Search queries keep getting longer. Over the past year, queries of 8 words and over experienced the higher the jump in usage.
A Hitwise study finds searches of 5 or move words in length increased 10 percent from January 2008 to January of this year. Over the same period of time shorter queries of 1 to 4 words in length decreased 2 percent.
The longer the queries, the longer the long tail becomes. As searchers becomes more sophisticated in honing their terms, SEO gets correspondingly more complex, but also more potentially rewarding.
|
Subject |
Jan-08 |
Dec-08 |
Jan-09 |
Year-over-year percent change |
|
1 word |
20.96% |
20.70% |
20.29% |
-3% |
|
2 words |
24.91% |
24.13% |
23.65% |
-5% |
|
3 words |
22.03% |
21.94% |
21.92% |
0% |
|
4 words |
14.54% |
14.67% |
14.89% |
2% |
|
5 words |
8.20% |
8.37% |
8.68% |
6% |
|
6 words |
4.32% |
4.47% |
4.65% |
8% |
|
7 words |
2.23% |
2.40% |
2.49% |
12% |
|
8+ words |
2.81% |
3.31% |
3.43% |
22% |
|
|
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