The Things People Search For Online
Posted: Friday, April 17, 2009
by Laura Trahan
Over the years as I have written for SearchWarp, I have found it interesting to study and research what gets searched by average folks.
One of the highlights of this past year was when we took a staff trip to Google and saw for ourselves televisions scrolling searches that were happening online. It amazes me the things people type into that little search box.
Recently, I couldn't help but chuckle or feel a little disturbed by the stats on one of my articles. See, in a effort to be funny one day, I wrote an article titled Ten Ways To Kill Your Husband In His Sleep.
I figured it would be one of those articles that would entertain those faithful readers and that would be the end of it. Today, I noticed that the article has gotten a few search engine referrals. Really? I thought to myself.
I checked the keywords to see if there was some sort of mistake. No, people have actually searched for Ten Ways to kill their husbands. What is worse is that one referral came from the search: How to kill your husband in three easy steps.
Seriously? Three steps are easy? I am thinking if I am going to kill someone, it is going to be quick and therefore, a lot easier then three steps. What are those three steps and what part of them is easy? O.k., I am getting off of topic.
There was also a search for the most popular ways to kill. I just imagine some homecoming queen still wanting to do what the popular crowd is doing just sitting at her computer planning her next move.
Then, of course, my favorite: Ways to kill annoying people. Don't we all wish we could search that every day after putting up with the daily stuff in the work place?
I tell you all this for a few reasons. One, I am a little worried about our society, but that is an entirely different topic.
Two is that you never can tell what will be popular online. Sure, there are certain topics that will spark more interest then others. If you want in-depth advice, check out the expert's article at /swa286926.htm Bruce has been in the business a long time and is right when he says that we can tell and article's success before it is even published at times.
Finally, I just wanted to share my intrigue of this phenomenon of search that we began to love. It is ok to venture out every now and then. You never know when someone will be searching for that perfect way to kill their spouse.
By the way, you might want to check your spouse's search history. It couldn't hurt.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Laura,Yeah, I hear ya; however, I'm one that is inbetween. I write to a degree what people are looking for, but I find that if I do that solely or too much, I feel the watering down effect and I lose my life, my reason for writing: self expression. However, once again, there is a way to do it. I've reached a certain amount of success here on the Warp, but the utlimate question is do you want to be just another writer of content or a writer of intent? or that of merely catering to the masses sans individuality. Do you simply write to mass desire or the desire or your heart? Certainly a struggle many writers go through. I find that I dance between the two, but when the heartstrings call, I listen and am informed often giving what they speak to sans any popular appeal. I find that if I don't do this frequently, my muse cries for want of expression and its very life force. Thanks for the article.Thanks Jeff! very true! Thanks so much for commenting!
Ha! Laura, you have me LOL! You do realize that if something ever happened to Rob you would be prime person of interest, right? Don't worry, though. I'll tell them how it is!I know! I think I scare his family! It am promising it is all in humor!!! Thanks Lorrie for defending me! I will do the same for you! ;)
Enjoyed your article very much. I'm still floundering but I keep checking out all the different topics and I use the keywords a lot. Thank you.Linda DThanks Linda for your comment and sharing!
hi laura,hmmm, i bet i could give those search engines a run for their money with some of the thoughts that have gone through my head!Rob is too cute to kill, maybe you should write an article about how to torture one's spuse!but, just the word "spouse" should give it away :)remember, when your doorbell rings, make sure you know who's come a calling!my best regards,sue
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