How to Check Google Trends: A Complete Beginner's Guide

How to Check Google Trends


In today's digital world, knowing what people are searching for online can be a powerful advantage. Whether you're a blogger, content creator, marketer, or business owner, staying updated on trending topics can help you create relevant content, launch effective campaigns, and reach your target audience more efficiently.

One of the best tools for discovering search trends is Google Trends—a free platform that shows how popular a search term is over time. But how do you use it effectively? In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to check Google Trends, step by step, with practical tips on how to apply the data for content strategy, SEO, and beyond.

What is Google Trends?

Google Trends is a free online tool provided by Google that shows the popularity of search queries in Google Search. It provides data and graphs on search volume over time and by geographic location, allowing you to see how interest in a topic is growing, shrinking, or remaining stable.

Whether you're tracking a niche keyword or a global event, Google Trends helps you understand what people are curious about and when.

Why Use Google Trends?

There are many reasons why individuals and businesses use Google Trends, including:

  • Identifying trending topics before they go viral

  • Comparing keyword popularity for SEO research

  • Understanding seasonal trends for product or content planning

  • Analyzing regional interest in a topic or keyword

  • Finding related queries for better keyword targeting

In short, Google Trends is a goldmine of insight for anyone who wants to create relevant and timely content.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Check Google Trends

Let’s go through the step-by-step process of how to check Google Trends and understand the data it presents.

1. Visit the Google Trends Website

To get started, go to: https://trends.google.com

No login or account is required. You can access the full features completely for free.

2. Explore Trending Searches on the Homepage

The homepage displays trending stories in your region by default. These include:

  • Daily search trends – popular searches from the previous day

  • Real-time search trends – what’s trending in real-time

  • Top charts – a yearly overview of the most searched topics

You can click on any of these trends to view more data, including interest over time, related queries, and geographical interest.

3. Search for a Specific Term

To check the trend of a specific topic or keyword:

  • Enter your desired keyword in the search bar at the top (e.g., “electric cars”, “Taylor Swift”, or “AI tools”)

  • Press Enter

You will be taken to a page with detailed insights for that term.

4. Adjust the Search Settings

Once you enter a keyword, you can refine your analysis using the following filters:

  • Location – Select a country, region, or worldwide

  • Time Range – Last hour, day, 7 days, 30 days, 12 months, 5 years, or a custom date range

  • Category – Choose a specific industry like Health, Finance, or Sports

  • Search Type – Web search, Image search, News search, Google Shopping, or YouTube search

These filters help you narrow down the data to make it more specific to your research needs.

5. Understand the Interest Over Time Graph

This line graph shows the search interest for the keyword over time. The scale goes from 0 to 100:

  • 100 represents the peak popularity of the term

  • 50 means it’s half as popular

  • 0 means there was not enough data

This graph helps you understand whether a topic is gaining or losing interest.

6. Analyze Interest by Region

Scroll down to see Interest by subregion or city. This shows where the keyword is most popular, often displayed as a heat map or a ranked list.

This data is especially useful for:

  • Local SEO strategies

  • Geo-targeted content or campaigns

  • Product launches in specific markets

7. Review Related Topics and Queries

At the bottom of the page, you’ll find:

  • Related topics – Other topics that people who searched your keyword are interested in

  • Related queries – Specific searches similar to your keyword

These suggestions are excellent for:

  • Finding content ideas

  • Expanding your keyword list

  • Understanding searcher intent

You can sort these by:

  • Top – Most popular searches

  • Rising – Searches growing in popularity quickly

Sometimes, you’ll see “Breakout” next to a term. This means the query grew by over 5000%!

Bonus Tips: How to Use Google Trends for Content & SEO

Knowing how to check Google Trends is just the beginning. Here are some powerful ways to use the tool:

1. Find Seasonal Keywords

Want to create content that ranks during holidays or events? Use Google Trends to see when interest spikes. For example:

  • “Valentine gift ideas” peaks in early February

  • “Tax filing” becomes popular every April

By publishing your content a few weeks before the trend peaks, you can capture more traffic.

2. Compare Multiple Keywords

You can compare up to 5 keywords at once in Google Trends.

Example: Compare “freelancing” vs “remote jobs” vs “side hustle” to see which has more consistent interest.

This helps you choose the most promising keyword for your article, video, or campaign.

3. Discover Niche Opportunities

Explore rising queries or breakout terms to discover trending niches that are just starting to gain attention. Acting early can give you a competitive edge.

4. Target Local Content

If you're a local business or content creator, Google Trends can show you which regions are searching for your keywords most actively. Create region-specific blog posts, ads, or videos based on this data.

5. Optimize YouTube Content

Switch to “YouTube Search” in the filter to see what people are searching for on YouTube. This is great for:

  • Video titles

  • Tags and descriptions

  • Planning video ideas around trending topics

What Google Trends Can’t Do

While Google Trends is incredibly useful, it does have some limitations:

  • It doesn’t show exact search volume (only relative popularity)

  • Low-volume keywords may show little or no data

  • It’s mostly helpful for short- to mid-term trends, not long-tail SEO

For more detailed volume data, you can combine Google Trends with tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Ahrefs.

Watch Video Guide: How to Check Google Trends – A Complete Beginner's Guide

Watch this complete video guide on how to check Google Trends for beginners — step-by-step instructions, tips, and real-time examples included.



 


Conclusion

Google Trends is an incredibly powerful tool if you know how to use it right. From bloggers and content creators to marketers and business owners, anyone can benefit from tracking search trends.

By following the steps in this guide, you’ll be able to:

  • Check and interpret Google Trends data

  • Spot trending topics before they peak

  • Tailor your content for maximum relevance and visibility

  • Create a stronger SEO strategy based on real-time data

Whether you're planning your next blog post, launching a new product, or optimizing your YouTube channel, Google Trends can be your secret weapon.

So what are you waiting for? Head to trends.google.com and start exploring today!

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