{"id":77265,"date":"2019-06-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-04T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marketinginsidergroup.com\/uncategorized\/whats-the-question-behind-the-question-search-intent-optimization\/"},"modified":"2023-09-14T05:37:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T09:37:44","slug":"whats-the-question-behind-the-question-search-intent-optimization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketinginsidergroup.com\/content-marketing\/whats-the-question-behind-the-question-search-intent-optimization\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Question Behind the Question: Search Intent Optimization"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a previous article on understanding search intent<\/a>, we explored search engine optimization and keywords. At the early stages of search engine optimization, the focus was on researching keywords that are the most competitive and drawing traffic to our sites.<\/p>\n

Today, keywords are still important, but there are so many more factors that come into play. These page rank factors include creating a secure and accessible website, having a fast page speed<\/a> (desktop and mobile), optimized content, and more.<\/p>\n

As Google works to advance their service and provide even more accurate results to searchers, there is more of a focus on searcher intent.<\/p>\n

What Do You Mean?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Searcher intent<\/i>\u00a0(or \u201cuser intent\u201d) is the reason (or motive) that someone has for carrying out a query. Knowing this reason is critical to search engine optimization. As Google becomes savvier at determining searcher intent, it is our job as content marketers to make sure that our content fits its criteria so that we can rank (or continue to rank) high in search results. Google will be looking for results that not only fit the search term but also fit the search query\u2019s intent.<\/p>\n

\"Search<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But \u201cintent\u201d can be broken down more specifically than just a \u201creason.\u201d There are different\u00a0types<\/i>\u00a0of intent based on exactly what a customer needs.<\/p>\n

The 3.5 Types of Intent<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We say that there are 3.5 types rather cheekily because some sources claim there are three types of intent whereas others say there are four\u2014but we can combine three and four into one type of intent. Here they are:<\/p>\n

Informational Intent<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, he looks like that one actor! He was in\u00a0Die Hard<\/i>\u00a0with Bruce Willis. Argh, what\u2019s his name? Hold on, let me Google the cast list of\u00a0Die Hard.<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n

When we need information\u2014a phone number to a restaurant\u2014or we want to figure out who was that one guy in that movie about the end of the world, we almost readily turn to the search engine.<\/p>\n

A lot of searches submitted each day revolve around this type of informational intent because people want to know something. Queries can include all the 5W1H (or Five Ws and How): Who, what, where, why, when, and how.<\/p>\n