5 Strategies for How to Find What People Also Search For

Understanding what people also search for is key to effective SEO and content. For example, Google reports that conversational queries like “How do I…” saw a record jump (up 25% year over year) and “Tell me about…” queries spiked 70%. This trend shows people ask more natural, question-style searches. To align with their needs, use techniques that reveal real search queries. In practice, these techniques include listening to your audience, tapping search engines directly, using keyword tools, monitoring social media and analyzing competitors. Each strategy below is backed by expert advice and tools.

Talk Directly to Your Audience

Engage your existing and potential customers in conversation to learn the exact words they use. Surveys, interviews and feedback forms let people tell you, in their own language, what they want or need. For example, conducting customer interviews or online surveys can reveal phrases customers type into search engines. When you document how clients describe their problems and goals, you uncover real search terms. As one SEO guide notes, the best way to understand customer intent is to connect with them directly.

• Conduct interviews or surveys: Ask open-ended questions (e.g. “How would you search for a solution to [problem]?”) to hear customers’ exact phrasing. Use free tools like Google Forms to gather answers.
• Review feedback and testimonials: Look at customer reviews and Q&A sections for repeated words or questions. These often mirror search queries. For instance, P.C. Richard & Son discovered customers searched “gas grill” instead of “barbecue grill,” so they updated their content and doubled online sales.
• Use voice-of-customer (VoC) research: Join forums or Facebook groups where your audience hangs out. Read how people talk about your industry. This “VoC” research helps you learn search terms that match real user language.

These direct insights ensure you’re targeting terms people actually use. As Google advises, effective keyword research “focuses on understanding what users are looking for”. In other words, start with your customers’ words, not guesswork.

Use Search Engines’ Own Tools

Search engines themselves offer free features for keyword insight. Google Autocomplete suggests queries as you type, revealing common search phrases. For example, typing “best running shoes for” into Google will auto-complete with phrases people commonly use. Check the bottom of search results too, where Related Searches list popular follow-up queries. These built-in hints show what people frequently search. Likewise, Google’s “People Also Ask” box (on many queries) displays actual questions users have asked. Scanning these questions gives ideas of common search terms.

Search engines suggest common searches. Using Google’s autocomplete and related searches can spark ideas for what phrases people use online.

Beyond suggestions, Google provides dedicated tools. Google Keyword Planner (part of Google Ads) reports how often terms are searched and shows related keywords. The planner is free and reveals search volume by region. Google Trends shows interest over time for a search term. You can compare terms or see if a topic is growing. For example, Google Trends lets you filter data by timeframe or location, helping you spot topics rising in popularity.

Together, these features let you discover new keyword ideas straight from Google. They complement other methods by grounding your strategy in actual search behavior. As Google’s guide explains, these tools reveal “what people are searching for online” so your content matches user intent.

Leverage Keyword Tools and AI

Specialized SEO tools can generate keyword ideas and organize real search queries. Free or paid tools pool search data to highlight what people ask. For example, AnswerThePublic collects autocomplete data and shows what questions (like who/what/why/how) people have around a topic. Typing in a keyword (e.g. “garden hose”) into AnswerThePublic generates categories of actual questions like “how do I choose a garden hose?” or “why is the garden hose leaking?”. These question lists are gold for content ideas that match real queries.

Ubersuggest is another helpful tool. It lets you input seed keywords (from customer research or competitor sites) and then explore related terms, search volume, and difficulty. You can uncover long-tail phrases (more specific queries) that real users type. Using Ubersuggest or similar platforms (Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz) helps refine your keyword list. These tools balance search volume against competition and show trends.

An emerging strategy is to use AI language models to expand on search terms. For instance, you might ask a tool like ChatGPT: “What might someone struggling with How to do AI SEO ask online?” or “How else could they phrase this question?”. AI can suggest variations on your known phrases, helping you anticipate different wording. For example, an SEO expert suggests using ChatGPT to brainstorm alternate ways your audience might frame their questions. This can reveal synonyms or long-tail queries you hadn’t thought of.

