Understanding Different Types of Search Intent
What is search intent? We look up different things all the time to find information. We may be looking to learn how to knit. Or maybe we want to find a local Thai restaurant. Whatever it may be, we have an intent or reason for searching what we’re searching. Understanding different types of search intent helps us, as just “searchers,” to better understand this SEO process. However, as business and website owners, it helps us understand how people find information related to our business.
Let’s start with naming the different types of search intents. The four types of search intent are informational, transactional, navigational, and commercial. Now, you may be thinking, why does this matter, and how can I even determine it? But you can quickly determine it by the words in the search.
Informational:
Informational searches are when people search for informational-based results. It can be searching for how to do an oil change or who invented the air conditioner. These searches often start with question words such as “why” and “how.” However, sometimes they can look like searches like “benefits of Vitamin D.”
Transactional:
These types of searches are related to purchases. They are used when looking to buy a product or visit a store. Examples include hair salons near me and Apple laptops. We must be aware of this essential search intent, as these words can attract more attention to what we’re trying to promote and sell.
Navigational:
Navigational search intents involve getting somewhere either in person or online. Awareness of this search intent is essential whether you have an in-person or online business. Examples include diners near me (for physical location) or Amazon music(virtual).
Commercial:
Commercial search intents are also related to the sales process. They are used for during the research phase. Some examples include the best software for small businesses or the most affordable couches.
I hope this helped you understand the different types of search intents! Many overlook this part of marketing, but learning more about it can help us better understand how people search. It helps to know how different words and formatting work. If you need some help understanding how SEO works, please reach out to bayrockdigitlamarketing@gmail.com to learn more about our 1-1 SEO workshops!
