Skip to main content
  • Toolset
  • Solutions
  • About DMS
  • Case Studies
  • Contact Us

Connect With Your Audience At Scale

    • Acquire New Customers
    • Generate More Inquiries
    • Grow My Email Database
    • Grow My Website Traffic
    • Monetize My Audience
    • Re-Engage Consumers
    • Contact DMS
    • See The DMS Live Schedule
    • Be Inspired
    • How To / Best Practices
    • What Is...?
    • DMS Reports & More
    • Contact DMS
    • As Seen In...
    • Press Releases
    • Contact DMS
    • Enjoying The Journey
    • Work/Life Harmony
    • DMS Team
    • Contact DMS
    • Events
    • DMS Case Studies
    • Careers @ DMS
    • DMS Toolset
    • DMS Solutions
    • DMS Overview
    • DMS Investor Info
    • Contact DMS

Recent Searches

    Share this Post

    • Share on facebook
    • Share on twitter
    • Share on linkedin
    • Share on email
    1. Home
    2. DMS Insights: Digital Advertising News
    3. ‘How To’ Google Searches Changed During COVID-19

    Fill form to unlock content

    Loading, please wait

    Error - something went wrong!

    Thank you!

    ‘How To’ Google Searches Changed During COVID-19

    Published Date April 23, 2020

    Shutterstock_502228213 Family Using Tablet And Computers

    Behaviors change during a crisis, especially when everyone is stuck at home as they currently are because of coronavirus (COVID-19). These shifting behaviors are evident when analyzing what everyone is searching for on Google. 

    Overall, “how to” searches are climbing while people are in quarantine. This activity indicates that people are actively trying to learn how to do more things themselves, and, possibly that they have more time to root around for answers to questions they might have previously ignored. With Google holding 92% of search engine market share as of February 2020, “how to” questions executed during Google searches can reveal a lot about the state of mind, priorities and needs of people around the world, but “how to” searches aren’t necessarily indicative of lasting changes

    Google Searches Reflect The Current Needs Of Consumers 

    An article in Ad Age in early April shared the most common Google searches for March, with “how to make hand sanitizer” topping the list. As soon as the public started to understand the gravity of coronavirus, hand sanitizer flew off the shelves, and homemade hand sanitizer options became a necessity for consumers who couldn’t find any of the factory-produced product. Google Trends data also indicates that, in the early weeks of March, “how to find hand sanitizer” was ranking as well. Both search terms drastically fell off after their peak in those early days, but “how to get hand sanitizer” has recently seen a modest uptick, since people are likely beginning to run out of what they bought or made. 

    Similarly, as the country accepted the new reality of wearing masks, “how to make a mask with fabric” ranked highly April 5th-11th, but that search, and all mask related searches, have almost entirely flattened with “no-sew masks” seeing a slight swell recently.

    Lifestyle Changes Lead To An Uptick In Tech And Trend Searches

    Zoom, a popular video-conferencing tool, is another example of a search term gaining popularity because of lifestyle changes around the world, with “how to raise hand in zoom” and “how to change background on zoom” both trending. Students and employees worldwide were suddenly studying and working from home and urgently needed to learn how to Zoom, driving the growth of Zoom-related searches. Since the first week of April, Zoom searches have slowed but not nearly as precipitously as hand sanitizer and masks, perhaps illustrating that increasing comfort with these newly required technologies is ongoing. (“How to look like a potato” also had a hot week in Google searches, when people bored of the standard video-conferencing call wanted to opt into potato avatars. This trend has since moved on.)

    Other trends driven by self-isolation popped up in a more recent look at Google search trends. “How to make whipped coffee” and “how to cut your own hair” were both trending in recent weeks, along with gaming and baking searches. Minecraft-related “how to” questions continue to peak, and the stuck-at-home trends of sourdough starter and banana bread both led to high rankings for the week ending April 18.

