What is Big Data?
A term that is being bandied about more frequently online these days is “Big Data.”
Big data is an all-encompassing term for any collection of data sets so large and complex that it becomes difficult to process using traditional data processing applications.
Whilst more and more information is being gathered and collated, how can the average small, medium or large business capitalise on this data? How can it be used to grow your business?
Google has released a new range of tools to the search data market – Google Trends.
Google trends puts powerful, historical search term trend data within the reach of everyone’s fingertips.
An example of Google Trends
The following chart explores the popularity of “digital marketing” vs “social media marketing” over the last 10 years.
Google Trends analyses a percentage of Google web searches to determine how many searches have been done for the terms you’ve entered, compared to the total number of Google searches done during that time. This means that you can begin to clearly see patterns and trends in what people have searched for and looked for throughout the last few years. These insights should then directly influence your marketing strategy for the coming months and years.
Example of “Coca Cola” versus “Pepsi” trends
The above graph clearly shows the divergence in the cola soft drink market. Sales show that the market share and marketing outputs run broadly in line with the search trends on Google.
How to make the most of Google Trends for your business?
Brand Management
Google Trends can be a fantastic tool in tracking the rise and fall of certain brands. Knowing when and how to push a brand over another brand can be critical to obtaining successful results.
Product popularity
You can use Google Trends to identify popular products, or more importantly, when certain products, styles or trends come and go. Capitalising on the “latest thing” can be incredibly valuable for any business.
Geographical variances
If you retail and sell overseas then insights into cultural and social differences of search terms can be very beneficial for your business. Identify popular terms and product search variances by country or region to ensure your advertising and marketing is using the right targeted content for your business.
Competitor analysis
Use your competitor names/products versus your own to see what the search market share variances are. This will let you know if your rivals are in the ascendency or in decline. Capitalise on the ones in decline and step up competitive marketing against the ones in the ascendency.
In summary
Google has lifted the lid a little on the vast array of “Big Data” it has in its data banks and given everyone a powerful tool to query a unique history of internet searches at Google over the last decade.
Harnessing this valuable data should be something you add to your digital marketing arsenal and use the data to help influence your future marketing strategy planning.
The team here at teclan are well versed and expert in employing these tools within our daily analysis of online ecommerce businesses. The more we use these tools, the greater our insight into the models at play and the greater the opportunities that present themselves to us.
Oh, and did we mention that Google Trends is a cool thing to play with as well? Go on! Have a play.