Google Suggestions, also known as Google Autocomplete, is a hidden gem for marketers looking to uncover real-time insights. This feature reveals the most popular search queries users are typing in, offering an invaluable source of data for refining SEO strategies. When paired with tools like AnswerThePublic, these suggestions become even more powerful, helping marketers sharpen their keyword and content strategies.
In this article, we’ll explore how you can tap into the potential of Google suggestions for SEO.
The Power of Search Suggestions
At its core, Google Suggestions is designed to save users time by predicting what they are searching for. These predictions are not random—they are based on real-time data, trending searches, and a user’s location and search history. For marketers, this feature offers an easy way to understand what their audience is actively searching for, opening doors to uncover new keyword opportunities, content gaps, and trends.
When paired with AnswerThePublic, which collects autosuggestion data from platforms like Google, YouTube, TikTok, Bing, and Amazon, the potential for discovering meaningful search patterns multiplies. This tool simplifies the process of spotting popular search queries by visualizing them in a user-friendly wheel format. Each query is categorized by modifiers like "WHAT," "ARE," and "WHY," and darker orange dots signify the most popular queries. This visualization empowers marketers to identify which queries are currently trending easily.
Find Out What Your Audience is Searching for on AnswerThePublic
Discovering Long-Tail Keywords with Google Suggestions
Google Suggestions is an excellent tool for finding long-tail keywords, which are typically more specific and less competitive than broader terms. Long-tail keywords often have lower search volume but higher conversion rates, making them valuable for targeted marketing efforts.
For example, if a marketer is optimizing content around the keyword “content marketing,” Google Suggestions might provide queries like “why content marketing is important” or “how to create a content marketing plan.” By using AnswerThePublic, the marketer can immediately see which of these queries is most popular based on the intensity of the orange dots and focus on content that addresses the most searched queries.
This real-time insight helps marketers ensure they are targeting the most relevant, up-to-date long-tail keywords in their niche, setting them up for success in search engine rankings.
Generating SEO-Friendly Content Ideas
One of the most challenging aspects of content creation is coming up with fresh, relevant topics that resonate with your audience. Google Suggestions can be a powerful tool for brainstorming, providing instant insight into what people are actively searching for.
To generate content ideas, marketers can type in a primary keyword followed by question words like “what,” “why,” “how,” or action verbs like “build,” “create,” or “develop.” For instance, searching for “SEO trends” might reveal suggestions like “SEO trends 2024” or “SEO trends to watch,” which could inspire timely blog posts or thought leadership articles.
With AnswerThePublic, you can take it a step further by seeing how popular these suggested topics are across different platforms. For instance, use one word for best results and search “SEO”; If “SEO trends to watch” has a darker orange dot in the trend wheel, you know it’s a hot topic right now, and creating content around it will likely attract more traffic.
Protecting Your Brand with Reputation Management
Autocomplete is not just about keyword research; it also plays a role in brand management. Sometimes, Google Suggestions might show unflattering or harmful predictions related to your brand, such as “X brand lawsuit” or “X brand scam.” If not managed carefully, these predictions can harm your company’s image.
Using the AnswerThePublic businesses can monitor what users are searching for in real-time. If a negative prediction begins to appear, marketers can take immediate steps to address the underlying issue and launch a reputation management campaign. This might include increasing positive media coverage, engaging with customers on social media, or addressing complaints directly to dilute the negative search volume.
By staying ahead of potential reputation issues, you ensure that your brand image remains intact, and over time, unflattering search queries will fall off Google’s prediction list as search volume for those terms decreases.
Creating User-Friendly E-commerce Websites
For e-commerce businesses, Google Suggestions is a treasure trove of information about what users are searching for when they’re ready to make a purchase. This insight can be used to optimize the site’s navigation and product categorization, making it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.
Let’s say your e-commerce store sells shoes. A quick search for “women’s shoes” in Google might reveal suggestions like “women’s shoes on sale,” “women’s tennis shoes Adidas,” and “women’s shoes size 12.” These popular queries can guide you to create targeted categories on your website, like a dedicated section for large sizes or highlighting Adidas shoes as a featured brand.
Additionally, by analyzing these search terms with AnswerThePublic, you can see which queries are gaining popularity across platforms, allowing you to stay on top of emerging trends and update your inventory and website accordingly.
Conclusion: Turning Search Suggestions into SEO Success
Google Suggestions and tools like AnswerThePublic provide marketers with real-time insights into the minds of their audience. By tapping into these autosuggestions, digital marketers can uncover new long-tail keywords and generate fresh content ideas that align with current search trends. Whether managing an e-commerce site, a local business, or building brand reputation, using search suggestions as part of your SEO strategy can give you the competitive edge you need.