In the quick-paced arena of online commerce, particularly eCommerce, dropshipping, affiliate marketing, and digital product sales, recognizing trending and profitable products may be the difference between success and failure. One of the most effective (and gratis) tools at the disposal of every entrepreneur is Google Trends.
In this article, we’ll take you through using Google Trends for product research—step by step—so you can stay ahead of the game, catch seasonal trends, and verify product ideas with confidence.
What is Google Trends?
Google Trends is a web-based free tool by Google that indicates how frequently a specific keyword or subject is searched on Google within a given timeframe. It allows you to examine the search term popularity, compare keywords, filter by country, category, and even by YouTube or Google Shopping.
In brief: It allows you to see what’s being searched right now by people.
Why Use Google Trends for Product Research?
Here’s why it’s a goldmine:
- Spot trending products before they go viral
- Identify seasonal demand to plan inventory or campaigns
- Test product ideas before investing money
- Compare product interest over time and regions
- Optimize content and ad campaigns using real data
How to Use Google Trends for Product Research (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Visit Google Trends
Go to: https://trends.google.com
You’ll arrive at the homepage which displays trending searches, live search trends, and a search bar in which you can type any keyword.
Step 2: Search a Product Keyword
Assume you are thinking to sell “wireless earbuds”.
Search for “wireless earbuds” in the search bar and press enter.
You’ll see immediately that:
Interest over time (last 12 months by default)
Interest by region (countries/states/cities)
Related topics and queries
Step 3: Adjust Time Frame and Location
Now narrow down your research:
Time Range: Select from 7 days, 30 days, 12 months, 5 years, or a custom range.
Select 5 years for long-term demand.
Select past 12 months for seasonal trends.
Select past 30 days or 7 days for viral spikes.
Location: If selling in the USA or UK, select the exact country.
Category: Narrow down by niche such as beauty, electronics, fashion, etc.
Search Type: You may select:
Web Search (default)
YouTube Search
Google Shopping
Image Search
News Search
Example: If you’re studying online products, look up YouTube Search to see increasing interest in something like “AI Tools” or “Productivity Notion Templates”.
Step 4: Interest Over Time Analysis
This chart indicates if the interest in the product is:
Increasing = Increasing market potential
Decreasing = Potentially saturated or old
Cyclic = Seasonal (e.g. “swimwear” spikes during summer)
Pro Tip: Steer clear of one-time spike trends unless you’re pursuing a viral opportunity. Search for steady or upward trending graphs.
Step 5: Compare Multiple Products
Suppose you’re in doubt between:
“Wireless earbuds”
“Bluetooth speakers”
“Noise cancelling headphones”
Click on “Compare” in Google Trends and type in all three.
Now you’ll have side-by-side popularity trends.
This allows you to observe which product has greater interest, increasing faster, and in which areas.
Step 6: Find Related Topics and Queries
Scroll down to the “Related Queries” section.
Here you’ll find:
Rising keywords: These are gaining popularity fast
Top keywords: These are the most searched related terms
Use these to:
Discover new product ideas
Optimize your product listings or content
Target keywords for SEO or paid ads
Example: You search for “Fitness Tracker” and notice “Waterproof fitness tracker” among the rising searches — now you’re aware of increasing interest in a niche sub-feature.
Step 7: Examine Seasonality
Most products are seasonal—Christmas presents, school packs, or winter coats.
Use Google Trends to find out when demand is high and low.
Example:
Search “Halloween costumes” — demand goes high every October.
This assists you with:
Plannning your inventory
Running ads at the optimal time
Time your product launch or content calendar perfectly
Step 8: Investigate Breakout Trends
Certain related searches are identified as “Breakout” — they’re blowing up in demand with +5000% growth.
This is a chance to identify viral trends early on.
Example:
Search “AI tools” and you may notice a breakout for “AI presentation generator” — that’s your next digital product idea!
