5 Things I’ve learned from my first six months of working on SEO campaigns
2 Jun
Using Google Trends To Improve Your SEO Goals And Rankings
January 18, 2022
Ideally, the organic way to reach the first pages of SERPs is to invest in keyword research and on-page SEO. While that approach might have worked for you so far, there are a few things you can still add. One of such things is Google Trends.
Google Trends isn’t entirely different from keyword research tools, such as Google Keyword Planner. Like the latter, it is also a data exploration tool. However, it does one better. Google Trends provides insight into customer behaviour in real-time and across different geographical zones.
The best part: Google Trends is free!
In essence, there is no harm in augmenting your SEO goals with Google Trends. The tool is free and can be particularly useful for social media marketing.
That said, let’s show you the specific ways Google Trends can improve your SEO.
5 Ways Google Trends Can Improve Your SEO Goals And Rankings
Choosing The Right Niche
In your efforts to rank your website on the first page of Google search, you can't overlook your niche. If your niche isn't lucrative to start, your efforts would ultimately yield zero results - regardless of your consistency.
Thankfully, Google Trends can change the narrative. It can show you the growing or declining importance of your niche. How?
Google Trends chart shows the popularity of search terms over a select time range. And the beauty of it all is that the chart can stretch as far back as 2004. That’s over a decade worth of value-rich statistics.
With such statistics, you can tell if your niche is a "one-time hit" or an "evergreen." If you ask us, we will ask you to choose the evergreen.
Pro tip: pick a niche with consistent popularity and not just one with temporary, non-uniform spikes.
Providing A Base For Your Keyword Research
After choosing the right niche, you need new keywords to shoot up your website. Now, you could use Keyword Planner for that - but you’d still need to find the “seed keyword.”
So, where would you find “seed keywords”? Intuition, mere guessing, or your niche?
We will recommend that you use Google Trends for finding your seed keywords. Like your niche, the tool can help set a strong base. How?
Google Trends has a tab for “related queries" where you can find inspiration that matches your niche. Ordinarily, you can run with the suggestions. However, they are time-bound, and the popularity might not last.
So, do more research on the suggested queries. Dig up more statistics on select keywords to check their consistency. Afterwards, you can check the metrics on your Keyword Planner.
Key takeaway: Google Trends doesn’t replace Keyword Planner. You ought to use the two together!
Monitoring Changes & Trends
With your seed keywords, you might think of launching your website. But we’ll advise you to hold that thought for a while. Use Google Trends to monitor the changes.
Are your seed keywords still relevant? Will they still be popular, say, in two or five months? Is there any pattern you should know?
Those questions are what Google Trends will answer. Thanks to its charts, you can not only monitor the performance of your keywords but predict their future relevancy. How?
For example, say you run a digital marketing agency like us at Digital Treasury. And perhaps you want to rank as the “best web designer in Australia." Google Trends lets you know when the keyword is the most searched – maybe in summer or spring.
Google Trends also shows the real-time popularity of your keyword. That way, you can focus your efforts towards the peak of your customers’ activities. Most importantly, you can be intentional about the performance of the seed terms in their off-peak season. Either way, you won’t leave your business to chance!
Suggested reading: What Keywords Should You Be Targeting?
Optimizing Your Website For Local SEO, Video Searches, And Ecommerce
Earlier, we mentioned how Google Trends help you compare keywords and their popularity across different locations. But do you know that it can break the comparison down to regions, sub-regions, and even cities?
Imagine what you could do with such information!
For starters, you can use the statistics to augment your Local SEO. You can beef up your GMB profile and posts. If you're already doing social media marketing or PPC, you'll be able to refocus your ads to the crucial demographics.
When you follow such hacks, converting your leads will become easier. The best part: you can use the search results on Google Trends to track your competition. How?
Google Trends often show companies and brands in its search results. If such were to pop up in your queries, you could follow up on the competitor. You can check their strategies, analyze them, and improve on them for your marketing.
Local SEO and competition aside, Google Trends can also help you optimize your business/website for YouTube and E-commerce. How?
When making your enquiries on Google Trends, you can toggle the channel between:
- Google shopping
- Image search
- New search
- Web search, and
- YouTube search
Now, if you want to improve your video marketing, "YouTube search" will be your best bet. And if you are selling products on platforms such as Amazon, WooCommerce, and Shopify, "Google shopping" is the right channel.
From there, your search results will be specific to your goals!
Related reading: WooCommerce Vs Shopify: How to Bring the Best Shopping Experience to Your Website
Planning Your Content Calendar
Note: content here doesn't necessarily mean "writing," yours could be a video or any other media.
