While major search engines, including Yahoo and Bing, have recently released their list of the top search terms for 2010, the Global Language Monitor has released what it predicts will be top phrases for 2011. Marketers who want to get a head start on search engine optimization (SEO) campaigns may want to consider the organization's predictions as suggested search trends.
Many of the phrases on the Language Monitor's 2011 list revolve around major cultural figures. For instance, the group ranks "Obama-mess" – David Letterman's name for President Barack Obama and his policies – as the second most popular phrase for next year. Similarly, "Palinism" is supposed to become a top-used phrase in light of the Republican party member's newfound celebrity.
Marketers may want to take this ranking to heart. Bing's top search terms for 2010 reveal that pop culture icons, including Kim Kardashian and Sandra Bullock, were among the most searched words this year. With developments about public figures constantly emerging, entertainment-related brands can easily offer news about celebs that provides relevant information while drawing traffic.
For marketers in other industries, the Global Language Monitor may offer promising insight as it suggests several mainstream, newsworthy words will become top 2011 phrases. For instance, "climate change," "the Great Recession" and "China" all make the organization's top 10 words for next year. These phrases might broadly relate to news that is specific to various industries and can hold online searchers' interests.
Whether brands find the Global Language Monitor's predicted top words for 2011 useful or not, they will likely want to plan SEO strategies for the coming year. As Brafton recently reported, companies say content marketing is a priority in 2011.