Use these tools systematically:

• Put basic topics (seed keywords) into AnswerThePublic or Ubersuggest to see the full list of related questions and keywords.
• Check each suggestion’s search volume and ranking difficulty. Focus on queries that match your niche but aren’t impossible to rank for.
• For content planning, let the tools guide specific topics, not remove all human insight. Always filter the suggestions through your understanding of what your audience really wants.

By combining structured tools and AI brainstorming, you cover both quantitative data (how many searches) and qualitative insight (how people talk).

Watch Social and Community Trends

Social platforms and forums reflect what people care about now. Tuning into these can uncover trending search topics and phrases. For example, Twitter’s trending topics or hashtags often mirror popular searches. Pinterest’s “Popular” section or Reddit’s “rising” threads show hot keywords in specific communities. If a certain question or meme is going viral on social media, users will soon search Google for more information.

Look beyond Google. Social media trends and forums (like Twitter, Reddit, Quora) can hint at what topics or questions are on people’s minds right now.

Join relevant online communities (Facebook groups, subreddits, LinkedIn forums) in your industry. Read what questions people are asking. Conductor’s research emphasizes “social listening” tracking what customers say on social media as a way to see patterns in their language. For instance, if you sell fitness gear and notice many people talking about “home workout hacks” on Twitter or Instagram, you should include those words in your keyword list.

You can also use community Q&A sites. Searching for your topic on Quora or checking trending questions on Google’s “What’s Trending” can reveal common queries. Even Stack Exchange or Yahoo Answers (and similar sites) often contain real user questions that match search behavior.

The key is to watch what words people use on these platforms. Conductor points out that social listening “reveals your customers’ expectations and the words they use,” which informs content strategy. By staying active in social and community channels, you catch new search terms as they emerge.

Analyze Competitors and Your Own Data

Finally, mine the data you already have. Competitor research and analytics give clues to real search terms. Tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs let you see which keywords rival sites rank for. Column Five Media advises finding “keywords your competitors rank for” and targeting or surpassing them. For example, enter a competitor’s URL into a keyword tool to get a list of queries sending traffic to them. You may find useful terms you missed.

Also check your own site’s search data. Google Analytics and Search Console show which queries already bring people to you. For instance, Analytics can tell you what search terms current visitors used. This “free data” often reveals long-tail keywords you’ve already captured. Column Five’s guide suggests using Google Analytics to identify “what terms people are using to find you now”.

Even your sales or support teams have insight. Ask them what customer questions they hear. These internal channels can highlight jargon or topics that your audience uses.

Use this combined data to refine your keyword list:

• Competitor tools: Find their top keywords, then create better content around those terms or find gaps they’ve missed.
• Google Search Console: See which queries show impressions but few clicks, and optimize content for those queries.
• Analytics: Identify pages that get unexpected search traffic; note those keywords and incorporate them into future content.

Adding this analytical approach ensures you don’t overlook terms people are already using to find businesses like yours. As Column Five notes, a strong keyword strategy “ensures your content matches what your audience is searching for”.

By combining customer feedback, search engine insights, SEO tools, social listening, and data analysis, you cover all bases. White Bunnie’s recommendation is to use real user data at every step. This prevents guesswork. When you speak your audience’s language and answer their questions whether found through surveys, Google, tools, or social chatter your content will naturally align with what people search for.

Putting it all together: gather keywords from these five strategies, test them, then write clear, helpful content around those terms. Remember to use your main keyword in titles and headers, but focus on readability and relevance above all. Avoid keyword stuffing; instead, solve the searcher’s problem. By following these strategies consistently, you’ll build content that ranks well and truly meets user needs.

saurabh garg

Saurabh Garg, the visionary Chief Technology Officer at Whitebunnie, is the driving force behind our cutting-edge innovations. With his profound expertise and relentless pursuit of excellence, he propels our company into the future, setting new standards in the digital realm.