Hey, Google! How’d you know?

Learning about how Google autocomplete predictions work with our partner, Bluetrain

We encounter this every day — we search for something on search engines like Google, and it conveniently seems to know exactly what we are looking for — or hilariously gets it dead wrong.

These are autocomplete predictions and reflect real searches on Google, making searching for the answers we’re looking for a lot easier and faster. According to Google, it reduces typing by about 25 percent per day, which is estimated to cumulatively save a total of over 200 years of typing time per day!

This is on our minds because we’re excited to share that we’re working with a new partner, Bluetrain, a digital marketing agency with experts in SEO, short for search engine optimization. They know the ins and outs of all things digital marketing, including search engines, to provide businesses with the insights and online expertise needed to drive results. 

Bluetrain and Canada Learning Code

Between Canada Learning Code championing digital literacy education and Bluetrain using data-driven digital marketing to help clients grow online, our partnership aim to make a collective impact in continuing to bring diversity to the digital field across the country.

Bluetrain is generously contributing an annual financial donation over three years.

On top of that, we are working together on our own SEO strategy through an in-kind contribution and collaborating to develop a new workshop to introduce beginners to SEO to learn what SEO is, why it’s important, how to use keywords, and how to use some of Google’s free tools.

Do you know how Google autocomplete predictions work?

Autocomplete predictions are based on real Google searches and common queries made on Google. Using information like the language used, your location, trending interest, word patterns found across the web and your past searches, Google’s algorithm will complete your search with the most helpful prediction possible.

Using Google’s autocomplete predictions is a great place to start when trying to figure out common search patterns and keywords that your business or website might be able to use as a part of your SEO Strategy.

They are a great way to build out a keyword seed list, which is a baseline of keywords and phrases that you believe are most relevant to your business. The seed list is the starting point of your keyword research – a full-scale document outlining potential keywords, search volume (how many people per month are searching for that keyword) and competition levels (how difficult it will be to try to show up for those keywords). Your keyword research will be the driving force behind any good SEO Strategy.

Once you have a strong seed list, you can use a variety of tools to find other related terms, search volumes and even competition levels. Some tools we recommend are the Google Ads Keyword Planner, Google Trends, the Moz Keyword Explorer (they have a 30-day trial), and even SEMRush if you are feeling particularly advanced. 

Why learn how Google works?

We believe it’s important for people to be creators and not just consumers of technology. By starting to understand how search engines like Google function, you can apply those skills in your work and personal life.
Thank you to Bluetrain for supporting our work! Stay up-to-date by following us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook to be among the first to know when the new SEO workshop is launched! You can learn more about Bluetrain at bluetrain.ca.