Definition
Google Trends is a free tool offered by Google that allows you to analyze the evolution of search query popularity over time and by geographic area. The tool displays trends as normalized graphs on a scale of 0 to 100, where 100 represents peak popularity. Google Trends is essential in SEO for identifying seasonal trends, comparing relative keyword popularity, discovering emerging topics, and adapting your content strategy. The tool also lets you filter by category, search type (web, images, YouTube, Google Shopping, news), and compare up to 5 terms simultaneously. For SEO, Google Trends helps anticipate search peaks and plan the editorial calendar accordingly.
Key Points
- Free Google tool for analyzing search popularity over time
- Essential for identifying seasonal trends and emerging topics
- Allows comparing up to 5 terms and filtering by region and search type
Practical Examples
Keyword seasonality
Google Trends reveals that 'Christmas gift' spikes in November-December. An e-commerce merchant prepares their SEO content 2-3 months in advance to be ranked at the time of peak search volume.
Term comparison
Compare 'netlinking' vs 'link building' in Google Trends to see which term is more searched in your target market and adapt your content accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Google Trends displays relative popularity indices (0-100), not absolute volumes. To get exact search volumes, combine Google Trends with Google Keyword Planner, Semrush, or Ahrefs.
Yes, Google Trends allows filtering by country, region, and even city to understand local search trends, which is valuable for local SEO.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07