The SEO Works have touched on the types of search queries in an SEO article about Google’s RankBrain. There are three main types of search queries that people use on the internet:
- Informational
- Navigational
- Transactional
SEOs can liken the goals of optimizing web pages to a simple formula:
traffic volume * conversion rate = volume of new customers
By pursuing both goals, you improve the prospects of gaining new customers and also potentially send signals to Google that will place you higher in search rank and increase website impressions to a broader audience of potential customers. How does this relate to the types of search queries? Search query types are a reflection of the traditional sales funnel stages:
The informative query type is the equivalent to the bottom of the sales funnel, called Awareness. These are cold leads, with limited intent to buy at this point. Still, informative queries offer a meet-and-greet; a chance for your brand to wedge its foot in the door.
The navigational query type matches the middle sales stage. Leads are lukewarm. Tepid leads are nurtured in this Consideration stage of the buying cycle. These leads are people who already know the company name, business name, or an individual’s name to navigate to a specific website. An easy example is YouTube. In 2014, an estimated billion users got to YouTube through a navigational search query.
The transactional query type represents the very top of and the conversion point of the sales stage. Customers have made their decision to buy right there, right now, through your website.
Optimize by Targeted Search Type
Now that we’ve examined the three main query types juxtaposed against the sales funnel, we see that online marketing and old-fashioned, traditional sales strategies still apply.
Informational Search
Informational Search Queries Defined
Think of the “how to” guides of the web. Straight facts. Technical instructions. Statistical data. Imagine a pair of feuding friends settling a bet in a pub by consulting the Guinness Book of World Records. Those guys are your informational searchers.
In sales speak, they are ice-cold leads; not likely to convert. Yet, these leads have value in that they improve your authority for other types of search queries, and also raise brand awareness.
Examples of Informational Search Query
The user’s query in this example is “how to boil an egg.” The results yield:
Notice Google’s knowledge graph/featured snippet box. This is high-priced real estate for any site vying for authority and traffic volume.
It’s the outlined box that appears above the fold in Google results that displays a brief passage of text. The featured snippet answers informative search queries for facts, trivia, how-to instructions, etc.
It’s possible Google could, over time, revise SERPs (search engine results pages) altogether and show exclusively knowledge graphs instead of regular listings for all informational queries (bad news for us SEOs).
Informational Search Query Tools for Marketers
Straightforward keywords are your most reliable tool to lasso those informational searchers to your site.
The best keywords to apply in your website copy, titles, and descriptions include:
- how-to
- basic nouns like “eggs”, “silver”, “gold”, “photosynthesis”
- short phrases like “small wart on palm”
- short questions like “do frogs smell?”
Consider, that the informational query type can bounce traffic fast if a website is optimized for transactions only. Successful websites should have high-quality, well-written content throughout their pages so that users find value in it.
How to Measure Informational Search on Your Website
Measure informational search queries by looking at month-to-month Google Analytics traffic volumes.
You can use Analytics to monitor traffic growth to informational pages such as blog posts, news articles, or FAQ pages. You can also use the Engagement Rate to assess whether users are engaging with your content and pages once they land on them.
Navigational Search
Navigational Search Queries
The definition of a navigational search is when a user types a specific brand name directly in the search bar with the intent to find a specific website, like “Amazon” or “Facebook”, for example.
When you need to settle a bet with a friend and type in “Guinness Book of World Records” to get to its homepage, this is a navigational search. The user is already familiar with the brand. They remember it and return to it.
Steal These Keywords for Navigation Search Queries
Since navigational search is generally synonymous with brand awareness, there are no keyword tools or tips to apply. There are, however, best practices to adhere to:
Best Practice to Target Navigational Search
- company name
- business name
- person’s name
- domain suffixes
How to Measure Navigational Search Traffic
Navigational searchers are lukewarm contenders for conversion. Smack dab in the center of the sales funnel, they can go either way.
You can measure these terms using branded keyword performance reported via Google Search Console, as well as returning users via Google Analytics.
Transactional Search
Transactional Search Queries
Transactional queries are carried out by those who are ready to convert! Transactions are not limited to strictly e-commerce purchases. Consider form submissions, eBook downloads, and video views as actions users took to transact with the website.
Keywords to Target Transactional Search Queries
As a general rule, the best keywords to target transaction-seekers are where traditional calls-to-action fall. Calls-to-action invite engagement between a user and the website via site functionality communication.
CTA Buzzwords to Utilize On Your Website
- apply
apply for financing
best book now
buy
chat
coupons
discounts
download eBook
download video
free estimate
free shipping
get a price quote
hot deals
listen to audio
order
play song
pricing
purchase
reserve
reviews
schedule appointment
self-candidate quizzes
special promotions
testimonials
watch video
How to Measure Transactional Search Queries
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see when revenue rises. Aside from just making more money, the key performance indicators for transactional search queries are measured by monitoring click-through rate and the volume of your specific events and conversions set up in Google Analytics.
Count user engagements in transactional search queries. Include form submissions, e-commerce completed transactions, the number of appointments booked, etc.
We’re All Friends Here
There’s no competition among search queries. Each serves a unique purpose for the user’s intent and buying cycle. The SEO Works have decades of expertise in optimizing websites for all types of search intents to carry your target market along your sales funnel and improve conversions. Speak to the team for more information or for a free quote on our SEO or content marketing services.
