What Is Google Trends?

Looking for the next big thing? Curious what’s trending right now? Then Google Trends is exactly what you need!

With Google Trends, you can see what people worldwide are searching for, discover seasonal trends, compare keywords, and much more.

This lets you smartly respond to current trends and always know which keywords to focus on.

Curious about what Google Trends is, how it works, and how you can use it to improve your marketing strategy? Read on and discover all the benefits!

What Is Google Trends?

Google Trends is a free SEO tool from Google that gives you insight into the popularity of search queries over time. It shows how often people worldwide, or in a specific region, search for certain terms in Google Search.

With Google Trends, you can spot trends and changes in search behaviour, helping you better understand what interests people right now.

This tool gives you an overview of which keywords are “hot” right now and which ones are losing popularity.

This makes Google Trends super valuable if you want to respond to current interests and search behaviour.

Why Should You Use Google Trends?

Now I can already hear you asking: ‘Why would I use Google Trends, it sounds like an extra step…?’. That’s why I’ve listed the reasons below why you’d want to use Google Trends:

• Keyword Research: Find new, relevant keywords your target audience uses. This helps make sure you’re more visible in search engines.
• Timing Your Content: Google Trends shows you the peaks, so you can time your content perfectly. Think of seasonal terms like “Christmas gifts” or “holiday in the UK”.
• Spotting Quick Trends: See which search queries suddenly spike and respond with your content.
• Staying Ahead of the Competition: You can spot trends before your competitors do. This lets you switch gears quickly and create new content that matches emerging search queries.
• Local Insights: You can use Google Trends to see what’s popular in specific countries or regions, so you can optimise your content locally.

In short, Google Trends helps you respond more relevantly and quickly to what’s going on with your target audience. Now that you’re convinced to use Google Trends, you still need to know HOW. So here’s how Google Trends actually works…

How Does Google Trends Work? Simply Explained!

Below, I’ll explain step by step how to use Google Trends and what its main features are.

1. Go to Google Trends: Visit Google Trends. Here you’ll immediately see popular search queries and current trends.
2. Type in a Keyword: Enter a search term, for example “online marketing.” You’ll see a graph showing the term’s popularity over time.
3. Choose a Time Period: Adjust the timeframe, for example the past 30 days or 5 years, to see how the term has developed.
4. Choose a Location: Want to know how a search term performs in the UK? Select a specific country or region.
5. Compare Keywords: Add multiple keywords to see which one is most popular. For example: “SEO” versus “content marketing.”
6. Check Related Queries: Below the graph, you’ll find suggestions for similar keywords that might also be interesting.
7. Seasonal Trends: Discover how certain search terms peak at specific times of the year, such as “Christmas gifts” in December.

This way, within a few minutes you’ll have discovered new keywords, trends, and newsjacking angles to tie into your SEO content.

A Short Video for Visual Learners!

Google Trends Mistakes to Avoid

We all make mistakes. But prevention is better than cure, right? So here are the most common mistakes people make when using Google Trends:

• Confusing Popularity With Search Volume: A high trend doesn’t always mean a high number of searches. It shows relative interest.
• Using Time Periods That Are Too Short: Short periods can give skewed results due to temporary spikes.
• Ignoring Context: Take news events or seasonal influences into account, as they can affect the data.

These are the three most common mistakes. Remember them, and save yourself a lot of time and effort you’d otherwise lose creating the wrong content that gets you nowhere.

The End of This Trend…

Google Trends isn’t just a tool for seeing what’s popular on Google, it’s also a way to fine-tune your marketing strategy and connect better with your target audience.

By making smart use of the available data, you can stay ahead of the competition and create more relevant content.

Curious how to put this into practice? Digital Bean is happy to help you further with tailored advice and strategy. Book a no-obligation call here and grab some free SEO tips.