How to Use Search Console to Find Your Next Blog Topic
By Emily Redmond, Data Analyst at Emilytics · April 2026
TL;DR: In Search Console, find keywords where you rank positions 11–30 (page 2–3) and have 1,000+ impressions. These keywords are close to ranking—optimize existing posts or write new ones to move them to page 1.
You're staring at a blank doc, trying to decide what to write next.
Here's the move: don't brainstorm. Look at your Search Console data. It's already telling you which topics to write about.
Google Search Console shows every keyword people search for that brings them to your site—and your ranking position. If you rank #15 for a keyword with 10,000 monthly impressions, that's your next blog post. You're one optimization away from doubling traffic on that keyword.
Let me show you how to use this to build a content roadmap.
The Search Console Strategy: Target Keywords You're Already Ranking For
The best topics to write about aren't new—they're keywords where you already rank but don't get clicks.
Why this works:
- Google already knows your site is relevant (you're ranking)
- The keyword has proven demand (people search for it)
- Moving from position 15 to position 1 quadruples clicks
- It's easier than starting from zero
Your strategy:
- Find keywords where you rank positions 11–30 (page 2–3)
- Check impressions: 500+ monthly is a good target
- Write or update a post to rank higher for that keyword
- Repeat weekly
How to Find These Keywords in Search Console
Step 1: Open Search Console > Performance
Click Position and filter:
Average position: 11–30
(position 1 = rank 1, position 30 = page 2 end)
Click Impressions and add a secondary filter:
Impressions: 100+ (or 500+ for monthly volume)
Step 2: Look for content gaps
Now you see keywords where you're ranking but barely getting clicks. These are your opportunities.
Example output:
| Keyword | Impressions | CTR | Position | Your Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| how to measure content roi | 1,200 | 2.3% | 11 | /blog/content-strategy |
| blog traffic analysis | 800 | 1.8% | 14 | /blog/basics |
| content marketing metrics | 950 | 2.1% | 13 | /blog/analytics |
Reading this: You rank #11 for "how to measure content roi" (1,200 impressions/month). If you rank #1, you'd get ~25× impressions (assuming CTR increases from 2.3% to ~50%). That's worth writing about.
Step 3: Create a "move to page 1" list
Export the keywords. Create a spreadsheet:
| Keyword | Current Position | Current Impressions | Estimated Traffic if Rank #1 | Your Best Page | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| how to measure content roi | 11 | 1,200 | 600 clicks/month | /blog/content-strategy | Update existing |
| blog traffic analysis | 14 | 800 | 400 clicks/month | /blog/basics | Rewrite |
| content marketing metrics | 13 | 950 | 475 clicks/month | /blog/analytics | Refresh |
Now you have a prioritized list. Pick the top 3 and work them.
💡 Emily's take: A client had 47 keywords they ranked 11–30 for. One keyword alone—"how to calculate customer lifetime value"—had 1,600 monthly impressions. They ranked #18. I updated their existing post, added more examples, and improved the CTA. Two months later: #3 ranking, 400+ new visitors per month. That one post update generated more traffic than five new posts combined.
Two Approaches: Update Existing or Write New
Approach 1: Update existing post (faster)
If you rank #15 for a keyword, you probably have a post ranking for it. Find which post, then optimize:
- Rewrite the headline to include the keyword
- Add this keyword to the intro and subheadings
- Add data, examples, or newer information
- Improve the CTA
- Republish with updated date
Approach 2: Write a new post (if relevant)
If your existing post is about a different topic, write a new post for this keyword:
- Make it 2,000+ words (longer = better for competitive keywords)
- Include the target keyword in title, intro, subheadings
- Link to your existing post internally
- Publish and promote in email/social
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does it take to move from position 15 to position 1? A: 2–8 weeks typically. Depends on competitiveness of the keyword and quality of your update. Less competitive keywords move faster.
Q: Should I only target keywords in positions 11–30? A: No. Also look at positions 31–50 if impressions are high (1,000+). And don't ignore keywords in positions 2–10—those are close and high-value. But 11–30 is the sweet spot for ROI.
Q: What if I rank for a keyword but my page isn't about it? A: You're ranking for the wrong reason (maybe via backlinks or internal linking). Either update the page to be about that keyword, or 301-redirect the page to a more relevant one.
Q: Should I ignore keywords with low impressions (<100)? A: Yes, unless they're high-intent (commercial, problem-solving). A keyword with 50 impressions isn't worth optimizing. Focus on volume first.
Q: Can I use this strategy for paid search too? A: Yes. Look at impressions vs. CTR in Google Ads. Keywords with high impressions, low CTR are underperforming. Improve your ad copy.
The Bottom Line
Your next blog topic is in Search Console. Find keywords where you rank positions 11–30 with 1,000+ impressions. Update your page or write a new post. Two months later, you have a new top-10 keyword driving 300+ monthly visitors.
Don't brainstorm. Let Google show you what to write about.
Emily Redmond is a data analyst at Emilytics — AI analytics agent watching your GA4, Search Console, and Bing data. 8 years experience. Say hi →