Google Trend Identifier

January 2, 2009

in 2008, Google rolled out a free trend and key word research tool. If you have not experimented with it, navigate to Insights for Search here. You can enter one or more words and phrases, click search, and see a nifty graphic of the “popularity” of your terms over time. I took a break from my forthcoming study about Google and publishing to run this query: Autonomy IDOL”, “Google Search Appliance”, “SharePoint search”. The data come from Google’s log files. If you are a fan of one of these enterprise search systems, you may protest the data displayed below directly to the GOOG, not me. The result was a shocker to me:

I have snipped only the chart. You will find a number of useful features available, including:

Data by categories, time, and geography
News items related to your query
Identification of terms that are moving up and those that are moving down.

For me, this system is important because it shows that Google can blend several different types of information from various Google subsystems in a homogeneous service. As 2009 gets underway, companies wanting to compete with Googzilla have to match and, if possible, leapfrog its services. Companies selling key word tools or charging big bucks for trend data may have to view Google as an increasingly disruptive force in their market patch.

Stephen Arnold, January 2, 2009

Written by Stephen E. Arnold · Filed Under Microsoft, News, Online (general), Search, Technology

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Stephen E. Arnold monitors search, content processing, text mining and related topics from his high-tech nerve center in rural Kentucky. He tries to winnow the goose feathers from the giblets. He works with colleagues worldwide to make this Web log useful to those who want to go "beyond search". Contact him at sa [at] arnoldit.com. His Web site with additional information about search is arnoldit.com.