Don’t Chase The Trend…Set It!

Google Trends is a tool that shows the world’s interest in certain topics, the frequency with which those topics have appeared in Google News stories, and in which geographical regions people have searched those topics most. The data is updated daily.

You can also see the day’s top 40 fastest-rising search queries in the U.S. under Hot Searches. This data reflects “sudden surges in popularity”, and like much of the nation’s “weather” (a term considered too generic for Hot Searches, by the way) this information changes rapidly, so Google updates it hourly.

Unfortunately, the data produced for these tools may contain inaccuracies, and is therefore not the most reliable source for knowing and understanding exactly what topics or key phrases your target market is searching. Trends can be fun and interesting – but for more accurately tapping into the searches of your target market, you will probably want to rely on another of Google’s free tools called Google Insights for Search.

Google Insights allows you to compare search volume patterns across specific regions, categories, time frames and properties. You can use these filters to drill down and find trends that are more specific, and Google provides you the ability to see how much competition there is for particular phrases. Less often searched phrases, niche search phrases, as well as longer tail phrases, can make the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) of your website easier, and convert customers to purchases.

Mr. Thomas W. Petty, founder of the Bay Area Search Engine Academy, puts it this way, “No matter what you call it, you just want people to find your site and buy your stuff, right?”

Of course, it can be a lot of work to optimize your website. And it can seem expensive if you are considering one of the paid services, such as WordTracker. But consider the following, as well:

* If you are looking for a Fast and Cheap solution – it won’t be very Accurate
* If you want Accurate and Cheap – it won’t be Fast
* If you want Fast and Accurate – it won’t be Cheap

The bottom line is this – you must optimize your website, or you will not be found by those who are searching for exactly what you do and offer.

Proper SEO requires time, accuracy, and the understanding of how it works, why it works, and why you cannot afford to skimp on this most important tool for online marketing. Don’t chase the trend – Set it! Don’t just follow what is currently trending – become the trend – by ranking at the top of the Search Engine Listings.