Striking distance keywords (positions 4–20)

Queries that already rank on page one—but not in the top three—are often the fastest SEO wins. Small on-page and snippet improvements can move them into higher-click positions.

What we look for

Using stored Search Console metrics, we flag queries with average position between 4 and 20, enough recent impressions, and positive estimated extra clicks if they reached position 3. Estimates use your site’s CTR-by-position curve (with conservative defaults when data is thin).

What to do

Strengthen the landing page for the query: align the title and H1, expand sections that match intent, add internal links from related pages, and improve the snippet so it competes with results above you.

Technical details

This differs from low CTR at strong positions, which flags snippet problems at positions 1–10 with a fixed CTR threshold. Striking distance focuses on ranking upside in positions 4–20. See Search Console data in SEO Perception.