Keyword research is only the first step in search engine optimization. It’s an important foundation, don’t get me wrong. At the same time, just as no site metric exists in a vacuum, keywords lose a lot of value if you understand nothing about the people typing them.
In short, you know what searches bring people to your site, but do you know why?
Let’s say someone types in the search term ‘Tonka.’ Are they looking to buy a toy truck? To read about the Tonka brand? To research the 1958 Disney movie? To learn more about rocket fuel?
Without further information, you simply cannot know. But you need to. Understanding search intent is critical to optimizing your site, and crucial if you want to provide your audience with the best experience possible.
Let’s start with an overview of the different types of search intent.
Learn, Locate, Purchase, Research: 4 Types of Search Intent
According to SEO firm Yoast, all searches fall into one of the following categories.
- Informational queries are entered by users who are looking for information of some kind. This could include information on the weather, current events, marketing tutorials, and so on. These users have a specific question and are looking for a specific answer.
- Navigational queries are entered by users who are looking for a specific website. It’s usually not worthwhile trying to rank high on a navigational query – it either happens organically, or your site isn’t what people are looking for.
- Transactional queries are entered with the intent to purchase in the immediate future. They usually include keywords like “buy” or “purchase.”
- Commercial/Investigative queries sort of blend transactional and informational. These are people who plan to purchase in the near future but want to learn more before they do. They’re looking for reviews, for advice on which product is the best, etc.
Why People Search: Understanding User Intent on Your Website
Now that you know the different types of search intent, the next order of business is figuring out which of them drives traffic to your website. The good news is that you likely already have all the data you need for this. All you really need to do is read between the lines.
First, consider the type of page that’s receiving search traffic. A product listing is probably going to draw in users with either transactional or investigative intent. A blog post or white paper on the other hand will draw in users who’ve entered informational queries.
It may also be worthwhile to examine the search engine results page. What ads are displayed on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP)? What is the nature of the other sites that have ranked? Take a bit of time to study, and try to put yourself in the shoes of someone who’s entered the keyword or keyphrase, and ask yourself: what are they looking for, and how do the results meet that need?
That is, after all, what nearly every Google algorithm update to date has been about – establishing a better understanding of user intent, and better meeting user needs.
Per SEMRush, you should also pay particularly close attention to the following search features:
- Informational: Live results, knowledge cards, tweets, top stories, featured snippets, videos
- Commercial: People also ask, shopping, reviews, videos, knowledge panel, featured snippet lists
- Transactional: Paid product panels, paid knowledge panel additions, shopping, knowledge panels, reviews, images
Finally, take a look at how people are engaging with your content. An abnormally high bounce rate could indicate that your content doesn’t quite mesh with what people are looking for. Again, though, don’t measure bounce rate in isolation.
A thought leadership post, for example, might have a high bounce rate coupled with high time on the page. Sure, you ideally want people to respond to your call to action. But many of them will probably read the piece, find that it fits their needs, and move on.
Conclusion
Keywords are only the first step to proper SEO. It’s not enough to know what people are searching for. You also need to know why. Otherwise, you cannot properly optimize your content for your audience.
