Understanding keyword trends is like having a map for your SEO strategy. It guides you to where the traffic is, helping you make informed decisions that can boost your online presence.
In this article, we learn how to identify and interpret keyword trends, explain the significance of seasonal and industry-specific trends, and provide examples of how businesses can adapt their content strategies based on these trends.
What Are Keyword Trends?
Keyword trends are patterns in the search volume and popularity of specific keywords over time. These trends can show you what topics or search terms are gaining interest and which are fading.
An example of a keyword trend is the search term “work-from-home jobs.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, the search volume for this term significantly spiked, as many people were looking for opportunities to work remotely. As the pandemic situation evolved, the interest in this keyword demonstrated fluctuations corresponding to the global changes in work policy and public sentiment towards remote work arrangements.
How to Identify Keyword Trends
Here are some quick and easy ways to find relevant keyword trends for your business.
1. Social Media and Forums
Platforms like Twitter, Reddit, and niche-specific forums can give you a real-time look at what people are discussing. If a topic is trending on social media, there’s a good chance people are searching for it, too.
On Twitter, keywords like “#BarbieMovie” have shown a massive spike in interest leading up to and following the release of the new Barbie movie in 2024. This trend highlights the global excitement and engagement with the film, making it an excellent opportunity for creating relevant and timely content.
2. Google Trends
Google Trends is a free tool that lets you see how search interest for a keyword changes over time. You can compare multiple keywords and even filter by location and category. For example, if you’re running an SEO agency, you might want to compare terms like “SEO services,” “digital marketing,” and “content marketing.”
3. Keyword Research Tools
Keyword rank tracking tools like Keyword.com, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz offer in-depth insights into keyword trends. They provide data on search volume, competition, and even related keywords. These tools are invaluable for keyword monitoring and can help you identify long-term trends.
With Keyword.com, you can also go beyond keyword data and see how visible your brand is in AI-generated answers. Our AI Visibility Tracker shows whether you’re getting mentioned by tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity. So you don’t just rank in traditional search, but show up where people are increasingly asking questions.
How to Interpret Keyword Trends
Once you’ve identified the trends, the next step is interpreting them. Here are a few things to look for:
1. Consistent Trends
Keywords with steady interest over time are great for evergreen content that remains relevant year-round. An example would be “healthy recipes”. This keyword maintains a consistent level of interest as people are always searching for ways to eat healthier, regardless of the time of year.
2. Seasonal Trends
Seasonal keywords are search terms that spike at certain times of the year. For instance, “Halloween costumes” will trend every October. Recognizing these can help you plan your content calendar.
3. Rising Trends
These are keywords that are gaining in popularity. These are golden opportunities for new content. If you notice a rising trend related to your industry, jump on it quickly. For example, in recent times, keywords like “plant-based diet” have seen a steady increase in interest as more people become aware of and adopt plant-based eating habits.
4. Falling Trends
Pay attention to keywords that are losing interest. If you have content targeting these keywords, it might be time to update or repurpose it. For example, “fidget spinner” was once a viral trend. However, the interest in this keyword has significantly declined, indicating it might be time to shift focus to more current topics.
5. Industry-Specific Trends
Every industry has its unique cycles and trends. Combining industry-specific trends with seasonal trends allows you to create a robust content strategy that addresses general and niche-specific interests.
For instance, SEO agencies might notice that searches for “SEO tips” spike at the beginning of each year as businesses plan their new strategies. During this period, you can align your content to provide fresh insights and updates on SEO best practices.
How to Adapt Your SEO Strategy to Keyword Trends
Let’s look at a few ways to use keyword trend insights in your SEO strategy.
1. Update Existing Content
Regularly update your articles to reflect current trends and information. This can help maintain their relevance and ranking. For example, if you have a blog post on “best SEO practices for 2023,” update it with new strategies and insights for 2024.
2. Repurpose Content
Repurposing is a great way to make the most of your existing content. Consider turning popular blog posts into videos, infographics, or podcast episodes. This helps you reach a wider audience and keeps the content fresh.
3. Create Timely Content
When you identify a rising trend, act quickly to create content around it. Timely content can drive significant traffic to your site.
Let’s say you noticed an increase in searches for “remote work tips” during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Creating a series of blog posts or videos on this topic could attract many visitors.
4. Plan Ahead
Use keyword trends to plan your content calendar. If you know that certain keywords peak at specific times of the year, you can schedule your content accordingly. For example, if you run a fitness blog, you might plan a series of posts on “New Year workout plans” in December, ready to go live in January when interest peaks.
Let Keyword Trends Shape Smarter SEO Decisions
Adapting to keyword trends isn’t just about chasing what’s popular; it’s about staying relevant. Whether you’re a food blogger riding the Veganuary wave, a tech publisher jumping on emerging AI tools, or a retail brand tapping into sustainability conversations, trend-aware content can help you reach your audience when it matters most.
Tools like Keyword.com make it easier to spot those shifts, and with features like our AI Visibility Tracker, you can now go beyond traditional SEO to see how your brand shows up in AI-generated results, too.
Staying in tune with trends helps you show up where your audience is looking—whether that’s on Google, ChatGPT, or anywhere in between.