If you have ever thought that Google could do everything, I am to tell you that you are right.
Now with Google Trends, you can search what’s trending all over the world; from news to videos, to top searches on the internet. You have got it all at your fingertips with the Google platform.
For your business, you might want to check if diamond jewelry is more or less preferred to sapphires right now, or if kale will continue to star as a culinary trend as it was the previous year.
Armed with this insight, you can change either the product you offer, the way you advertise it, or the way you discuss it with your clients.
Perhaps you have a regular at your jewelry store that would be interested if rubies are more popular than sapphires right now, so she can update her jewelry collection correspondingly.
You can also use it to research new content topics without having to survey your existing customers.
In this guide, I will walk you through every important piece of knowledge you need to effectively utilize Google trends.
What are Google Trends?
Google Trends is an online search tool that reflects searches on specific keywords, subjects, and phrases over a specific period on Google every day.
Google Trends works by evaluating a portion of Google searches to compute how many searches have been done for the keyword entered, relative to the sum number of searches done on Google over the same period.
Even though the data provided by Google Trends is updated daily, Google includes a disclaimer that the data Trends generates “may contain inaccuracies for several reasons, including data sampling challenges and a variety of approximations that are leveraged to compute results.”
Simply put, Google Trends is an online tool that tracks and analyzes Google searches comprehensively 24/7.
What Data do Google Trends show?
#1. Google Trends display the data of popular searched queries and peg a score to them from 0 to 100 which is the ratio of a single search query volume to all possible searches.
#2. Google Trends offers keyword-related data including search volume index and geographical data about search engine users.
#3. Google Trends is a search trend feature that displays how frequently a given search term is entered into Google’s search engine relative to the website’s total search volume over a given period.
#4. Google Trends can be used for qualified keyword research and to find event-triggered spikes in keyword search volume.
#5. Google trend is a great tool to help advertisers find popular and rising keywords for search in their industry.
Way to use Google Trends: 6 Features for Marketers
#1. Using Google Trends to Discover Niches
When building eCommerce or niche websites, conventional wisdom demand that you go with hot topics with lots of easy-to-rank-for keywords, low-priced products that you can private-label, and others.
However, almost marketers will be doing the same.
So if you are looking to be different, why not travel the road less traveled by other marketers?
I’m talking about leveraging emerging trends as the topic of your niche website or eCommerce store with the help of Google Trends.
Looking for emerging trends instead of established niches may appear to be a gamble. It’s greatly possible that the topic is on the hot plate today but may soon fade away with a whimper as if it never existed.
Plus, you don’t have historical data to base your decision on using a trending topic for your niche website or online marketing.
To be honest, it is a huge risk to take with trending topics but I tell you the truth, it is a risk worth taking.
#2. Discover Relevant Product Categories in Related Keywords
Say you have created a niche store with a focus on fake eyelashes. After owning your niche, you might be interested in broadening into other areas.
So rather than only selling fake eyelashes in your store, you want to sell other related product categories that your customers may also be interested in.
After inputting “fake eyelashes” into Google Trends, scroll down to the bottom where you will find Related topics.
A user who searches for fake eyelashes is likely also interested in eye shadow or nail products.
So if you are looking to broaden the product collections in your store, checking out the related topics might be beneficial.
Note that as you scroll through some of the related terms, you might find some don’t make sense for your brand.
For instance, Kim Kardashian is listed as a Google Trends-related term for fake eyelashes. But hey, you could always write a blog article about Kim Kardashian’s eyelashes too and it will help market your store greatly
#3. Using Google Trends to Conduct Keyword Research
I’m sure that if you have ever done keyword research, you utilize Google Trends to check your interest in a given topic. But many SEO persons never use the full prospects of this fantastic tool.
For example, you are selling women’s jeans in your store. Google Trends shows that searches for this are trending skywards, which is a great sign.
But now you want to find out which keywords to go after, how to name your product or service categories, and how to optimize blog content on the topic of women’s jeans.
A little but great trick you can do is take a glance at “Related queries,” which is located on the right side of the “Related Topics” section we just discussed.
