Google Trends: A Comprehensive Guide

Google Trends: A Practical How-To Guide for Trend Driven SEO & Marketing

In the world of online digital marketing, SEO, eCommerce and AI,  staying on top of online search and marketing trends can give businesses a real edge. Enter Google Trends, a powerful and free tool that reveals what people are searching for on Google in real time. Whether you’re crafting content for your blog, researching keywords for SEO, or planning a marketing strategy, Google Trends can be your go-to resource. But what exactly is Google Trends, and how can you make the most out of it? Let’s take a deep dive.

Key Takeaways

• Google Trends is a public tool showing the relative search volume of queries over time and across regions.

• It helps identify rising topics, seasonal patterns, and geographical interests relevant to content planning.

• Comparing multiple terms reveals competitive landscape and keyword preference shifts.

• Integrating trends insights optimises PPC timing and topical SEO strategy effectiveness.

• Free and accessible, making it useful for content ideation, localisation, and pre-launch research.

At its core, Google Trends is a public web tool that shows the popularity of specific search queries across various regions and languages in Google’s search engine. The tool tracks search interest over time, allowing you to compare different search terms, see their trends, and discover insights into how people search for topics.

For digital marketers, content creators, and SEO specialists, Google Trends is like a window into the search habits of millions of people worldwide. It provides a unique opportunity to understand what topics are trending and how they evolve. By accessing this tool, you can align your content with what your target audience is actively looking for.

What is the History of Google Trends?

Google Trends was launched in 2006 as a way to offer insights into search trends and help users understand the patterns behind queries. Its purpose was simple: to aggregate and visualise data about search interests. Over the years, it has expanded to include more features, such as geographical data, regional comparisons, and even the ability to see the popularity of search terms over long periods of time.

The tool has become increasingly valuable as businesses began to realise that tracking search trends could inform marketing strategies and content creation, and overall SEO practices. Initially, it was a basic tool, but as Google’s ability to process large amounts of data improved, Google Trends evolved into a robust resource for marketers and researchers alike.

How to See How Much Something is Searched on Google?

When you visit Google Trends, you’ll see a search bar where you can enter a search term or any type of keyword keyword to kick off your research for content topics. The tool will then show you the popularity of that term based on a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 represents the peak of popularity, and 0 indicates no significant search activity. The chart helps you visualize how interest in that term has fluctuated over time, which can be particularly useful for identifying seasonal trends or patterns of interest related to events, news, or products.

If you’re curious about how a particular keyword is trending in Australia, you can filter the data by region to focus specifically on Australian searchers. This is crucial for businesses that are targeting local markets or regional audiences.

How to Use Google Trends?

Google Trends is incredibly user-friendly. You simply enter a keyword or search term, and the tool generates a graph showing its relative popularity over time. From there, you can tweak your search by adjusting the timeframe, selecting the country or region you want data from, or narrowing the search by category (such as business, technology, health, etc.).

You can also compare multiple terms side by side to see which one is more popular. This feature is great for keyword research when you’re trying to decide between two potential keywords for your content strategy or marketing campaign.

Why Should I Use Google Trends in My Digital Marketing and SEO Game Plan?

For businesses, staying ahead of the curve is essential. Google Trends provides insight into what people are currently interested in and helps businesses refine their strategies accordingly.

Here’s why you should use it:

• Catch Trends Early: Google Trends shows real-time data, so you can spot emerging trends before they become widespread. This allows you to create content that aligns with what people are searching for, giving your website a competitive edge.
• Refine Keyword Strategy: With Google Trends, you can discover relevant, trending keywords to target in your content and SEO strategies. Instead of guessing what your audience might be searching for, you can rely on actual data.
• Plan Content: If you’re looking to build a content strategy that resonates with your audience, Google Trends can show you what topics are being discussed. It also helps avoid creating content around terms that are on the decline.

8 Ways to Use Google Trends for SEO A Digital Marketing Game Plan

When it comes to SEO and digital marketing, leveraging Google Trends can make a big difference in how well your strategies perform. It’s more than just a tool for seeing what’s popular — it can be a key part of your SEO strategy, helping you fine-tune your keyword targeting, track your content’s performance, and stay relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Here’s how you can integrate Google Trends into your SEO and digital marketing plan:

1. Refining Keyword Research

SEO starts with keyword research, and Google Trends can help you target the right keywords for your business. Instead of blindly selecting keywords, you can use Google Trends to see which terms are gaining traction over time and which are starting to decline. This allows you to focus your efforts on keywords that are currently relevant, rather than wasting time on those that might soon lose search interest.

