Howdy! What if I told you there was a secret tool that could give you the inside scoop on what people are really searching for? Get ready to say goodbye to guesswork and hello to Google Trends! This incredible tool will allow you to get an idea of what terms people are actually using.
Google Trends: Your New Best Friend in SEO
If you’re diving into search engine optimization (SEO) for your site, you’re likely facing a common dilemma: which keywords should you use? Thankfully, Google offers a fantastic free tool to guide you in making informed decisions, and that tool is Google Trends. You can find it at trends.google.com. It allows you to compare different keywords to see which ones have higher search volume. Let’s explore how this works and why it matters.
The Power of Comparison: Web Design vs. Website Design
Let’s look at a couple of similar terms to start with: “web design” and “website design”. Using Google Trends and setting the location to Australia for the past 12 months, we can see that “web design” has a slightly higher search volume than “website design”. While there wasn’t much seasonal change in the search volume, this comparison shows that even small differences in wording can matter. Google Trends also allows you to look at breakdowns by state, as well as the top related searches and queries.
Plumbing vs. Plumber: A Shocking Discovery
You might think you know which keywords people use, but Google Trends can surprise you. Take “plumbing” and “plumber.” In Australia, the search term “plumbing” is used a lot more often than “plumber”. This could be a key insight if you own a plumbing business and are choosing keywords to optimize for. Don’t assume that one term is better than the other. It is worth checking and seeing what people are actually searching for.
Don’t Get Tricked by Traffic: The Importance of Relevancy
Here’s the kicker: while high search volume might seem like the ultimate goal, relevancy is crucial. Just because a search term is popular doesn’t automatically make it the best keyword for your business.
The Management Consultant Trap
Imagine you’re a management consultant. “Management” might seem like the perfect keyword because it has an enormous search volume compared to “management consultant”. However, when you look at the related searches for “management” you get a very wide array of results, such as: model management, talent management, unit management, environmental change, anger management and pest management. This shows that while “management” has a higher search volume, the searches are for all kinds of things that have nothing to do with management consulting. Therefore, chasing a term that is not relevant to your business is pointless.
Intent Matters: What Are People Really Searching For?
When selecting keywords, you need to think about search intent. What are people actually looking for when they type a specific phrase into Google? If someone types “management” they could be looking for various things. Your goal is to attract the users who are actively looking for what you’re offering, even if it means choosing a keyword with a lower search volume. You want to target people who are actually looking for your specific services.
How to Use Google Trends Like a Pro
- Go to trends.google.com: It’s free and easy to use.
- Enter your keywords: Type in the terms you’re considering.
- Compare them: See which ones have higher search volume over time.
- Change the location: You can specify a country, state, or even a city.
- Look at related queries: Check to see if the related searches are relevant to your business.
- Prioritize relevancy: Don’t focus solely on search volume; choose the terms that are most relevant to your business, based on search intent.
The Bottom Line: Make Data-Driven Keyword Decisions
Google Trends is an invaluable resource to use when you are deciding on the best keywords to use for your business. Don’t rely on guesswork or assumptions. By using Google Trends, you can make data-driven choices when choosing your keywords and optimize your website to reach your intended audience.
Conclusion
In the world of SEO, not all traffic is good traffic. Using Google Trends is a free and effective way to make smart decisions about which keywords you should be targeting to bring in the right visitors to your website. By focusing on relevancy and understanding search intent, you can ensure that the traffic you are getting is made up of people who are looking for your specific product or service. So get out there and start using Google Trends to optimize your site like a pro!
FAQs
Is Google Trends Really Free? Yes! Google Trends is a completely free tool offered by Google. You can access it at trends.google.com and start using it right away.
How Do I Know if a Search Term is Relevant to My Business? Relevancy is key, and you have to be able to evaluate that for your specific business. The best way to assess a term’s relevancy is to look at the related queries on Google Trends. You want to make sure that the related queries are aligned with your products or services. Also consider the intent of someone searching with a specific keyword, are they likely to be looking for your business?
Should I Always Pick the Keyword with the Highest Search Volume? Not necessarily. While a high search volume might seem appealing, it’s more important to focus on the relevancy of the keyword. A keyword with lower search volume may bring more relevant traffic. Always take a look at the related queries to make sure that you are not targeting people who are looking for things that you don’t offer.