Imagine having a crystal ball that shows you when people are most interested in buying certain products. That’s kinda what Google Trends does.
Lots of people don’t know about this hidden gem. Even folks who pay big bucks for fancy internet tools are missing out on the magic of Google Trends.
In this fun little guide, we’ll be sharing the best tricks for using Google Trends. We’ll show you how to find hidden treasure troves of untapped markets and spot those tricky seasonal trends.
So, buckle up and get ready to become a Google Trends master.
It’s easier than you think, and who knows? You might just discover the next big thing in the digital space:
What’s Google Trends?
Google Trends is a super cool and free tool from Google that shows you just how popular certain searches are on Google and YouTube. Imagine being able to see which topics spark everyone’s interest and how those searches change over time.
Google Trends was first introduced back in 2006, and guess what? It got a shiny new update in March 2023, making it even better. With fun graphs and interesting data, it’s like having a sneak peek into what’s on everyone’s mind.
Why Use Google Trends?
- Simple and Stress-free: Google Trends makes understanding the popularity of any search term super easy. You won’t need to stress about complicated processes.
- Track User Behavior: Want to know what people are searching for? This tool helps you keep track of search patterns and user interests.
- Compare Searches: You can put different terms side by side and see how they stack up against each other. It’s like a friendly competition for search terms.
- Historical Insights: Curious about how a topic has been trending over time? Google Trends lets you dive into the past and see if a subject is the rage or just a passing fad.
- Free and Relevant: Yes, you heard that right. This incredible tool won’t cost you a penny and is always up-to-date with the latest data.
- User-Friendly: When you enter a search term, you’ll get a graph that shows its popularity from 0 to 100.
- From Low to High: A score of 0 means not many people are searching, while 100 means it’s super popular. Higher numbers mean more searches, so keep an eye on those keywords that are close to 100.
- Keyword Research Made Fun: Google Trends can turn keyword research into a fun adventure. It’s an incredibly useful tool that simplifies the process like never before.
How Google Trends Works
Let’s dive into the exciting world of Google Trends and discover how to use it for keyword research:
First, hop on over to the Google Trends website—it’s just a click away.
Once you’re there, look in the top right corner, where you’ll find a spot to select your location. For example, you can choose Singapore, but don’t worry; you can always change it later if you want to explore another place.
Now that you’ve picked a location, it’s time to get creative. Type in a keyword you’re curious about—let’s say “SEO.” Then, hit that Enter key with enthusiasm! Voila! In an instant, Google Trends will whip up an eye-catching graph just for you.
… and take a peek at how that keyword has been changing over the past year.
This tool is incredibly helpful, and let me tell you why! First off, it lets you discover which keywords are skyrocketing in popularity.
Imagine being able to create content about things that everyone is excited to learn about. For instance, have you heard about the buzz surrounding the term ” Olympic Games “?
It’s trending like crazy.
Just look at how much interest there is in this keyword right now.
Using just a regular keyword research tool might leave you in the dark about exciting trends; you’d only see a boring number that tells you how often people search for something.
For example, Semrush tells us that one keyword gets a whopping 201,000 searches every month. That sounds great, right? Well, it is, especially since Google Trends shows us that this number is climbing steadily—up, up, up.
This makes it a golden opportunity to jump on right now.
But wait, there’s more! Google Trends isn’t just a treasure map for keywords on the rise; it can also help you dodge keywords that are losing their sparkle.
Imagine you’re all ready to write about “business dashboards.” Sounds intriguing, right? But hold on! Google Trends reveals that this keyword is starting to fade away. So, it’s smart to stay updated and use those trends to guide your writing journey.
The Different Sections
The tool is split into a few exciting sections, each offering unique insights!
Explore Keyword Search Trends
Want to know if a certain keyword is popular all year around or just during specific seasons? This tool lets you do just that.
You can dive into how many people are searching for different phrases over time and even see how interest varies by location.
Year in Search
Curious about what everyone was talking about in any given year? The “Year in Search” feature lets you see the hottest topics that caught everyone’s attention on Google. You can explore what’s trending in your country or around the world.
The results are organized into fun categories like culture, sports, entertainment, and more. Did you know that in Germany in 2022, the word “meer” (which means “sea” in English) was super popular in the northern parts? How cool is that?
