If you’ve launched a business on WordPress or even a blog, chances are that you’ve wanted to maximize its outreach as much as possible.
It’s likely that you’ve come across the holy grail of content on the internet – keywords. As search engines continue to dominate the way we create, consume, sell, and buy on the internet, understanding how people use them is paramount to a successful digital venture.
In this deep yet accessible guide, we’ll take you through the key concepts of search intent, the different ways in which people use Google and other search engines, how to make your content reach users, and which tools to rely on.
What Is Search Intent?
Search intent (or keyword intent, user intent) is typically used to describe the reason or purpose behind an online search. Some people conduct searches to research a certain topic, while others search for local establishments or businesses that can cater to their needs.
Google, which continues to dominate the search engine market at 92.47%, has continually worked on updating its algorithm to provide a better user experience. These algorithm updates are often geared towards making Google’s search results more intuitive and accurate.
With each core update, Google changes the way it ranks websites. Ensuring that website content fits user search intents, helps site owners to recover from Google core updates quickly. When building user-friendly and informative posts, having a good understanding of what users look for is key.
For example, a person searching for ‘pumpkin soup’ will be given search results that contain recipes, demo videos, and other similar content:
Google may also suggest other related search queries, such as ‘How does Jamie Oliver make pumpkin soup?’ and ‘How does Gordon Ramsay make pumpkin soup?’
Simply put, Google tries its best to match a searcher’s intent with the best types of content available. Notice that the search results do not return results that contain articles on the history of pumpkin soup or its cultural significance. There’s an understanding that when a person types the keywords ‘pumpkin’ and ‘soup,’ they’re usually looking for recipes and other practical types of content.
Another good example is Google’s search results for the search query ‘how to tie a necktie.’ Notice that it returns with a result of a tutorial video that users can follow along:
It also returns results containing helpful images that illustrate a step-by-step guide for tying a tie:
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This article was written by Kyla and originally published on WPExplorer.