If you market online, you’ll want to check out Google’s new Insights for Search. Insights lets you see the relative popularity, based on search volume, of various search terms over time. Results can be filtered by location, region, category and time. They also provide map based search results.
Here are the search terms I compared:
Here were my location, category and time settings:
and the results:
Choosing a Marketing Message Based on Search Volume
You can compare various keyword searches to see their relative importance to consumers. The search comparison indicates that while “homes for sale” is heavily searched, “realtors” is not far behind. So, folks are interested in finding homes AND agents (at least in New York). Your marketing message might be that you have access to all the homes for sale and you are a damn fine real estate agent.
Time Frame Filters Can Account for Seasonal Changes and Trends
If you set the filter for the winter months you might find different results– timeshare rental searches might outpace home for sale searches in your market. A search comparing different years might indicate a trend.
Branding Wars: See how your brand stacks up to the competition
Here’s some fun I had with Zillow and Trulia. Based on the number of name specific searches (trulia v zillow), it seems the Zillow brand is much stronger than Trulia, across the board. Trulia might want to work on their brand awareness.
This one is interesting: That upstart zillo.com is getting a good piece of zillow searches
Here are the search terms related to trulia:
Here is a map showing where each brand is strongest, in search volume terms:
Zillow (below) is well branded out west but weak in the east.
Trulia (below) is strong in its home state of California. Its branch in New York helps build brand awareness in the northeast. Zillow may want to set up shop on the east coast before Trulia’s brand establishes a real stronghold.
Discover New Markets to Advertise.
Here’s a look at the search term “florida homes for sale”. See the states where searches are being made for this keyword phrase:
Oh, I almost forgot. Here’s a neat feature: Rising Searches. It forces you to look behind you to see who may be gaining on you. Look at that rascal Cyberhomes and its breakout self.
Get on over to Google Insights and have a go. See what you can discover (and then let me know 
Comparing Insights to Google Trends, I like Insights a lot more.
Technorati Tags: google insights search, zillow, trulia, real estate marketing
