HF, MF, LF: the main thing about the frequency of search queries

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We continue to talk about the intricacies of search engine optimization. Readers of the Rubix blog already know whether it is worth doing promotion on your own , how to write SEO texts and what services for collecting keywords can be used. Today we will talk about the frequency of search queries and its role in website optimization. Make yourself comfortable - it will be interesting!

What is search frequency?
First, a little terminology. Frequency is the number of specific queries that users made to a search engine. Typically, a month-long period is used to calculate this indicator.

Frequency is important for effective promotion in Yandex and Google. With its help, SEO specialists find out how popular a particular topic is, predict what traffic a site will receive when optimized for specific queries, and draw up technical assignments for copywriters.

The more often users enter a certain phrase into the search bar, the higher its frequency. According to this indicator, queries are divided into the following categories:

High-frequency, or HF. This category includes queries with a frequency of impressions of 10,000 per month.
Medium-frequency, or MF. These are queries with a frequency of impressions from 1000 to 10000 per month.
Low-frequency, or LF. The frequency of impressions of such queries varies from 100 to 1000 per month.
Some SEO specialists also distinguish a fourth group of mLF queries, i.e. micro-low-frequency queries - up to 100 per month.

Here we will note a fundamentally important point. The figures given above are very conditional: for each niche, the desired indicators are determined individually. For one sphere, 100 requests per month is a modest result, and for another, it is high frequency.

In addition, it is necessary to understand that a strict division by the number of impressions is relevant only for a global assessment of frequency, for example, throughout Russia. It is worth reducing the scale to a city or even a region, and the situation changes. In this case, the high-frequency group includes queries with a frequency of impressions from 1,000 per month.

Now let's look at the features of each category.

When I realized how important the frequency of a request is when promoting

*When I realized how important the frequency of a request is for promotion

High frequency queries
These are the words and phrases that are most actively used by the audience when iceland whatsapp data searching for specific information. High-frequency queries are characterized by a broad focus. It is very difficult to use them to bring a site to the top of search results due to high competition.

Among the advantages of high-frequency requests we note:

Active traffic attraction. When a site is visible for high-frequency queries, more users pay attention to it. The higher the traffic, the better the web resource is ranked in the search results.
Incentive to improve the site itself. If the site owner wants to bring it to the top for high-frequency queries, he will have to “pump up” the resource, including publishing a lot of useful unique content, and this is always good. At the same time, it is necessary to cover low- and mid-frequency keys. Such tactics increase the likelihood of getting to the top for high-frequency queries.
We have already mentioned one of the disadvantages of high-frequency keys: it is difficult to get to the top with their help. Firstly, it is expensive. Secondly, it will take a lot of time and effort. Thirdly, getting to the top for high-frequency queries is not a guarantee of success. It is easy to lose the positions occupied: no one has canceled the competition.

A separate piece of advice for online store owners: attempts to break into the top for high-frequency queries are very likely doomed to failure, since the best places are occupied by aggregator sites. For those who are just starting to promote, we recommend focusing on low-frequency and low-frequency keys, so as not to waste time and effort.

High frequency queries
Mid-frequency queries
This category includes more specific search phrases of several words. Mid-frequency queries are suitable for promoting any site, regardless of its launch time. They are good for promoting resources whose users know exactly what they need to find.

MF queries are the basis of effective optimization. Let's see what pros and cons they have.

The advantages of mid-frequency queries include:

Relatively low level of competition. It is very difficult to win the battle for promotion by high-frequency queries. It is easier to work with mid-frequency keys. Promotion by mid-frequency queries takes less effort, and the chances of getting to the top are higher.
Opportunity to save on optimization. The path to the top of the search results for mid-frequency queries requires less investment and pays off faster compared to working with high-frequency keywords.
Getting targeted traffic to the site. Mid-frequency queries bring visitors to the resource who understand what they want to find. Among the target users, there will definitely be those who will become consumers of the product or service. The situation is different with high-frequency queries: they often bring random visitors. A specific example is the phrase "buy a kitchen". Here it is not clear what exactly the user wants. Most likely, he will see that he has come to the wrong address and will quickly leave the page, as a result of which behavioral factors will suffer. Another matter is a more precise mid-frequency query "buy a glossy black kitchen".
Despite all the advantages of mid-frequency queries, they also have their disadvantages. Let's note the most important of them:

Transition of mid-frequency queries to high-frequency ones. Yandex and Google algorithms are constantly updated, which affects the specifics of promotion. A query that yesterday was considered mid-frequency may today move to the "major league". In order to adhere to the chosen promotion strategy, an SEO specialist needs to constantly monitor the situation, and this requires additional costs - both time and money.
The need to regularly update content. It is important that the information on the site corresponds to current mid-frequency queries. Yes, updating content is a routine task when promoting a web resource. However, when working with mid-frequency keys, more attention should be paid to updating information. For example, a page that corresponds to the query "watch romantic comedies" does not require constant updating. Another matter is the search phrase "watch romantic comedies 2024 (2025, 2026 ...)". In this case, you need to monitor the release of new films and add relevant information to the site.
In addition, it is not possible to attract large traffic using mid-frequency queries. This need arises for website owners who want to interest advertisers and bring a wide variety of users to the pages of the web resource - both target and non-target. Mid-frequency queries are not suitable for this.

Mid-frequency queries
Low frequency queries
These narrowly focused queries include more than three words. With their help, users express a specific need. An example of a low-frequency query is "buy a straight solid wood set in Chelyabinsk". A user who enters a low-frequency phrase into the search bar knows exactly what they want to find.

Let's note the advantages and disadvantages of low-frequency queries. The advantages include:

Low level of competition. Low-frequency queries are of little interest to large players, which simplifies the promotion of the site to the top of search engine results.
Attracting the most motivated users. Among SEO specialists, low-frequency queries are considered the most convertible. A user who has taken the trouble to clearly formulate their need is actively interested in a specific product or service.
Saving your advertising budget. Promotion by low-frequency queries is not as expensive as in the case of high-frequency or even mid-frequency keys. The ability to reduce costs is especially important for small companies.
Wide coverage of semantics. Low-frequency queries, as a rule, relate to narrow topics. Promotion by low-frequency keys allows you to expand and improve the semantic core.
Among the disadvantages of promotion by low-frequency queries we note:

Low traffic. The less interest the audience has in a particular topic, the fewer clicks from the search results to the site. A resource that attracts few users is ranked worse.
Loss of some potential customers. Even if the user knows exactly what he wants to find, he is not always able to formulate a specific request right away. For example, a person is looking for a washing machine. First, the user enters the request "buy a washing machine". Then he gradually builds up the phrase - "buy a washing machine with a dryer", "buy an energy-saving washing machine with a dryer", etc. As a result, the most precise request is obtained, which closes the chain. Some users interested in the purchase may simply "drop off" along the way.