Google search statistics for COVID-19 show persistently dramatic shifts in customer behavior. In real-time, people’s search terms and language reflect a reality that has altered. Businesses that depend on SEO experts or have internal teams for SEO must revise their strategies in the meanwhile to reflect changing customer attitudes and habits.
In April, we looked closely at how COVID-19 has impacted Google search behavior and trends. The nation went from running regularly to a near-complete standstill between March 1 and 23. Over the last several weeks, searches for online services linked to daily life—such as telemedicine, food delivery, online education, and Zoom meetings—have surged by triple digits.
What’s changed after three months? Let’s take a closer look at the impact of coronavirus on SEO.
Google Search Trends for June 2020
As the economy changes, new and essential search patterns continue to appear. We looked at Google search patterns from the middle of March to the middle of June.
Trends in Outdoor and Travel Searches
- Travel to Corona has increased by 4,200%, while car camping has risen by 200%.
- Hawaii travel is up 110%, while remote travel is up 600%.
- Private beach vacations have increased by 80%
- The CDC has increased travel restrictions by 360%
- A 450 percent increase in domestic travel
Consumers are prepared for a break; that much is certain. Within “CDC travel limitations,” people hope to take a “corona vacation” to escape it. COVID-19 visitors may be attracted by tourist and travel marketing initiatives that cater to domestic passengers and include outdoor activities or secluded, private areas. Significant volume increases were seen in searches related to remote beaches, camping, and visits to Hawaii.
Trends in Food and Drink Search
- Takeout orders are up 110%, while discussion about fast food establishments is up 750%.”
- “Quick healthy food near me” is up 100%, wine and spirits are up 2900%, and grocery delivery near me has seen an increase of 600%. Dine-in restaurants are a breakthrough subject.
- Convenience is still a key topic in searches for food and beverages. Delivery of groceries, fast food, and takeout continue to provide favorable search results.
While searches in our prior coronavirus were declining, Dine-in restaurants are returning, according to a Google search trends report. Since many bars and restaurants were forced to shut down due to government regulations, diners are eager to get meals out and eat out. Consumers are seeking to forgo the drive-thru and instead eat inside at a restaurant as restrictions have become laxer.
Trends in Education Search
- Google Classroom use is up 70%
- G-suite for education has increased by 800%
- E-learning has increased by 200%
- Udemy has increased by 200%
Numerous educational institutions were compelled to adjust swiftly after the epidemic, offering millions of pupils online options. This still holds as all kinds of schools prepare for a new educational year with social distance rules. As parents, students, and other learners look for methods to further their education, searches for creative learning solutions at the K–12 and higher education levels are still common.
Search Trends for Health and Wellness
- Emergency calls have increased by 600% and sick days by 600%, respectively.
- A 300% increase in urgent care
- Intermittent fasting has increased by 100%
- A 190 percent increase in exercise equipment
- The number of outdoor gyms has increased by 200 percent.
- Depression is up 850 percent on COVID.
Consumers have relied on health-related searches to get vital information throughout the worldwide epidemic. Consumers have looked for the knowledge necessary to make meaningful choices, whether in response to their disease or while investigating the available care facilities.
Health-related expressions not explicitly tied to coronavirus show how consumers have tried to keep active. Due to the closure of gyms, customers searched for creative and novel methods to improve their physical fitness. Home gyms and workout equipment were two search terms that assisted people in finding fitness. Before COVID-19, “intermittent fasting” had been on the rise for three years, and it has remained so even in the wake of the New Year’s resolution diet boom.
The last several months have been psychologically challenging as well. People looked for strategies to control their “COVID sadness” and anxiety. Losing friends and family, experiencing unemployment, or even simply being indoors for an extended period has a notable effect on mental health.
Trends in Technology Search
Video conferencing has increased by 520 percent, while antivirus software has grown by 49 percent.
Due to COVID-19, consumer behaviors toward digital media have changed. Consumers are now more dependent than ever on the internet for entertainment or to thrive in business. Zoom sessions have become a crucial component of working in 2020 since connecting and communicating are at the core of the business. For companies like Noble Studios, “video conferencing” has proved essential to serving customers and fostering a work environment.
Security risks have grown as internet use, and employees have moved from secure to less secure domestic networks. As people look for methods to boost their safety, searches for “antivirus software” rose by 49%.
Trends in Insurance Search
Medical insurance COVID-19 has increased 1100 percent, while unemployment compensation is up 550 percent.
Insurance systems have been put under unprecedented strain due to COVID-19 and the economic downturn. The requirement for customers to concurrently handle a financial and a health crisis is directly tied to the increased search trend for “unemployment insurance” and “health insurance COVID-19.”
As employees have been let go or given furloughs over the last three months, millions of complaints have been made. States’ ability to satisfy the demand has been hampered by the influx of claims. Meanwhile, millions of people have looked for the data required to pay for testing and treatment.
Trends in B2B Search
- B2B content marketing increased by 70%
- B2B marketing tactics increased 100%
- A 70% increase in the best tools for project management
Public health initiatives like social distancing have severely influenced B2B sales and marketing. Conventions, business vacations, and even casual lunches have pretty much all come to an end at this point. Businesses must develop new or revise existing methods of connecting with their clients. Noble Studios has advocated “B2B content marketing” as a “B2B Marketing Strategy” for many years.
In our inaugural piece on Google search patterns and behavior, we highlighted that remote workforces for B2B were looking for automation and project management technologies. The phrase “best project management tools” has increased by 70% over the last three months, continuing this trend.
Tips for Coronavirus SEO
- Consider the tone and voice of the message.
- Keep an eye out for new and trending search phrases.
- Keep your website’s material updated with the situation.
- Track trends over time to determine which phrases are becoming more stable and which are ephemeral.
- Check coronavirus content often for relevance and correctness.
- Modify current material to reflect shifting search intent.
What Can We Infer from June 2020’s Coronavirus Search Trends?
The fact that customers are unsettled emotionally, psychologically, and physically runs through every term. COVID-19 has recently shaken the economy of the world, the country, and the local community. Moving forward requires an adaptive marketing strategy that responds to a dynamic market and pessimistic customer mood.
These days, consumers have actual demands for safety and security. Brands that are sympathetic, modest, and open with their customers may prosper! It won’t always be wrong. Prepare for the future by embracing change now that you know the impact of coronavirus on SEO.
