Hello everyone, I'm Gilbert. As a data analyst, backpacker, and musician, I'm used to looking at the world from different angles. In the world of data, every search represents a real human interest or need.
For my very first blog post today, I want to share one of the most powerful (and free) market insight tools available: Google Trends. I'll be using actual trending search data from the UK over the past seven days (see the image below) as examples to demonstrate how you can turn raw data into SEO traffic for your website.
1. Catching "Instant" Trends (Newsjacking)
In the world of SEO, speed is everything. When a major event happens, search volume can skyrocket vertically within hours.
Look at our screenshot: football matches like Liverpool vs Real Madrid or PSG vs Bayern are perfect examples. Their search volume explodes immediately before, during, and after the match. If you run a sports blog or a news site, you must publish relevant content (e.g., predictions, live scores, post-match analysis) within the first few hours of the trend starting to climb. Miss that 24-hour window, and the traffic is gone.
As a data analyst, I'd recommend setting up Google Alerts so you're notified immediately when keywords relevant to your industry start showing unusual activity.
2. Predicting "Seasonal" Trends
Some trends are sudden, but others are entirely predictable.
Take a look at John Lewis Christmas adverts on the list. Every year at the beginning of November, the British public knows that John Lewis is about to release their festive advert. This isn't breaking news; it's a known "seasonal trend".
A smart SEO strategy isn't waiting for it to be released before writing about it. Instead, you should have content prepared about "2024 John Lewis Christmas advert predictions" a week or even a month before the trend starts. That way, when the wave of interest finally hits, your article is already ranked on Google, ready to catch the traffic.
3. Discovering "Unexpected" Niche Markets
Sometimes Google Trends tells you about mass interests you might not otherwise have noticed.
For instance, Paddington the musical has appeared on the list. You might not be in entertainment news, but if you're a travel blogger (like me), could you write an article about a "Paddington Bear themed day out in London" to capitalise on this trend?
Or seeing Dick Cheney suddenly trending – if you run a book review site, perhaps it's time to recommend some relevant biographies?
Summary: Data Doesn't Lie
Whatever type of website you run, Google Trends is your most direct window into understanding your audience. Don't just rely on gut feeling when creating content; learn to read the data.
This is The Gilbert Experience – using rational data to analyse an emotional world.
In upcoming posts, I'll continue to use my perspective as a data analyst to explore more secrets of digital marketing, share insights from my global backpacking adventures, and even delve into the data behind music creation. Stay tuned!