After choosing the right niche, getting the keywords, studying the competition, and optimizing your website, the ultimate step is to archive everything you’ve done into a calendar. With a calendar, you will have SMART SEO goals.
More importantly, delegating your work to your team members would be painless. Everyone will know their task at every point in time. That concerted effort will help you complement other SEO strategies like off-page and technical SEO.
Note: when planning your content calendar, reconsider your audience base. Are you focusing on only locals or international customers? We'll recommend that you do a blend of the two.
Overall, Google Trends is a fantastic tool you had better start using in 2022 for your website and business. Though free, it is fast becoming a robust data visualization and forecasting tool. Plus, it is easy to use.
Or have you started using Google Trends? Do you care to share your results so far?
We’d love to hear your thoughts!
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SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a digital marketing approach focused on boosting your website’s presence on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo. By refining different elements of your site—such as content, meta descriptions, and backlinks—SEO works to improve your website’s position in search engine results. This increased visibility is vital as it attracts more organic traffic, potentially leading to a rise in leads, sales, and overall business success. Businesses frequently discuss the basics of SEO, its importance in attracting targeted visitors, and how it supports wider business goals.
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SEO is a strategy that requires a long-term commitment, and it's essential to have realistic expectations from the outset. Typically, businesses may notice significant improvements within 3 to 6 months. However, this can differ depending on factors such as the level of competition, the industry, and the website's current condition. While addressing technical issues can result in some early successes, meaningful increases in rankings and traffic usually develop over time. Clients often ask for a clear timeline to gauge when they might start seeing a return on their investment (ROI).
What Does Your SEO Process Involve?
Website Audit and Analysis: Conduct a thorough evaluation of the site to pinpoint strengths, weaknesses, and areas that can be enhanced.
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On-Page Optimisation: Improving various on-page elements such as meta tags, headers, content, and internal linking to increase site effectiveness.
Content Development: Crafting high-quality, engaging content tailored to the needs of your target audience.
Link Building: Securing backlinks from credible websites to enhance the site's domain authority.
Technical SEO:Ensuring the website is technically robust, with fast loading speeds, mobile responsiveness, and secure connections.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment: Regularly track performance and make necessary adjustments based on data and trends. Clients ask about these steps to ensure they are investing in a thorough and effective SEO strategy.
How Do You Measure The Success Of An SEO Campaign?
Success in SEO is measured through a variety of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including:
Organic Traffic: The number of visitors coming to the website from search engines.
Keyword Rankings: The position of targeted keywords in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Conversion Rates: The percentage of visitors who take desired actions (e.g., filling out a form, making a purchase)
.Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave the site after viewing only one page.
Domain Authority: A score that predicts how well a website will rank in SERPs based on factors like link quality.
ROI (Return on Investment): Evaluating the financial return from SEO activities in comparison to the cost. Clients want to understand these metrics to gauge the effectiveness and profitability of their SEO investments.
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SEO is an ever-evolving field, with search engines like Google regularly updating their algorithms. We make it a priority to stay ahead of these changes.This might involve:
Continuous Learning: Attending industry conferences, webinars, and training sessions.
Membership in Professional Organisations: Being part of SEO communities or organisations that provide the latest insights.
Regular Testing and Experimentation: Consistently testing new strategies and adapting to changes in algorithms.Industry Research: Staying informed with the latest studies, white papers, and expert opinions in the digital marketing sector.We are confident that our SEO strategies are current and that we are proactive in adopting best practices.
Do You Offer Ongoing Maintenance And Support After The Website Is Launched?
Post-launch support is crucial for maintaining website performance and security. Clients want to know if the company provides:
Regular Updates: Ensuring the website remains up-to-date with the latest software versions and security patches.
Technical Support: Assisting with any issues that arise, such as bugs or downtime.
Content Updates: Offering services to update or add new content as the business evolves.
Performance Monitoring: We regularly check the site’s speed, uptime, and other critical metrics to ensure optimal performance. This ongoing support provides peace of mind, ensuring that the client’s website remains effective and secure over time.
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User Experience (UX) Design: We create an intuitive and engaging interface that makes navigation easy and enjoyable for users.Responsive Design: We ensure your website is mobile-friendly and looks great on all devices.
Call to Action (CTA): We strategically place buttons and forms to prompt users to take the desired actions.
Speed Optimisation: We ensure fast load times to reduce bounce rates and keep users engaged.
Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO): We analyse user behaviour and make data-driven adjustments to increase the percentage of visitors who convert.By incorporating these principles, we maximise the chances of turning your website visitors into customers.
