The internet is a vast ocean of information. With billions of web pages and data available online, finding what you need can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. This is where search engines like Google come in - helping people discover the most relevant information for their queries.
Some search terms are looked up more than others on Google. These popular keywords provide insight into what people are most interested in and searching for online.
In this blog post, we'll explore the most searched keywords and topics on Google in 2024. We'll look at why certain search terms are so popular, seasonal trends, and how you can use these insights to optimize your website and content.
Understanding keyword search volume and popularity is crucial for several reasons:
In short, keyword research provides a snapshot into the mind of the searcher so you can meet their demands. Now let's look at the most searched terms.
Google processes over 3.5 billion searches per day. But what are people searching for the most? Here are the current most searched words globally based on Google Keyword Planner data:
It's no surprise the world's largest social network takes the top spot. With over 2.5 billion active monthly users, Facebook remains hugely popular in 2024. People search for Facebook to visit the platform itself or look up information about the company.
YouTube comes next as the internet's dominant video platform. Users flock to YouTube for entertainment, learning, or to watch content from specific creators. Music videos are commonly searched for on the site too.
The e-commerce giant Amazon is the 3rd most searched term. Users go to Amazon to shop online, search for products, or look up information about the company and its services. Amazon remains a go-to destination for online shopping.
Ironically, the search engine people use to look up information is itself a top-searched word. Reasons for these searches include getting to the Google homepage, looking for other Google services, or learning about the history and business side of Google.
As the top streaming entertainment service, Netflix takes 5th place. Users search for Netflix to browse and find TV shows and movies to watch or learn about subscription options. Original hits like Stranger Things also drive searches.
YouTube's dedicated music streaming app YouTube Music is the 6th most searched term. Users look up YouTube Music to find songs, playlists, and music videos, and to learn about the service as a Spotify competitor.
Google's translation service comes next. Searches aim to use Translate to convert languages or learn about the capabilities of Google's translation technology.
Google's hugely popular email service Gmail takes 8th place. Users search for Gmail to access their email, troubleshoot issues, or create a new account.
Google Classroom ranks 9th, highlighting the rise of remote learning. Students and teachers search Google Classroom to access or get help with the learning management system.
Rounding out the top 10 is Google Maps. Users search for Google Maps to access directions, explore places on the map, or look up information about locations.
Beyond the overall top searches, we can break down the most popular keywords within specific topics and categories:
As we can see, searches highlight dominant brands and platforms, along with current events, popular products, and entertainment trends. Next, let's look at how searches change seasonally.
Searches fluctuate based on time of year, holidays, events, and cultural trends. Here are some top seasonal keywords:
As you can see, seasonal keywords follow predictable patterns year after year, concentrating on major events, holidays, and changing seasons.
Now that we've looked at current and seasonal search trends, let's examine some evergreen topics that retain steady popularity.
Beyond trends and current events, some topics and keywords maintain steady search volume year-round. These "evergreen" searches see consistent monthly lookups, unaltered by seasons or external events.
Some top evergreen keyword categories include:
Health and Fitness
Home and Garden
Food and cooking
Automotive
Technology
Education
Pets
Evergreen content matches searches users make throughout the year. Optimizing for these persistent interests and questions can help attract a steady stream of traffic over time versus temporary spikes around events.
Now that we've explored the most searched keywords, how can you apply these insights for SEO and boost your site's visibility? Here are some keyword research tips:
Essentially, align your keyword strategies with real user searches. This makes your content discoverable and helps searchers find your site to fulfill their needs.
A: According to Google, the all-time most searched term is "Google" itself! The search engine receives countless searches on its name each day.
A: In 2024, the current #1 most searched word on Google is "Facebook", followed by "YouTube", "Amazon", and "Google". This highlights the ongoing dominance of major social media and tech platforms.
A: The top 3 overall keywords by search volume are Facebook, YouTube, and Amazon. These brands see the highest global searches each day.
A: Beyond the top brands, keywords with massive search volume include common terms like "weather", "news", "recipes", and navigational searches like "maps", "email", and "translate". More specific trending keywords also spike during events.
A: The top 10 currently are:
A: Google's free Keyword Planner tool lets you look at monthly search volumes for keywords to find the most searched terms and questions around topics. You can prioritize these high-demand keywords in your content strategy and optimize pages for search visibility.
A: Evergreen keywords with less seasonality include terms related to health, home, food, automotive, technology, education, and pets. These see consistent searches year-round for their valuable information.
Understanding what words and questions people search for most on Google provides a wealth of insights to help drive more strategic SEO and content creation. Use these most searched keywords as a guide to produce more findable content aligned with searcher intent and interests.
Keyword research provides a window into the minds of searchers. By analyzing the most searched terms on Google, we can identify rising topics of interest, seasonal trends, and persistently popular keywords.
Leveraging these insights allows you to create content that directly answers the questions and needs of searchers. Aligning your website with highly searched keywords improves discoverability and traffic from organic searches.
Focus on providing value to readers above all else. Use keywords naturally and don't over-optimize. Craft content that helps people, not just search engines.
Keep researching to stay on top of new trends and revisit evergreen keyword opportunities. With the right keywords that match user intent, you can reach people at the exact moment they're looking for your products, services, or information.
