Google Trends: how to use it to plan your offers, content and ads

Google Trends is a free tool from Google that shows how often people search for a word or phrase, and how that changes over time. You can use it to see what is popular right now, compare two terms and spot seasonal peaks. It does not give exact search numbers, but it helps you decide what to write, sell or advertise next.

What is Google Trends and what does it show?

Google Trends is a free tool on Google's own website. You type in a search term, pick a country and a time period, and you see a line graph. The line goes up when more people search for that term and down when fewer do.

It also shows where in a country the term is most popular, and which related searches are rising. That last part is useful. It tells you which words people use, which is not always the word you would use yourself.

There is also a page called Trending now. It lists the searches that are rising fast in a chosen country. This answers a question many people ask: what is the number one searched thing on Google? There is no single answer, because it changes every day. Open Trending now and you see the answer for today.

How do you use Google Trends step by step?

You do not need an account and you do not need any training. Take ten minutes and follow these steps with a term from your own business.

• Type in one search term your customers might use, for example "dog groomer", "villa rental" or "garden furniture".
• Choose the country where your customers live. If you only work in one region, narrow it down further where the tool allows it.
• Set the time range to the last five years. This shows you the yearly pattern. The last 12 months shows you what is happening more recently.
• Add a second term to compare. Use a different way of saying the same thing, such as "wedding flowers" and "bridal bouquet".
• Scroll down to the related queries and topics. Read them. They show what people search for around your term.

How do you read the Google Trends graph?

The numbers on the graph run from 0 to 100. The number 100 is the busiest moment for that term, in the place and period you picked. A 50 means the term was half as popular as at its peak. A 0 usually means there was not enough data.

This is the part people get wrong. The numbers are relative, not real search counts. A tiny local term can show 100, and so can a huge one. The graph tells you when interest goes up and down. It does not tell you how many people that is.

So use the tool to read the shape of the line. Is it flat all year? Does it peak in the same months every year? Is it slowly growing or fading? Those patterns are what you can act on.

How can a small business use Google Trends?

The best use is timing. If you rent out holiday apartments, you can see when people start searching for your kind of stay. If you sell garden furniture online, you can see when interest starts to climb in spring. You then know when to have your pages, photos and offers ready.

Timing matters because a new page or an update needs time before it gets found. Read how long SEO takes to show results and you will see why starting before the peak is better than starting during it.

The second use is wording. Compare two terms and see which one people search for more. A plumber might compare "boiler repair" with "heating engineer". The winner is the phrase to use in your page titles and headings. For a deeper look at choosing phrases, see our page on keyword research.

The third use is checking an idea before you spend money on it. If a product or service has a line that has been falling for years, think twice before building your business around it.

If you also run Google Ads, the same pattern helps you decide when to spend more and when to pause. A seasonal business often wastes budget outside its season.

Can you earn money from Google Trends?

Not directly. Google Trends does not pay you, and there is no price per 1,000 views, because you are not publishing anything. The tool is for research. You earn money when you use what you learn to sell something people are looking for, at the moment they look for it.

You will also see questions like "how to earn 1k in 1 hour". Be careful with those. There is no honest shortcut. A page that matches what people search for can bring in customers, but it takes work and time.

If you mean getting paid per view on a video or website, that is a different system, such as YouTube or ad networks. What you earn depends on many things, and nobody can give you a fixed number.

What can't Google Trends tell you?

Google Trends has limits, and it is better to know them before you rely on it. It does not show exact search numbers. It does not show how much competition there is. It does not show whether the people searching want to buy or only want to read.

A rising term is also not automatically right for you. A trending search that has nothing to do with your service will bring visitors who never become customers. Ask one question before you act: would someone who searches this word actually need what I sell?

A good first step today: pick one term for your main service, look at five years of data and write down the three busiest months. Plan your next page or campaign around those months. If you would like someone to look at your site and tell you where your searches are going, Request the free quickscan. It is free, even if you don't buy anything. You talk to me directly, and I do the work myself. You can also read more about how SEO works first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the #1 searched thing on Google?

There is no fixed answer, because it changes every day and differs per country. The Trending now page on Google Trends shows what is rising right now in the country you pick. Open it, choose your country and you will see today's top searches.

What is Google's 20% rule?

It usually refers to Google's "20% time", the idea that employees can spend about a fifth of their working time on side projects. It is a company working habit. It is not a search or ranking rule, and it has nothing to do with the Google Trends tool.

Is Google Trends free to use?

Yes. Google Trends is free, and you can use it without paying anything. You type in a term, choose a country and a time range, and the graph appears. For a small business that is enough to spot seasonal patterns and compare two phrases.

How much does Google pay for 1,000 views?

Google does not pay you for views in Google Trends. Platforms like YouTube pay in other ways, and the amount depends on the topic, the country and the audience. Nobody can give a fixed number, so be careful with anyone who does.

Does Google Trends show exact search numbers?

No. It shows relative interest on a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 is the busiest moment for that term. It is good for seeing patterns and comparing terms. For rough volumes you need another source, such as keyword research.

Dimitry founder of Growetic. He does SEO, Google Ads and websites for businesses in the Netherlands, on Bonaire and in Spain.