Basics of Google Trends

Using the free Trends Explore tool, this introductory course will teach you the fundamentals of Google Trends.

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Lesson overview

Google Trends: What Is It?

We can see what people are searching for in real time by using Google Trends. With the use of this information, we can determine how interested people are in a given topic, location, and time. You will learn how Google Trends functions in this session and have the ability to analyze this data on your own.

  1. Selecting a topic
  2. Reading the interest over time graph
  3. Understanding the numbers
  4. Searches by location
  5. Top and rising searches
  6. Data excluded from search
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Selecting a topic

The free Trends Explore tool allows you to examine Google Trends data. To provide you with the most comprehensive view of what individuals are looking for, the data is categorized into subjects. Additionally, you can query specific search phrases.

STEP 1 A drop-down list will appear as you write your query. The precise search word you entered appears at the top. A list of subjects that Google Trends thinks you might be attempting to investigate is displayed below.

Step 2: Click on the pertinent topic to access the data if you see it in the drop-down list. Use the search keyword if not. In general, topics are thought to provide more accurate Google Trends data. They cover all languages and capture misspellings, acronyms, and the precise sentence. This is more beneficial, especially when examining global statistics.

STEP 3: Examine a search word and a topic with the same title simultaneously to gain a better grasp of the distinctions between topics and search phrases. You’ll see that the outcomes appear differently.

Step 4:
With the Trends Explore feature, you can look up to five terms or themes. Make careful to compare like for like; search phrases and subjects should be compared with one another and with one another.

Reading the interest over time graph

Trends Explore displays a popularity graph for the topic you are searching for over time. The first step to comprehending the data underlying Google Trends is being able to interpret this graph.

Step 1: Let’s look into veganism. To indicate both the year 2017 and Worldwide, use the drop-down choices.To view search interest over time, numbered from 1 to 100, hover over the graph. On the graph, find the maximum value, and record the date.

Step 2: Let’s set the data’s time range to the previous five years.Although the date of this value has changed, the maximum value on the graph is still 100. Additionally, try to find the peak on the preceding graph.

Step 3

The graph’s values don’t correspond to the total volume of searches. Rather, they undergo normalization before being indexed on a range of 1 to 100. The graph’s highest point, 100, is divided by each point. Observe how the maximum points alter once more when we select + Add comparison and enter a different subject, such a ketogenic diet.

Understanding the numbers

We’ve heard by now that the Trends Explore tool indexes and normalizes data. What does this really mean, though?

Indexing: We don’t have precise numbers for any phrases or subjects because Google Trends data is derived on an impartial, random sampling of Google queries. We index data from 1 to 100, where 100 is the greatest search interest for the time and location selected, to assign a value to phrases.

Normalization: We do not consider the entire number of searches when examining search interest in a given topic or query. Rather, we consider the fraction of searches that are related to that topic relative to all searches conducted at that particular time and place.

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Searches by location

Data is also broken down per location on Google Trends. In this section, we’ll examine the fundamentals of location data using Google Trends and comprehend the underlying statistics.

STEP 1: To view search interest by location, scroll down after completing your Google Trends search. Your search interest will be broken down by nation if your location is set to Worldwide. Once a country has been chosen, Interest by area will appear. There is more search interest in darker tinted areas.

Step 2
Your data’s map view will be automatically shown by Trends Explore. The button with three stacked horizontal lines located at the upper right corner of the map can be used to switch between the map and list views. Both perspectives will be displayed to you at the same time if your window is large enough.

Step 3:
Data from Google Trends organized by nation, area, and city is visible. You can also view search results by metro area in certain countries. Use the menu located in the upper right corner of the map to choose the breakdown you desire.

Top and rising searches

The last essential component of the Trends Explore tool is a list of popular and trending search terms and queries. We’ll learn how to interpret and comprehend this data in this section.

Step – 1:
You’ll see tables of Related subjects and Related inquiries related to the term or topic you entered at the bottom of your Trends Explore page. Click the arrows beneath the table to navigate through the results.

Step 2

Trends Explore will automatically show data that is “rising” for both searches and topics. Over the chosen time frame, these have experienced the most growth in search interest. Beside every topic or search term is the percentage rise in search interest.Over 5000% more “breakout” searches have been made in the specified period of time. These are typically brand-new or have very little previous search volume.

Step 3
To switch to Top, click the icon with the word “Rising” in the upper right corner. These are the searches that have been conducted most frequently on the chosen time period and area. The values are normalized and indexed between 1 and 100.

Step 4: To delve more into a topic or inquiry, click on it if it’s popular or trending.

Data excluded from search

Trends excludes certain data from your searches.

  • Search phrases of low volume appear as 0 for a specific time period since Trends only analyzes data for popular terms. These are searches done by relatively few individuals.
  • Duplicate searches: Trends improves overall accuracy by removing repeated searches made by the same user within a certain timeframe.
  • Special characters: Apostrophes and other special characters are excluded from searches by Trends.
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