    Search Trends Are Going To Ebb And Flow With Behavior Shifts During The Pandemic

    Although the days may all feel the same lately, news about the virus changes regularly, impacting how the public responds. One day it’s hand sanitizer, a month later it’s masks, and a month after that it could be “how to safely go back to work.” Searches during a period of volatility are constantly morphing and may not be reliable indicators of permanent behavior changes from the public. However, because search behaviors reflect mindset, they should be reviewed and considered in advance of launching campaigns. 

    Seeking New Ways To Maximize Your Customer Acquisition Efforts?

    Digital Media Solutions (DMS) is a technology-enabled, data-driven performance advertising solutions provider connecting consumers and advertisers. Contact DMS today to learn how our first-party data asset, proprietary technology and expansive digital media reach can help you scale your customer acquisition results.

    Contact DMS
    • Previous Article

      3 Strategies For Higher Education Institutions To Boost Enrollment Yield

      3 Strategies For Higher Education Institutions To Boost Enrollment Yield

      In this article, we dive into three strategies for boosting fall 2020 yield and highlight colleges and universities that have found ways to effectively innovate amidst uncertainty.

    • Next Article

      Digital Marketing Must Be A Priority For Nonprofit Marketers

      Digital Marketing Must Be A Priority For Nonprofit Marketers

      Contact DMS today to learn how our first-party data asset, proprietary technology and expansive digital media reach can help you scale your donor acquisition results.

    Most Recent Articles

    • 4 Tips To Help Set Up Inbound Call Campaigns For Long-Term Success

      4 Tips To Help Set Up Inbound Call Campaigns For Long-Term Success

      Careful planning is needed both on the advertiser and publisher sides for a call campaign to perform well. These four tips can help you set up inbound call campaigns for long-term success.

      Read Article

    • 3 Top Lead Generation Best Practices To Scale Your Business

      3 Top Lead Generation Best Practices To Scale Your Business

      Set lead generation campaigns up for success by deploying best practices and optimizations.

      Read Article

    • What Is The Latest News On Apple And Push Notifications?
      10 months ago

      What Is The Latest News On Apple And Push Notifications?

      At this year’s annual WWDC, Apple announced that beginning in 2023, iOS 16 will support web push notifications.

      Read Article

    •  8 Email Subject Line Strategies That Can Help Drive Up Open Rates

      8 Email Subject Line Strategies That Can Help Drive Up Open Rates

      Subject lines represent a make-it or break-it opportunity to get email opened.

      Read Article

    • 4 Often Overlooked Ways To Address Email Inboxing Challenges

      4 Often Overlooked Ways To Address Email Inboxing Challenges

      While there are technical aspects to making sure an email message gets to its intended destination, it’s important to always keep the consumer top of mind.

      Read Article

    • 5 Ways To Manage Customer Acquisition Challenges

      5 Ways To Manage Customer Acquisition Challenges

      Customer acquisition challenges are universal, but finding the right solutions shouldn’t be hard. Here’s a look at 5 ways to overcome your customer acquisition challenges & drive the results you need.

      Read Article

    • What Is Happening With The Twitter Purchase?
      11 months ago

      What Is Happening With The Twitter Purchase?

      Elon Musk is taking over Twitter. Now what? Here’s what you need to know about the sale of Twitter and how you can proceed confidently on the social media platform.

      Read Article

    • 6 Ways To Create A Successful TikTok Marketing Strategy

      6 Ways To Create A Successful TikTok Marketing Strategy

      A successful TikTok marketing strategy is important in 2022, but advertisers don’t have to do it alone.

      Read Article

    • Tax Prep Advertising Can Use The Lessons of 2022 To Better Target Audiences In 2023

      Tax Prep Advertising Can Use The Lessons of 2022 To Better Target Audiences In 2023

      The DMS Tax Preparation Survey offers clues for tax preparation advertisers who want to reach consumers with relevant messaging, when and where they are shopping.

      Read Article

    • 3 Strategies To Modernize Lead Generation Campaigns

      3 Strategies To Modernize Lead Generation Campaigns

      Brands can modernize their lead generation strategies with versatile creative, customized plans and personalized re-engagement.

      Read Article

    • What Is A Publisher?

