New Google Trends guide for content marketing

One powerful tool that often gets overlooked is Google Trends. But with the release of Google's new guide on using Google Trends for search marketing, there's no excuse for missing out! Published by Google Search Central, this comprehensive documentation explains how to use Google Trends for search marketing. It's a fantastic resource for newcomers and a helpful refresher for seasoned marketers.

What is Google Trends?

Simply put, Google Trends is a goldmine of data. It shows how often people search for specific keywords and phrases over time. This free tool offers insights into trending topics, search volume patterns, and regional interest—all valuable information for content marketers.

Why should you care? Because Google Trends can help you:

• Find trending topics: Uncover what's hot and create content that captures audience interest.

• Understand your audience: See what your target audience is searching for and tailor your content accordingly.

• Improve your SEO: Identify relevant keywords with high search volume to boost your rankings.

Develop a killer content strategy

Google Trends is like having a crystal ball for your content strategy. You can create content that truly resonates by:

1. Keyword research: Use the "Explore" tool to identify relevant keywords with high search volume and low competition. You can filter your search by country, time period, category (e.g., beauty, finance), and even the type of search (web, image, news).
2. Content optimisation: Analyse trending topics to optimise your existing content and create new, engaging pieces. Google's guide highlights the importance of identifying "rising trends" – these can be general or specific to a particular niche. Jump on these trends early to capture audience interest!
3. Content calendar planning: Identify seasonal trends and plan your content calendar accordingly. The "Content Calendar" section in Google's documentation explains how to use Google Trends to prioritise content based on when people are most likely to be searching for it. As Google explains, "Google Trends can be helpful not only to get ideas on what to write, but also to prioritize when to publish it. To help you better prioritize which topics to focus on, try to find seasonal trends in the data. With that information, you can plan ahead to have high quality content available on your site a little before people are searching for it, so that when they do, your content is ready for them." For example, if you notice a spike in searches for "holiday gift ideas" in November, you can schedule relevant blog posts, social media content, and email campaigns to capitalise on this trend.

Don't forget your competitors!

Google Trends also allows you to analyse competitor content. See what keywords they're targeting and identify opportunities to outrank them. This valuable intel can give you a competitive edge and help you dominate the search results.

Measure your brand's buzz

Want to know what people are saying about your brand? Google Trends can help! Track brand mentions and assess public opinion to understand your brand's awareness and sentiment. This data can inform your PR and marketing efforts, helping you build a stronger brand reputation.

Don't miss out on Google's comprehensive new guide – https://developers.google.com/search/docs/monitor-debug/trends-start

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