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Find The Questions Potential Visitors Ask [Google Webmaster Tools]

Shockley Au | September 21st, 2010
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Updated March 17, 2015:Inspired by Ruud's post, Use Google Analytics Advanced Segments To Find The Real Questions Your Visitors Ask, I wondered, "What about the questions searchers (not necessarily visitors) are asking"?

The theory behind finding these questions is similar to the one outlined in Ruud's post, so I suggest that you read his post first. The difference here, though, is that we will find additional questions that were asked, using Google Webmaster Tools.

Let's begin.

Step 1

Log in to Google Webmaster Tools and click on "Search queries".

GWT Search Queires

Step 2

Choose one of the six "question" words (who, what, when, where, why, how) and type it into the search bar. Here we're going with "how". (Sorry, no regex in GWT).

Find Queires in GWT

Optionally you can set any of the other filters as well, making your finds very precise.

Step 3

Now look at the table under the Impressions & Clicks graph. It contains the number of impressions and clicks for each specific query, along with click-through rate (CTR) and average position in the results.

Look for queries that generate a high number of impressions but few clicks.

new-content

The Benefits

In addition to some of the benefits of using Google Analytics and Advanced Segments, Google Webmaster Tools will also include queries that were made by:

  • Non-visitors. You can then use this data to formulate content and tweak meta descriptions to encourage click-throughs to your site.
  • Visitors whose keywords weren't passed to GA. This can happen if JavaScript is turned off, a browser plugin or extension disables Google Analytics, GA isn't installed on the landing page, etc.
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Posted in SEOTagged Google Webmaster Tools, Keyword Research, tool

About the Author: Shockley Au

Shockley combines digital marketing and innovative technologies to help businesses succeed. He is certified in Google AdWords, Google Analytics, and Bing Ads. Follow him on Twitter @ShockleyAu.

Shockley Au

9 thoughts on “Find The Questions Potential Visitors Ask [Google Webmaster Tools]”

  1. Mandy June says:
    September 21, 2010 at 2:26 pm

    I love looking at Search Queries! Sometimes they just have really interesting stuff… Things you would never think of asking. LOL Google Webmaster tools are very useful for SEO. My favorite tool to use by far.
    .-= Mandy June recently posted: 5 Strangest Bank Robberies of the 21st Century =-.

  2. Aaron says:
    September 21, 2010 at 4:46 pm

    Very cool Shockley. I’ve found webmaster tools very useful at finding search queries and positions in result pages.
    .-= Aaron recently posted: VIZIO XVT373SV 37-Inch Full HD 1080P LED LCD HDTV Review =-.

  3. Shockley Au says:
    September 22, 2010 at 6:10 am

    @Mandy, @Aaron: The long-tail queries are always full of surprising insights into what people are interested in!

  4. Aleksandar says:
    September 24, 2010 at 3:12 pm

    Great thinking. I actually got the idea for questions on analytics by myself sometime ago, and use it from time to time, but questions in webmasters tools didn’t get on my mind.
    Thanks
    .-= Aleksandar recently posted: Korisne konferencije i seminari u oktobru =-.

  5. Shockley Au says:
    September 27, 2010 at 6:59 am

    @Aleksandar: Thanks. Using the GWT method is good if you also want to see search queries that weren’t captured in GA.

  6. Per H. Jørgensen says:
    September 29, 2010 at 12:59 am

    I agree, that long tail queries often opens your eyes to new possibilities, but I haven’t thought of using webmaster tools for this purpose. Thanks for sharing 🙂

  7. Shockley Au says:
    September 29, 2010 at 10:22 am

    @Per: You’re welcome! 🙂

  8. Penny says:
    November 22, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    I also love google webmaster tools top search queries and will make a page specifically around any long tail search queries. Of course this is not always possible so i google the search query and then book mark it with google bookmarks.

    I just can’t figure out how this works for google Adsense?

    How do you use your top search queries?

    1. Ruud Hein says:
      November 23, 2010 at 8:32 am

      We tend to fold back information from various channels (traffic reports, social media monitoring, contact with clients, etc.) into new content.

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