Trending Now
Today’s search trends are just a click away. This part of the tool shows you what’s buzzing right now.
You’ll always be in the loop about the latest news or juicy celebrity gossip. For example, if you wonder what people were searching for in Ireland on February 22, 2023, you’ll find it here!
Google News Initiative
And at the very end of this tool, you’ll find the Google News Initiative section, packed with handy lessons. You can learn about what’s trending across Google Search, News, and YouTube.
Plus, you’ll grasp how to interpret data, get a feel for the basics of Google Trends, and even discover ways to improve your search results. It’s a treasure trove of knowledge waiting for you.
4 Ways to Use Google Trends for SEO and Keyword Research
#1. Discovering New Keyword Ideas
Have you ever heard about Google Trends and its exciting feature called “Trending Now”? This is where the magic happens.
It reveals what people are searching for in real-time, showcasing the hottest topics over the past day. You’ll find a section that highlights the 25 most popular searches, giving you a sneak peek into the buzz of the moment.
If you want to dig even deeper, just scroll down and go to the next page. You can even expand the list to show 50 trending topics per page. This will lead you to even more trending topics.
Plus, you can filter results by your own country and even choose different categories from the handy drop-down menu.
However, keep in mind that while finding trending topics can be super helpful, it helps to choose wisely. After all, what’s trending today might not be so popular in a few weeks.
Many trendy topics are just short-lived fads that don’t resonate with audiences for long. If you focus on these fleeting fads, your traffic may peak briefly but then vanish. Unless you run a news site, you want to aim for topics that have staying power.
For example, here are three solid topics in the “Business” category that have long-term relevance:
- Cloud computing
- Metaverse
- Out-of-home advertising
So remember, the category drop-down menu can be your best friend in finding keywords that will keep your content relevant longer than just the next news cycle.
#2. Discovering “Breakout” Keywords
Have you ever explored Google Trends and spotted the word “breakout”?
This term pops up instead of showing a percentage growth in the “Related searches” or “Related queries” columns.
You might be wondering, what does “breakout” really mean?
Well, according to Google, if you see “Breakout,” it signifies that the search term has skyrocketed by more than 5000%! In simpler terms, these keywords are buzzing in popularity and are suddenly seeing a huge increase in how many people are searching for them.
So, why should you get excited about “breakout” keywords? Here’s the scoop: many of these gems are not super competitive.
When you search for them on platforms like Semrush, you’ll often find that their keyword difficulty score is delightfully low. For instance, the phrase “content creation hacks” is tagged with a score of just 19.
That means you have a fantastic shot at climbing to the top of the search results without having to chase after backlinks. It’s like striking gold in a field that not many are exploring!
But hold your horses! Not all “breakout” keywords are here to stay; some are fleeting trends. Take “Olympics 2024,” for example. While you might see a spike in interest right before the awards, once the show wraps up, so does the traffic.
This is why it’s wise to use a dash of common sense when selecting your keywords. Think of “breakout” keywords as sprinkles on your cupcake; they add some fun but shouldn’t be the main ingredient in your content recipe.
However, if you’re writing for a news website, these keywords can be golden nuggets worth snatching up.
#3. Add a Search Term
First things first, let’s dive into the fun part: entering a search term! You’ll find a field labeled ” Explore what the world is searching for right now,” beckoning you to input something intriguing.
For our adventure, we’ll type in ” lion portal” while keeping the default country setting on Singapore.
Now, let’s explore the results that pop up. You’ll see:
- A vibrant graph showcasing the ebb
- flow of interest over the last 12 months, which is pretty fascinating to watch unfold
- An engaging map highlighting the interest by subregion
- A list of related topics that shows the other delicious things people are searching for—talk about expanding your horizons.
- A collection of related queries, where you’ll discover other terms people have been curious about.
On the flip side, a retail store can tap into seasonal trends as well, searching for hot products like cozy scarves, breezy tank tops, or chic sandals. This approach can spark inspiration for whatever your organization may seek based on your audience’s interests and seasonal changes.
#4. Make Adjustments
Welcome to the fun part of using Google Trends! Now it’s time to tweak and refine our search trends data and see what exciting insights we can uncover.
Add Filters
First up, let’s talk filters. You have some fantastic options at your fingertips. Want to see data from a specific country? Go for it.