      What Is A Publisher?

      Do you want to understand the best way to reach the right people with the right messages at the right time? Consider partnering with publishers.

      Read Article

    • How To Boost Engagement By Using Video In Emails

      How To Boost Engagement By Using Video In Emails

      Video advertising within email is gaining momentum with brands, aligning with the overall growth of video in advertising.

      Read Article

    • It's Okay To Believe Advertising IRL > Metaverse
      11 months ago

      It's Okay To Believe Advertising IRL > Metaverse

      Metaverse marketing is likely to be a part of future strategies for brands & businesses, but many are taking a “wait and see” approach while relying on the “tried & true,” like performance marketing.

      Read Article

    • Tax Season Marketing Should Target Americans Filing Their Taxes Early To Pay Off Holiday Debt
      about 1 year ago

      Tax Season Marketing Should Target Americans Filing Their Taxes Early To Pay Off Holiday Debt

      Filing taxes early to get refunds is the top way Americans are planning to deal with holiday overspending.

      Read Article

    • Valentine’s Day Advertising Must Reach Shoppers Ready To Take Action
      about 1 year ago

      Valentine’s Day Advertising Must Reach Shoppers Ready To Take Action

      Valentine’s Day is a time for ecommerce brands to reach consumers in the mood for love – and shopping. DMS surveyed 250 adults in January and found that gift giving has extended beyond just couples.

      Read Article

    • Post-Holiday Personal Finance Marketing: What Converts Based On A Recent Consumer Survey
      about 1 year ago

      Post-Holiday Personal Finance Marketing: What Converts Based On A Recent Consumer Survey

      71% of Americans believe they possibly overspent during the holidays. The brands that best engage borrowers by demonstrating how their solutions will deliver quick relief are likely to see success.

      Read Article

    • What Are Data Signals?

      What Are Data Signals?

      Real-time data signals can pinpoint the individual consumers most likely to respond to your advertising when they are ready to take action.

      Read Article

    • The Top 5 Social Media Strategies For Lead Generation

      The Top 5 Social Media Strategies For Lead Generation

      These best practices can help advertisers set up social media campaigns that successfully generate leads while creating ongoing engagement.

      Read Article

    • What Is Real-Time Data?

      What Is Real-Time Data?

      Quality, real-time data helps understand consumer desires and predict future actions, allowing advertisers to get the right message in front of the right person at the right time to encourage action.

      Read Article

    • Consumers Start Holiday Product Searches On Google – Make Sure You Are Easy To Find
      over 1 year ago

      Consumers Start Holiday Product Searches On Google – Make Sure You Are Easy To Find

      To connect with consumers during the early phases of their holiday shopping, advertisers need to make sure their brands are easily discoverable in multiple places on Google.

      Read Article

    Return to Home
    DMS Logo

    Tech-Enabled, Data-Based Performance Advertising

    facebook icon twitter icon linkedin icon instagram icon

    © 2021 Digital Media Solutions, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Digital Media Solutions and its logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Digital Media Solutions, LLC. All other company and product names referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

    Digital Performance Advertising

    linkedin icon
    facebook icon
    twitter icon
    instagram icon

    Subscribe To News From DMS


    About DMS
    Toolset Solutions DMS Insurance DMS Performance Ad Market DMS Ecommerce Advertising DMS Consumer Finance DMS Education DMS Managed Services DMS Nonprofit Advertising DMS Subscription Advertising Newsroom DMS Insights Investor Info
    Contact Us
    (877) 236-8632 connect@DMSgroup.com Careers Become A DMS Advertiser Become A DMS Publisher
    DMS Proprietary Technology
    Aimtell Sparkroom ZipQuote
    Logins
    Aimtell Login DMS Exchange Login DMS Performance Ad Market Publisher Login Sparkroom Login ZipQuote Agent Login
    Privacy & Terms
    Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Code of Conduct

    © 2022 Digital Media Solutions®, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Digital Media Solutions and its logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Digital Media Solutions, Inc. All other company and product names referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.