#4. Promote Your Store Around Seasonal Google Trends
Seasonal trends play a crucial role in the success of your business. Throughout the year, peaks and dips will impact your monthly sales.
During peak season, competition and sales will shoot up in full force. During the dips, you might start trading seasonal products.
Now you might be wondering what to sell during the off-season. Think of products that naturally complement the products in your store but would be a good match for the off-season.
Since swimwear is typically sold by lingerie brands, selling pajamas might be an area to focus on during the winter months
#5. Leveraging Google Trends for Content Freshness
Finding new topic ideas, writing captivating blog articles, and ranking content on page one. You know, those top issues bugging the heads of content strategists, writers, and SEO experts are all solved by leveraging Google Trends.
The same problems that make marketers spend thousands per year on keyword tools are solved with this powerful tool called Google Trends.
#6. Monitor Competitors’ Positions with Google Trends Compare Search Terms
You can use Google Trends to spy on competitors to see how they perform against your brand.
For instance, Coke and Pepsi are two of the biggest soft drink brands globally, and their contest is the stuff of legends.
So, I wanted to compare both brands to find which one accumulate the most interest since 2004, and not surprisingly, I found out it’s Coke.
However, it started as a keenly competed battle with Pepsi on top for most of 2004. They appeared equally popular in 2005, however, Coke pulled ahead in May 2006.
After that, Coke maintained the momentum going for the most part, apart from April 2017, when Pepsi was more popular for a brief period.
You can compare up to four competitors on Google Trends to see if you are leading the trend or if you are wheeling in the back seat.
If you are leading the pack, capitalize on regions where your brand enjoys popularity to earn the most bang for your marketing investment.
If you are in the back seat, conduct competitor analysis with Semrush to know what your competitors know and do better than you. Then, use the data to enhance your ad campaigns.
Great Ways to Use Google Trends to Uncover Insights
#1. Begin with Clear Goals
It’s easier to get the most out of Google Trends data when you have clearly defined goals. For instance, if your goal is to maximize your ad budget, use regional trends to find which regions love your brand the most.
Then, shoot up your budget for these areas to earn the most out of your advertising budget.
Conversely, if your goal is to create enduring content, you will avoid creating temporary content that is only beneficial when a topic trends briefly.
#2. Avoid Temporarily Overflogged Popular Keywords
Google Trends helps you discover temporarily trending keywords or those steady in the searches.
When possible, avoid terms that enjoy popularity for a defined period, such as Christmas, Easter, and the World Cup. These terms won’t generate as much traffic for your homepage throughout the year.
#3. Recognize Seasonal Interest and Leverage it.
One of the important features of Google Trends is the context it offers for fads. You can uncover if a trend is sustainable and profitable, and the visuals allow you to compare how often a topic is searched throughout the year and when it’s most popular.
You can view when a product enjoys the highest searches and the regions where it’s most preferred. This means your brand hits the right promotion window.
For instance, searches for swimsuits usually shoot up around June every year. If you run a swimsuit brand, this is the best time to invest in content and ads that capture the complete user journey.
#4. Use Related Topics to Discover Competitors
If you have decided to sell swimsuits, how do you identify your most fierce competitors? Scroll down to the related topics and related searches at the bottom of the trends page.
Often, the first-page results of related topics and queries are about fierce competitors or those on the verge of breaking out for that search term
#5. Use Google Trends to Inspire Content Ideas
At this point, you know the product or service you want to sell, related products to target during the off-season, and your fiercest competitors.
If you go past the first page, there is a goldmine of content ideas to help you get started on your content creation journey.
From these results, you can create product pages on Bodysuits, nightwear, and Lingerie Sets as these terms dominate the trend for swimsuits.
Conclusion
Google Trends is an excellent tool for discovering trending topics in your industry. In addition, it’s beneficial to determine the regions that use your product, competitors to keep to watch, and the sort of content to create.
This article has opened you to what Google Trends are; ways to leverage the tool and great tips on how to uncover content ideas using the tool.
