Google autocomplete for keyword research

by

Google autocomplete can be a good way to get an overview of a subject and to get a feel for the kind of topics people are searching for.

Many of these results don’t appear in keyword research tools.

Some of them are brand-new queries that people are just starting to search for.

(Make sure you’re signed out of Google before doing any keyword research otherwise your results will be personalised and skewed. No one wants that.)

Choose your own autocomplete adventure…

What do you want to get from this article?

If you want quick tips for using Google autocomplete (and don’t try to sell me something you awful SEO goblin) Go to section β†’ 1️⃣

If you prefer a longer form method to understand search intentΒ (but not too long, I’ve got work to do) Go to section β†’ 2️⃣

If you crave some half-baked theories about autocomplete (and please be kinda pretentious about it) Go to section β†’ 3️⃣

If you need a template that automates the process (and fiiiiine, I’m willing to pay you for it…Β  you awful SEO goblin)Β  Go to section β†’ 4️⃣

Quick tips for using Google autocomplete for keyword research tips 1️⃣

1. Use the β€˜vs’ search to find related keywords

β†’ Comparative blog posts perform well in the SERP and fit many content writing niches.
β†’ For example, start typing β€˜blueberries vs…’ and you’ll find a plethora of other superfoods that might spark the interest of your nutrition-savvy audience.

2. Use the β€˜how *’ wildcard

β†’ My personal favourite and an excellent way to find informational keywords for blog posts, the wildcard can be applied to a whole host of niches.
β†’ For example, type β€˜how to do * on LinkedIn’ and Google will replace the wildcard β€˜*’ with suggestions. Screenshot attached for this one.

3. Find related terms for transactional keywords

Perform a key transactional keyword – for example “best marketing courses” if that is what you offer. In that same search bar start searching for questions such as: “what is…”, “how to…”, “when…” and see what Google suggests in autocomplete.

You can even go a step further and start with the alphabet autocomplete like “what is a…”, “what is b…”, etc.
You’ll be surprised at how many keywords you do not cover on your website.

Keep in mind not all of those keywords are irrelevant – you might see “where was James Bond filmed” when searching for keywords related to best banking app. But for a method that is 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩π₯𝐞𝐭𝐞π₯𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 you can just exclude those keywords from your strategy.

4. Use the magical +

Google autocomplete doesn’t just predict what comes after your search

It can also tell you what people search π™—π™šπ™›π™€π™§π™š and π™—π™šπ™©π™¬π™šπ™šπ™£ keywords.

Just add “+” and click on it.

Middle and pre autocomplete suggestions appear like magic.

Putting it all together…

How to understand search intent with Google Autocomplete 2️⃣

To understand a topic, search intent + the content formats that Google wants to see…

… just look at autocomplete results.

Let’s use the topic *project management*

Type this into Google & look at what it generates.

You get a good list of content ideas + an idea of search intent.

Now pick terms you want to explore.

(I went with: courses, tools, skills & examples)

From there you can work out the best content formats to use.

4 REAL examples using this method

Here’s 4 REAL examples of how Google autocomplete helps build a content strategy by:

  • understanding what angles to cover
  • content formats to use
  • what Google + users want to see

1) Keyword: project management courses

  • 🟣 cost – often an important factor, for buyers guide or comparison table
  • πŸ”΄ accreditations – niche specific, could do reviews or study guides
  • 🟑 local intent – local landing pages could work

2) Keyword: project management tools

  • 🟣 cost – reviews, buyers guide or even a free template
  • πŸ”΄ techniques – create tutorials walking through the tools
  • 🟑 examples – list posts of tools are useful, but lists posts with REAL examples are more useful

3) Keyword: project management skills

  • 🟣 specific skills – get specific and breakdown the individual skills
  • πŸ”΄ templates – people want resources, curate or create them
  • 🟑 examples – show and tell (not just tell)

4) Keyword: project management examples

  • 🟣 link asset – create an interactive guide
  • πŸ”΄ lead magnet idea – PDF guide
  • 🟑 personas – say hello to your target market + use cases

What does this tell me about creating content for the topic *project management*?

  • accreditations are important
  • cost is an important factor (duh)
  • users want to test before paying (or at least see it in action)
  • specific industry use cases ftw

Not bad from autocomplete.

Half-baked theories about autocomplete 3️⃣

Google autosuggest can provide insight into consumer search behaviour BEFORE it becomes mainstream.

For example, people appending the modifier [reddit] to searches was visible far before the broader public discourse reflected this behaviour.

I’ve seen a few [no ai] & [not ai] modifiersΒ popping up.

I do find it kinda funny that usingΒ [not ai] to try to escape algorithmic influence by using… algorithms. It’s like trying to use the Matrix to escape the Matrix.

It will be interesting to see how Google handles these searches.

Or even IF they do tbh.

Currently, Big G doesn’t seem to lean on this modifier much. AI results still show up for [no ai] searches.

But if more and more people continue to search this way, it’s likely there will have to be a response in regards to flagging and tagging of AI content…

Or maybe I’m reading too much into Google autocomplete?

Or maybe our tools have grown beyond our ability to fully control, escape or truly understand them?

(Although attempting to avoid AI through search modifiers via an algorithm… is almost poetically ironic. Almost.)

Or maybe I should just stop wearing this tin foil hat?

And if you want some reallllly half-baked ideas and pretencious pseudo-philosophy, strap in:

“The Collective Unconscious of Search”

Collective unconscious is a concept developed by psychiatrist Carl Jung that refers to a part of the human psyche that is shared by all people and is inherited from our ancestors.

Like Jung’s collective unconscious, Google Autocomplete represents our shared digital psyche. The [reddit] and [not ai] modifiers reveal a collective anxiety about authenticity and trust in digital spaces.

Autocomplete serves as a unique form of technological intention.

When we begin typing, the suggestions reflect not just our individual consciousness, but a networked consciousness of millions of users.

Users wanting better answers…

… or maybe just less crap AI and more good AI.

Automating autosuggest in Google Sheets with this template 4️⃣

If you buy this template, you will autocomplete me (and I promise I’ll never say that phrase again).

XXXX