For instance, if you’re considering using a term like “smartphones,” Google Trends will allow you to compare it against other related terms like “mobile phones” or “iPhones” to see which one has more consistent interest. You can even view trends for long-tail keywords that might be emerging in your niche, providing fresh opportunities for your content and SEO strategy.

2. Optimising Content for Emerging Trends

Google Trends is particularly useful when you’re looking for content ideas that align with what people are actively searching for. By monitoring the rising queries, you can align or create your content calendar with trending topics in mind, ensuring your website stays relevant and visible in search engine result pages (SERPs). For example, if you’re running a fashion blog and notice that searches for “sustainable fashion” are increasing, you could plan content around this topic to capitalise on its growing popularity.

Creating content around emerging trends not only boosts SEO but also positions your brand as an authority on timely topics, attracting more traffic and engagement.

3. Adjusting Content and SEO Strategy Based on Seasonality

Many businesses experience seasonal fluctuations in search volume. For example, terms related to Christmas shopping, New Year’s resolutions, or even certain fashion trends can peak at specific times of the year. Google Trends allows you to see these seasonal patterns, helping you schedule your content around these surges in interest.

For SEO, this means optimising your website for terms that will gain attention during peak seasons. By using Google Trends to forecast these fluctuations, you can adjust your on-page content, blog posts, and Pay Per Click / PPC campaigns to maximise visibility when demand is highest.

4. Geographically Targeting Your SEO Campaigns

For Australian businesses, Google Trends provides valuable regional data too. This can be particularly useful when creating locally-focused “near me” SEO content or running geo-targeted SEO campaigns. By selecting Australia as your region, you can see which search terms are trending in specific states or cities. This data allows you to adjust your SEO strategy to better target local audiences, tailoring your content to their interests, needs, and search habits.

For instance, if you’re running an online ecommerce store that sells products like surfboards, Google Trends might show you that searches for “surfboards in Byron Bay” are trending higher than searches for other regions. This would prompt you to adjust your website’s local SEO to attract potential customers in that specific location / area.

5. Tracking Competitor Keywords and Market Movements

One way to stay competitive is to monitor how your keywords and topics are performing compared to those of your competitors. Google Trends allows you to compare multiple search terms simultaneously. By entering your keywords and the keywords of your competitors, you can gauge how their trends are shifting in relation to yours.

This can help you adjust your SEO tactics by focusing more on terms that your competitors are overlooking or falling behind on. You can also track how consumer interest in their products or services is evolving over time, giving you a better understanding of market movements.

6. Boosting Paid Search and PPC Campaigns

Google Trends can also inform your pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns. By identifying the most popular search terms and monitoring trends over time, you can choose keywords and content that will drive higher-quality website traffic to your specific custom made and fully optimised landing pages. PPC campaigns, such as Google Ads, are more effective when you’re bidding on keywords that are currently trending or gaining popularity.

For instance, if you notice a rise in searches for “eco-friendly sneakers” in Australia, you could launch a targeted Google Ads campaign around that term, driving traffic to your eCommerce store and increasing the likelihood of conversions.

7. Content Strategy Alignment with SEO Goals

Those who know and understand what SEO actually is, they will tell you that is isn’t just about rankings — it’s about delivering value to your audience. By using Google Trends, you can fine-tune your content marketing strategy to align with your SEO goals. For example, if you’re focusing on increasing organic traffic for a specific category, you can use Google Trends to find related topics or keywords that are being searched by your target audience. This enables you to optimise your content in a way that resonates with current search demand, improving both user engagement and search engine visibility.

By consistently monitoring Google Trends, you ensure your content remains aligned with both your audience’s needs and search trends, resulting in stronger, more sustainable SEO performance.

8. Staying Ahead of the Curve with Real-Time Data

Google Trends provides access to real-time data, which is invaluable for businesses that want to remain agile in their marketing and SEO efforts. As soon as a trend starts gaining momentum, Google Trends makes it visible, so you can react quickly and adjust your digital marketing strategy accordingly. This level of speed gives you a competitive advantage in industries where being first to address new trends can significantly impact your rankings, audience engagement, and sales.

Incorporating Google Trends into your SEO and online digital marketing game plan is an effective way to stay ahead of the curve, target the right keywords, and create content that truly resonates with your audience. Whether you’re a small local business or a large eCommerce brand, the insights provided by Google Trends can elevate your SEO strategy, giving you a deeper understanding of your audience’s search behaviours and helping you craft more targeted, impactful campaigns.

How Will Google Trends Help with Keyword Research?

Google Trends is an invaluable tool for keyword research. By analysing the search volume and trends for specific keywords, you can identify which keywords have long-term staying power and which are just a passing trend. For SEO purposes, focusing on terms with consistent interest ensures your content remains relevant over time.

