If you’ve been attempting to figure out SEO in recent times, chances are that you’ve heard the phrase user intent. It’s bandied about by digital experts, SEO optimization agencies, and marketers like it’s the magic potion for Google rankings, and, honestly, it sort of is.
But what is user intent, anyway? And more to the point, how can it shift the way you produce content and develop your strategy, particularly if you’re managing SEO for international websites or dealing with multiple types of audiences?
Let’s deconstruct it into simple, human speak and discuss how user intent can totally revolutionize your search results.
Understanding What “User Intent” Actually Means
In plain language, user intent (or search intent) is why a person searches for something on Google. It’s the “why” they’re searching.
Consider this: when a person searches “best running shoes,” they likely want to purchase. But when they search “why do runners use carbon plates in shoes,” they’re searching to learn.
Despite the fact that both searches contain shoes, the purpose is completely different, and that alters the way you need to present yourself for those searches.
Search engines such as Google have been perfecting how they handle this purpose for years. They no longer simply match words; they match meaning. That’s why pumping out random keyword-stuffed blogs no longer works.
