The back of my brain: Which term/topic is best?

August 3, 2006

Which term/topic is best?

Can't decide if people are more likely to look for "social work programs" or "social work degrees" when looking for an M.S.W. degree? Writing a story about memory loss and wonder what to focus on?

Give Overture's keyword selector a try. The tool is designed to help you choose keywords for online ad campaigns, but it can be useful for other purposes, too.

Here's what I found for suggestions for "M.S.W.":
Searches done in June 2006

Count   Search Term 

 1880    msw 

  274    msw program 

  186    online msw degree 

  178    msw degree 

  166    msw logo 

  146    msw online 

  128    online msw program 

   94    accredited msw program 

   88    2006 msw 

   88    msw jobs

Now I have some data to suggest that I should use the term "program" rather than "degree." Since the numbers are so close, it might be best to use both terms where possible. If the degree program in social work offers any online courses, I might want to lead with that information because it looks like there's lots of interest. Adding a note about acreditation might also be wise.

Here are recent searches regarding momory loss:

Searches done in June 2006 

Count    Search Term 

11241    loss memory short term 

 7054    loss memory 

 1368    lipitor loss memory 

  534    cause loss memory 

  441    cause loss memory short term 

  278    depression loss memory 

  176    alcohol loss memory 

  153    loss memory menopause 

  152    loss memory sudden 

  150    long loss memory term 

  136    loss memory statins

This suggests that people are interested in short term memory loss--no surprise there. But I would not have known that people associate memory loss with Lipitor. So I might be sure I write about statin drugs and any connection they have with loss of memory. (And I think I'll read up on this since my 83-year-old mother takes Lipitor.)

I don't doubt that the results from Overture's suggestions can also mislead. But for those of us who operate with a lack of market research resources, this gives us some dat worth concidering.

Plus Overture is fun. I put in my last name expecting to see "rocky" and maybe "natasha" as suggestions. Those are there, put so is "pet supply." I might have a long lost relative selling pet food or there might be a dog toy out there I need to buy. And there's "bullwinkle family fun center." I've got to go there for my next vacation!

Posted by bullwink at August 3, 2006 1:55 PM

Comments

There's Google's Adwords tools, too at
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal?defaultView=3

Posted by: Kristeen Bullwinkle at January 4, 2007 2:27 PM

Another thing to try is Google Trends at http://www.google.com/trends. For instance you can compare "evaluation" to "measurement" to determine which might be better to include in the name of your new course. In this case, they are about tied, however.

I tried "give" and "donate" to compare and found that the word "give" is used in searches far more often than "donate." Not a real surprise.

Posted by: Kristeen Bullwinkle at January 10, 2007 4:52 PM

Could you pleasee supply way more information on this field?? BTW your web site is so nice. Take care..

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Posted by: Max Urion at July 6, 2011 8:55 PM