They say you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. Well, what if you could find the horses that are already drinking, and you could gain control of the tap?
According to the company, Google Trends (www.google.com/trends) allows you to “compare the world’s interest in your favorite topics,” by analyzing subjects to determine how often they have been searched for on Google over time, along with how frequently a topic appeared in Google News stories — as well as the geographic regions that are most interested in that particular subject.
Google’s Hot Searches provide “a snapshot of what’s on the public’s collective mind by viewing a stream of the fastest-rising search queries in the U.S.
When timeliness and being first to market is your big concern, Google’s Hot Searches provide “a snapshot of what’s on the public’s collective mind by viewing a stream of the fastest-rising search queries in the U.S.”
Given the increasing integration of real-time social media tools into search practices, this is a great way to quickly identify what is resonating with the American public today.
One example of how trend tracking can drive adult marketing is by looking at the term “MILF” — which in adult parlance and in the popular culture is an acronym for “Mother I’d Like to Fuck” — a reference to a young man’s attraction to an older woman.
While Google Trends indicates a recent upsurge in search volume for the term, which reached its peak in 2005 and has declined fairly steadily since, it also reveals that several news stories have centered on another “MILF” — the Moro Islamic Liberation Front — which is a rebel group fighting against the Philippine government.
Although piggybacking on a story about recent rebel attacks requires a deft hand for adult marketers, the example should provide food for thought on how social activism and current events can drive website traffic.
For example, a balanced article or blog post detailing the grievances leading MILF to become “freedom fighters,” along with the government view of these “terrorists,” could find a readership — and contain a link to content depicting the other meaning of “MILF.”
There are many ways to go about incorporating timely news and current search peaks into your marketing efforts, limited only by your ethics and imagination. As with all adult / mainstream crossover marketing, be smart about it and you’ll increase the traffic to your site without incurring any problems.