Moreover, Google Trends allows you to see related keywords and queries that people are searching for alongside your chosen term. This can be helpful for discovering secondary keywords to target, helping you expand your SEO strategy.

How to Use Google Trends for Content Ideas?

If you’re ever in need of fresh content ideas, Google Trends is a goldmine. By looking at the rising search queries, you can find topics that are gaining traction. For example, if you’re running a blog about technology, you might notice an increasing interest in “AI developments” or “AR gaming trends.” These are potential topics to explore in your content.

Additionally, Google Trends gives you insights into seasonal trends. Knowing when certain keywords peak can help you time your content to coincide with a period of heightened interest.

What Do the Numbers in the Google Trends Chart Mean?

The numbers in a Google Trends chart represent the relative search interest for a term over a set period of time. They don’t show actual search volume but rather how the interest for a term compares to its peak popularity.

A value of 100 means the term was at its peak interest during that time, while 50 represents half of that peak interest. This is crucial for comparing the relative strength of different terms.

Is There an App for Google Trends?

Unfortunately, Google Trends doesn’t have an official mobile app. However, the website is mobile-responsive, so you can access it through your smartphone’s browser. This makes it easy to check trends on the go, especially for marketers and businesses that need to stay updated with real-time search data.

How to Use Google Trends for eCommerce?

For eCommerce businesses, Google Trends can help identify products or categories that are experiencing a surge in interest. By tracking trending searches, you can adjust your product offerings or marketing strategies accordingly.

For example, if you notice a spike in searches for “eco-friendly home products,” you might want to promote your eco-friendly range more heavily or create content that highlights these items. Google Trends can also inform your inventory management by helping you predict demand for certain products based on historical data.

What Are the Limitations of Google Trends?

While Google Trends is a powerful tool, it does have limitations. First, the data is relative, meaning you can see trends but not absolute search volumes. This can be problematic if you need to know the exact number of searches for a specific term.

Additionally, Google Trends only provides data from Google search engine searches, so it doesn’t account for searches on other platforms like social media and marketing websites or Amazon. Finally, it’s worth noting that trends can sometimes be influenced by external factors such as viral content or events, which may skew the data temporarily.

Is There a Better Version or a Better Alternative to Google Trends?

While Google Trends is one of the most widely used digital marketing tools for tracking search trends, other tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz can offer more detailed data, especially when it comes to search volume and keyword competitiveness. These paid tools provide additional insights like keyword difficulty scores and backlink analysis, which can be valuable for comprehensive SEO strategies.

However, for those who are looking for a free, quick, and straightforward tool to monitor trends, Google Trends remains one of the best options available.

Does Google Trends Include YouTube?

Yes, Google Trends includes data from YouTube as part of its search insights. This is incredibly useful for video content creators and digital marketers focusing on YouTube. You can filter your searches specifically for YouTube trends to see what people are watching and searching for in the video content realm.

How Trustworthy and Accurate is Google Trends?

Google Trends is generally reliable, but like any tool, it has its limitations. The data is based on a sample of search queries, and while Google’s sample size is vast, it may not capture every search. Additionally, the tool shows relative popularity, not actual search volumes, so it may not give an exact picture of the total search landscape.

However, for understanding broad trends, Google Trends is highly accurate and can be trusted as a reliable resource for marketers, researchers, and content creators.

How Is the Data Gathered, and How Accurate Is It?

Google gathers data for Trends from a large sample of search queries across its search engine. It processes this data to identify patterns in search interest and then visualizes them in an easy-to-understand graph. While Google does not disclose the exact methods behind its data collection, the tool uses anonymized data, ensuring privacy and accuracy.

The data is generally accurate for identifying trends over time, but it is not an exact reflection of every search query. For highly specific keywords, the data might be less reliable, but for general trend analysis, it provides a solid foundation.

By using Google Trends strategically, digital marketers, content creators, and eCommerce businesses can stay ahead of the curve and create more targeted, effective campaigns. With its wealth of data and user-friendly interface, it remains one of the most useful tools for understanding and capitalising on search trends.

Need help?

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So reach out today and let’s embark on a journey to elevate your online presence and achieve sustainable growth.

About the Author

Andrew Raso

Andrew Raso, Co-founder and Global CEO of Online Marketing Gurus, has been instrumental in transforming the agency from a start-up into a $15 million global powerhouse. Since co-founding OMG in 2012 with colleague Mez Homayunfard, Andrew has leveraged his deep expertise in SEO and digital marketing to drive OMG’s expansion across Australia, the US, and Singapore.