In their efforts to become more transparent about their search and search habits, Google recently released, Google Insights, a new that can be used for web developers and those performing SEO optimization gain better prospective on target keywords, and aids in keyword research. Previously most search term and keyword research has been done by specific keyword research tools, including Google’s AdWord Keyword Tool. The keyword tool helped determine which target keywords or phrases are stronger, providing those performing SEO optimizations a determination for stronger or weaker keywords and alternate phrases to target.

Although the Keyword Tool is helpful, it data is limited in scope and is targeted to those using the AdWords application. Insights is a more detailed tool for keyword research. With Insights you are able to see the strength of your keyword over time, potential target markets, relevant search terms (as with the Keyword Tool) and search terms that are on the rise. For SEO optimization this is really helpful and important.  Using the keyword Web Designer, I want to take a brief look at Google Insights.

The information provided, however, is not raw data. Instead Google displays the strength of each keyword on a scale of 1 – 100 (Google explains their methods here in detail). Using the example above, I would like to help translate the information. Displayed first is the keywords overall strength. In the example above, they keyword Web Designer has an overall strength of 70. The chart beneath it represents the keywords strength over time, from 2004 to current day. This can be customized for shorter time periods, any specific year from 2004 – 2007 or a rolling 30 day, 90 day, 12 month intervals. Underneath is regional interest which displays the strength of your keyword compared to various locations. If you are a Web Designer in Nepal you seem to be in very high demand!

The most interesting aspect of insights is the ability to provide a list of top searches and rising searches or related keywords on the rise. This is very helpful in tailoring your website to niche markets or swapping keywords that were never expected to use. These results show that Web Designer may be a very generic term, if you are skilled in .ASP or .NET web applications, Microsoft Web Designer is ninth on the top search list; it may behoove you to use this term. Another term that should be considered is web page maker, as it is the top keyword on the rising searches.

The deeper you delve into Insights, the better it gets. There is the ability to compare different keywords to one another. In the example below, I’ve compared keywords Web Designer to Web Developer in order to compare one against the other.  In this case, they keyword Web Designer displays a strong trend of popularity, but the Web Developer keyword is rising and now may provide better results.

Google Insights is a great addition to SEO optimization but can also be used for bragging rights. In this case it seems that Google has determined who wins between cats and dogs.

Do note, that while Google Insights is free, you must have a Google account to see the magnitudes I discussed in this article.