I get it. We say we like learning about tools, but very few of us mean it.
Either you’re just getting started in SEO and overwhelmed by the tsunami of web-based programs, Chrome extensions and local apps flooding your brain, or you’re a seasoned vet comfortably content with the tools that have earned their place in your routine.
But…
It’s free. And it may not be here forever. And your competitors probably aren’t using it. And you’ve already read this much. And FOMO.
Still with me? Let’s dive in. Here’s a comprehensive guide to Google Correlate.
What Is Google Correlate?
Google Correlate uncovers keywords with similar time-based or regional search patterns to the data series or search query you provide.
It’s been described as the Google Trends antonym, where instead of keywords producing patterns, patterns point to keywords.
Marketers, anthropologists, economists, and many others leverage Google Correlate to study and predict human behavior.
The History of Google Correlate
Knowing when and where influenza is spreading is critical. It helps us identify virus subtypes, learn when vaccines aren’t working, and when we ought to be more risk-averse to go out in public.
However, the CDC’s reporting was on a two-week delay, which can seem like an eternity when it comes to viruses.
Then came Google Flu Trends in 2008.
Researchers at Google hypothesized that using real-time, flu-related Google search activity would allow them to nowcast flu prevalence.
At first, it was incredibly accurate and received a lot of acclaim as a result.
It didn’t take long for folks at Google to realize this concept – correlating search trends with real-world data to build predictive models – could have unlimited uses beyond just the flu.
In 2011, Google Correlate was born. – Read more
