Where once the only indication of search volume on a particular keyterm was a little green bar with 6 positions; 0 for hardly any search volume, 1 for a bit more search volume and 5 for freakin’ loads of search volume; the Google Adwords Keyword Tool now gives an indication of search volume on 0 to 100 scale. That’s a granularity increase of almost 16 times for the numerically obsessed!
According to Readwriteweb this may be the start of the mighty Google allowing much more access to its vast array of data-banks (highly anonomised, of course).
Perhaps I should be fearing my job? A good proportion of what I do is taking the tiny spotlights into the void that is the internet, compiling them, normalising them with data that I know is accurate and then visualising that in a way that reveals insight - data-mashing if you like. If really granular, accurate information is readily available; perhaps there won’t be a place for my team and I at ICrossing UK?
I actually don’t think this true. In fact, I think it’s exciting and a great source of opportunity. If we can take really good information from different digital marketing functions and help to give consumers what they want, when they want it then we, our clients, and most importantly, the user will benefit. Search informs website build which informs social media strategy which informs display advertising and vice versa and ad finitum….
Take a look at Swivel to see how interesting and useful insight can come out of making the data openly accessible.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:43 am
Don\’t want to say I told you so - but I told you so!
Recent innovations in some of Google\’s tools show they are slowly opening up more and more data; witness Google Trends for Websites with estimated numbers of visits, real search volumes in Google Adwords and the ability to download granular trend data from Google trends.