What Is Google Trends?
Google Trends is a free tool from Google that shows how often a particular search term has been entered into Google over time, relative to total search volume. You can see whether interest in a topic is growing, declining, or seasonal — and compare multiple terms against each other.
For business owners, it is one of the most underused tools available. It will not tell you exact search volumes, but it tells you something equally valuable: direction and timing.
How to Access Google Trends
Go to trends.google.com. No account required — it is entirely free. Enter any search term and you will immediately see a graph showing interest over time.
How to Read a Google Trends Graph
The vertical axis is not absolute search volume — it is a relative interest score from 0 to 100. A score of 100 means peak popularity for that term in that period. A score of 50 means half as popular as the peak.
This matters: two terms can have very different actual search volumes but show similar-looking graphs. Always cross-reference with a volume tool if you need absolute numbers.
5 Ways Sunshine Coast Businesses Can Use Google Trends
1. Time Your Content and Promotions
Search interest for many services is seasonal. “Air conditioning installation” spikes in October-November. “Tax accountant” peaks in June-July. “Wedding photographer” rises January-March.
By checking Google Trends for your service terms, you can publish blog posts and run promotions 2-4 weeks before the seasonal spike hits — so you are already ranking when demand peaks.
How to check: enter your service term, set location to Australia, select “Past 5 years.” Look for recurring seasonal patterns.
2. Validate a New Service or Product Idea
Before investing time building a new service offering, check if people are actually searching for it — and whether interest is growing or dying. A term with a declining trend over 5 years is harder to rank for and less worth targeting than one with an upward trend.
3. Find Related Topics Your Competitors Are Missing
At the bottom of every Google Trends result page, you will see “Related topics” and “Related queries.” These show what people are searching alongside your main term. Breakout topics (marked with an arrow) are growing fast — they are often underserved by existing content.
These related queries are excellent blog topic ideas. If you are a web designer and “website builder AI” shows up as a breakout query, writing a post on that topic puts you in front of a growing audience.
4. Compare Yourself to Competitors
Type your business name into Google Trends alongside a competitor name. You will not see search volumes, but you will see relative brand awareness over time. If a competitor branded searches are growing faster than yours, it is a signal to invest more in brand-building.
5. Choose Between Two Keywords for Your SEO Strategy
If you are deciding whether to target “web designer sunshine coast” or “website designer sunshine coast”, Google Trends will show you which term has more consistent demand and whether either is growing. Choose the term on an upward trajectory — even if it has slightly lower current volume, a growing trend means better returns on your SEO investment over time.
Using the Region Filter for Local Businesses
This is where it gets powerful for Sunshine Coast businesses. Change the location from Australia to Queensland, or zoom into specific cities. You can see whether certain terms are more popular in your area than nationally — and find hyperlocal opportunities your competitors elsewhere are not targeting.
How to Use Google Trends Alongside Google Search Console
Combine both tools for the full picture:
- Google Trends tells you when and whether interest in a topic is growing
- Google Search Console tells you how your site is performing for that topic right now
If Trends shows interest in a topic spiking but Search Console shows you are not ranking for it yet, that is your content opportunity. Write the post now and you will catch the traffic as it rises.
Limitations of Google Trends
- No absolute numbers — you cannot see actual monthly search volumes
- Small-volume terms show unpredictable data (sample size too small)
- Brand terms are skewed by navigational searches
For actual keyword volumes, use Google Keyword Planner (free with a Google Ads account) or a paid tool like Ahrefs alongside Trends.
Want a Content Strategy Built Around Trending Topics?
At Oop Design, we use Google Trends alongside keyword research tools to build content strategies that catch demand on the way up. If you want a Sunshine Coast SEO strategy built around real data, talk to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Trends accurate?
It is accurate for showing relative trends and seasonality. It is not accurate for absolute search volumes — use Google Keyword Planner or a dedicated SEO tool for those. Use Trends for direction, not exact numbers.
Can I use Google Trends to find keywords?
Yes, especially the “Related queries” section. “Breakout” queries — those marked with a rising arrow — are growing fast and often have less competition than established terms.
Does Google Trends show real-time data?
Yes. You can filter for the last hour, the last day, or up to the past 5 years. Real-time data is useful for spotting breaking news topics relevant to your industry.
Is Google Trends free?
Yes, completely free. No account required.
How do I compare two keywords in Google Trends?
After entering your first keyword, click “+ Compare” and type your second keyword. You can compare up to 5 terms simultaneously.