cost-per-lead.
For example, you can calculate your average CPL for a product over the last 3 months using past performance based on historical data.
If your average cost per lead is, say, $100, then you can forecast 10 leads with $1,000 of advertising spend.
Your spend, cost-per-click, and traffic might fluctuate, but, with the same keyword set, on average, you pay $100.
Then, to account for seasonality, you can measure the average CPL for months that have an especially high or low volume of searches or clicks.
Forecast opportunity
Outside of lead delivery, you can expect to forecast against impression share.
The question being- how much further can you scale, what is the available opportunity?
FAQ
How do you forecast SEO results?
You can forecast SEO results based on a number of metrics: keyword search volume, keyword ranking position, search engine volume, current keyword volume, and click-through rate.
Use Google search console to access these metrics and predict future traffic.
How do you forecast traffic growth?
You can forecast traffic growth by measuring the incremental clicks you would obtain by increasing your average keyword position.
What is Web traffic forecasting?
Web traffic forecasting, in general, refers to the estimated inbound website traffic you can expect to receive over time based on a number of factors.
With SEO, you can predict the amount of traffic you will receive based on a number of factors, including search volume, keyword position, and click-through rate.
How do you calculate organic traffic?
You can calculate organic traffic easily through an analytics tool like SE Ranking or Semrush.
If you are calculating how organic traffic would grow or change over time, you can determine the change in click volume that’s impacted by your average keyword position and search volume.
How do you forecast SEO traffic?
SEO traffic forecasting can be done by measuring the keyword search volume, current keyword ranking position, and click-through rate (CTR).
You can calculate the estimated increase in clicks you would receive based on your average keyword position and then apply this to an SEO plan.
What are the various methods to forecast traffic?
Various methods used to forecast traffic include using historical data, keyword research, and search engine volume, as well as click-through rate (CTR).
What does organic traffic tell you?
Organic traffic tells you how many website visits are coming from unpaid search results. It is an indication of the popularity and relevance of your content, as well as the strength of your SEO efforts.
Monitoring your organic traffic can help you determine which keywords to target and if there is any potential for growth in terms of leads or sales.
What is an example of organic traffic?
An example of organic traffic would be the number of website visits you receive from unpaid search results.
This could include visits coming from Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines.
How do you forecast website traffic?
Website traffic forecasting can be done by tracking and analyzing the number of website visits, leads, and sales from organic search.
Additionally, you can use keyword research tools to measure the average click-through rate (CTR) for each keyword as well as its estimated search volume.
This data can then be used to help forecast future website traffic growth.
What is web traffic forecasting using time series?
Time series SEO forecasting is a method used to predict future website traffic by analyzing past data. It uses historical data points to create a model that can forecast future trends.
Time series forecasting can be used to analyze and predict traffic and project the amount of organic search volume you can expect for certain keywords or topics.
Can traffic be predicted?
Yes, with an SEO forecast, organic traffic growth can be predicted. By using historical data, keyword research tools, and calculating the click-through rate (CTR) for each keyword or topic, you can forecast website traffic growth and determine what opportunities there are to increase organic search volume.
Can you forecast organic traffic for search engines like Amazon or Etsy?
Yes, you can use tools for Amazon and Etsy search engine optimization to predict traffic over a period of time.
How do you forecast with keyword planner?
Google Keyword Planner is a tool used to help you research keywords and determine their estimated search volume. It can also be used to forecast website traffic growth.
By measuring the estimated monthly searches for specific keywords, you can get an idea of the potential organic search volume for those searches a month
How accurate is Google keyword forecast?
The Google keyword planner search volume forecast should be used as a guide.
Even though it has grown more sophisticated and accurate over the years, it is still an estimate.
It is important to keep in mind that search volume can change drastically for certain keywords and topics.
It’s best to use other tools and methods to supplement what you find in Google keyword planner for your SEO or paid search forecast.
Which tool is used for keyword planning?
You can use a number of tools for keyword planning with either an SEO forecast or paid search forecast for Google ads.
To predict future traffic, you can use a tool like SE ranking to report on your SEO efforts.
How does keyword bidding work?
Keyword bidding is a process used in paid search advertising to determine how much you will pay for each click.
When creating an ad campaign, you’ll set a maximum bid amount for each keyword or phrase you want to target.
The higher the bid amount, the more likely your ad will appear in search engine results when people search your target keyword.
Final thoughts
SEO forecasting can be used to predict website traffic growth and determine what opportunities there are to increase organic search volume.
Using historical data, keyword research tools, and calculating the click-through rate (CTR) for each keyword or topic, you can get an idea of the potential organic search volume for those searches a month.
Additionally, keyword bidding can be used to determine how much you will pay for each click in a paid search campaign.
Ultimately, SEO forecasting is a powerful tool that can help inform your decisions and maximize your organic search performance.
