google, google suggest, keyword tool, results, Search Engine Optimization
The main feature associated with Google Suggest is a dynamically generated list that suggest keyword phrases and search strings in a drop down menu. The results of the list change as a user types in their keyword phrase, offering suggestions in accord with the topic. The purpose behind Google Suggest is to provide the user with alternate keyword phrases. The purpose is straight forward, but how the list is generated has spurred a lot of debate. Furthermore, there is a number called, “results”, displayed to the right of each suggestion. The meaning behind the “results” has generated many debates on what the term “results” means.
Arguably, to understand Google Suggest we have to know two things: what do the numbers associated with the “results” mean and how is Google generating the suggestions? First I will define what “results” mean:
the results are the number of competing web pages for that specific keyword phrase.
Next, how are the suggested phrases generated and how is the order determined?
Suggestions are determined by keyword popularity. The more popular a phrase, the higher on the list that phrase will be positioned.
This makes sense when a list is analyzed. If you open Google Suggest and start typing you will notice the “results” are not determining the suggested keyword positions. For example, if you start to type “website desi” (”desi is not a typo, I’m only entering a partial word), you will see “website designers” is listed second with 29,200,000 results. However, “website designs” is listed fifth with 49,900,000 results. So why are keyword phrases with lower “results” higher on the list?
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