Or maybe you want a broader look—global trends are just a click away. You can also zoom in on specific time ranges—be it the last year or even the past five years—whatever tickles your fancy.
Feeling category curious? Check out data related to specific areas like Baked Goods or Home & Garden. And let’s not forget about search types; you can dive into insights based on either Web searches or Google Shopping.
For a little experiment, let’s pull up the “zucchini bread” trends from the last five years to see if our theory about a seasonal dip holds up. That did not pan out as expected. Interestingly enough, last year showed a steady interest in zucchini bread during the fall months. But the year before? It gets a tad strange—there was no buzz in the fall or summer. How bizarre.
Add a Comparison Search Term
Now, let’s spice things up by adding a comparison search term. Click on “Add comparison,” and let’s throw “zucchini cupcakes” into the mix. It’s quite a show.
The trends for zucchini cupcakes mirror those of zucchini bread, yet there’s a twist—cupcake searches picked up a bit of steam this winter, perhaps because these delightful treats offer a cozy comfort during the chilly U.S. winter months.
We could keep digging deeper into the data, but I think you’ve grasped the magic of Google Trends. Isn’t it fascinating how much you can discover just by fiddling with the filters and comparisons?
3 Ways to Use Google Trends
So, whether you’re crafting the perfect marketing strategy or just curious about trending topics, get ready to discover how to make the most of this nifty tool:
#1. Brand Awareness
Curious about your brand’s online popularity? Dive into the world of insights with Google Trends.
Simply type in your company’s name, and if Google’s familiar with your business, it’ll pop up suggestions that include a nifty little description. For instance, type “MediaOne,” and you’ll see it accompanied by “Internet Marketing Service in Singapore.” How cool is that?
Once you’ve made your selection, take a look at what the data reveals. But that’s not all—Google Trends is versatile and can assist you in a myriad of ways.
- Need to gauge the buzz around a new product or service? Check!
- Want to compare your brand’s awareness with your competitors? You got it.
- Perhaps you’ve recently undergone a rebrand and are eager to see how it’s landing.
This tool has you covered. With an array of filters at your fingertips, you can make your search as broad or as focused as you like.
Keyword Research
Google Trends is an awesome tool for diving into keyword research. Just type in a search term, and voilà ! You’ll be greeted with a full-blown list of insights, including:
- Its popularity over time
- Related queries that might spark your interest
- Trending topics linked to it
But that’s not all—it’s like a playground for words where you can compare synonyms, such as “web marketing” versus “digital marketing.” Spoiler alert: you’ll want to focus on “digital marketing” because it’s sailing ahead in popularity compared to its counterpart. So, let the keyword adventure begin, and watch your content shine.
Google Trends for Content Ideas
Have you checked out Trending Now on Google Trends? It’s like a treasure chest bursting with content ideas just waiting for you to explore.
This nifty tool lets you dive into the latest buzz in your industry, helping you spot what’s hot and decide if it’s worth sharing on your website, social media, or even in your email newsletters.
If you want to keep your content fresh and engaging, pay special attention to the “Real-time search trends.” These gems are perfect for staying on the cutting edge, while the “Daily search trends” might leave you trailing behind. So, grab your creative explorer hat and start discovering what’s trending.
Google Trends for Seasonal Campaigns
Tap into the magic of Google Trends’ seasonal data to elevate your game. This tool holds valuable insights, reaching as far back as 2004, revealing trends that show when searches soar throughout the year.
Imagine being able to pinpoint those peak moments – it’s like having a map. You can fine-tune your ad campaigns, launching them at just the right time, or brainstorm exciting content ideas to bridge the gaps in your off-season.
The possibilities are endless, and the best part? You’ll be well-prepared to make every season a success.
Google Trends to Grow Your Business
Harnessing the power of Google Trends is like having a secret weapon in your business growth toolkit.
By tapping into this fantastic resource, you can uncover what your audience is searching for in real time. Imagine being able to ride the wave of trending topics, tailoring your services or content to meet what people are buzzing about.
It’s all about seizing those golden opportunities that pop up. With just a few clicks, you can analyze search interest over time, spot seasonal patterns, and even dive deep into geographic data to see where your potential customers are located.
So, why not make Google Trends your new best friend? It’s an exciting way to connect with your audience and boost your business in a fun and dynamic way.
