Google has released a report focusing on shopping-related search terms, highlighting a notable trend among mobile users who are increasingly using three new types of shopping keywords.
Many consumers are opting for similar, less expensive products instead of high-priced items or brands. These "similar product" keywords present new opportunities to attract potential customers that competitors may overlook. This data is valuable for SEO, affiliate marketing, and PPC strategies.
A 60% increase has been observed in "similar to" search queries conducted on mobile devices.
A New Angle on Comparison Shopping
Traditionally, comparison shopping involves evaluating products to find the best value or features. This emerging form of comparison shopping, however, is about discovering affordable alternatives to expensive products.
"Looks Like" and "Similar To" Search Queries
According to Google:
- Mobile searches for phrases like “that looks like” have surged by over 60% in the last two years. Examples include “inexpensive tile that looks like wood,” “Honda that looks like Ferrari,” “furniture that looks like Pottery Barn,” etc.
- Mobile queries for “similar to” have similarly increased by 60% over the last two years, with searches like “shirts similar to Untuckit” and “coolers similar to Yeti” becoming more common.
"Under Dollar Amount" Search Queries
Searches on mobile for products including the word “under” followed by a price have risen by 175% in the last two years. This indicates a growing consumer comfort with mobile shopping. It might be beneficial to incorporate phrases with “under” followed by a price into your website’s content and structured product data.
Google provides these examples:
- “cheap window air conditioners under $100”
- “cheap luggage sets under $50”
- “hotels near me under $100”
- “cars under $3000”
Alternative Brand/Store Queries
Google points to an increase in searches related to “brands like” and “stores like.” Such mobile search queries have gone up by over 60% in the last two years. This shift offers a chance to capture traffic from consumers seeking alternatives to specific brands or stores, a strategy that can be enhanced by using structured data. Structured data is increasingly crucial for mobile search visibility, be it through voice search or traditional typing.
The complete Think with Google research publication is available for further insights.
Images sourced from Shutterstock and modified by the author. Screenshot image courtesy of Google.
