What are the different types of user intent in search behavior?

Navigational intent is when a user is intending to navigate to a specific page through their search query. An example could be “Facebook” with the intent to go to the Facebook homepage. It could also be “brand +” for example “Facebook login” or “Walmart returns policy”. Navigational intent keywords can be very valuable but traffic from these terms are more often a measure of brand retention and strength and not the most common group of keywords for target new customer acquisition.

In my experience, Search intent is having corelation with how the information is serve, that the user want to read based on their purpose. Navigational intent for example, they willing to know the specific topic or query until they feel satisfied with the answer. In other words, people who had Navigational intent will deep dive to all relatable information in the website or in SERP.

The different types of user search intent with concise examples are: 1. Informational Intent: Seeking knowledge, e.g., "What causes rainbows?" 2. Navigational Intent: Looking for a specific site, e.g., "YouTube trending videos." 3. Transactional Intent: Wanting to make a purchase, e.g., "Buy iPhone 15 online." 4. Commercial Investigation: Comparing products, e.g., "Best DSLR cameras 2023." 5. Local Intent: Finding nearby places, e.g., "Coffee shops near SCBD."

In my opinion, SEO user intent can be broadly categorized into four types: Informational Intent: Users seek information or answers to questions. Focus on informative content. Navigational Intent: Users are looking for a specific website or page. Optimize for brand and website-related keywords. Transactional Intent: Users intend to make a purchase or take a specific action. Target keywords related to products or services. Commercial Investigation Intent: Users are in the research phase before making a transaction. Create content that guides them through the decision-making process.

Normally there are four types of Search Intent: 1) Informational - Looking for information e.g. "How to Style Statement Neckless" 2)Navigational - Searching for Something Specific e.g. "BaubleBar Neckless" 3) Commercial - Comparison or Business purpose e.g. "Who sells the best statement neckless" 4) Transactional - Purchase Decision e.g. "Statement neckless on Discount" Also, there's a different type of search intent which is "Local Intent" by which people want to go to nearby places like "coffee shops" or "Grocery stores" etc.

Based on my tests, I have also seen informational content with clear page titles and headings followed by succinct answers that are original with insights from someone who has the experience and makes it easier for people to find is key. Add some new information or answer it in a more modern way to get more interaction. Information posts often have listicles and images or infographics to help the user understand the topic more thoroughly.

When the users seek information or answers to specific questions. Example: "How to tie a tie" or "What is the capital of France?"

Absolutely spot on! Nailing informational intent is crucial in the SEO game. It's all about being the go-to source for those seeking knowledge or answers. From baking a cake to unraveling the mysteries of SEO, providing valuable, well-structured content is the key. Think of it as the foundation of the SEO pyramid—you build the base with informative content, and the rest falls into place. Clear, accurate, and relevant info wrapped in SEO-friendly packaging? That's the winning recipe!

In my experience of User Intent for SEO, Informational intent refers to users typically in the early stages of the decision-making process and are looking for content that educates them on a particular subject. Key characteristics of informational intent include: 1-Question-Based Queries: Users often use query formats that begin with words like "how," "what," "why," "when," or "where." 2-Research-Oriented: with users seeking to understand a concept, process or topic more thoroughly. 3-Diverse Content Needs: Users may engage with a variety of content types, incl. articles, blog posts, tutorials, videos & infographics. 4-Long-Tail Keywords: are often included, which are specific & detailed phrases; reflecting the user's specific needs.

Informational intent falls under read, write, search and view. It all depends on situation to seek information on let say latest news either we will visit telegram or will search on google. to know how to fix a door i will either search on google or youtube or will search guides on search engine

let say a customer is searching with intent to fix a door of his room and figures out that he needs certain parts to fix them. Know he have build up transactional intent and he will visit the certain websites with navigational & transactional intent in mind and will proceed with purchase.

In my experience, Transactional intent is the intention to complete a specific action, namely a financial transaction. Users are seeking to make a purchase, sign up or download a product; that involves a exchange of value. Key characteristics include: 1-Action-Oriented Queries: queries that indicate a desire or specific action, like "buy," "download," or "subscribe." 2-Commercial Terms: associated with the buying process with commercial intent. 3-Comparison & Review Searches: users comparing products or reviews before making a purchase including terms such as "reviews" or "compare." 4- Local Transactional Intent: location-specific terms in their queries, indicating a local business or service.

When the users intend to make a purchase or complete a specific action. Example: "Buy iPhone 13" or "Book flight to Paris."

It's like the final lap of the SEO race, where users are not just browsing—they're ready to roll up their sleeves and take action. "Best laptop deals" or "online yoga classes" means they've got their wallets out or are ready to commit. Optimizing for transactional intent is all about turning that interest into action. You've got to be the enticing salesperson, showcasing your product or service like it's the answer to all their needs. And don't forget the golden rule: make it easy for them to seal the deal with clear, irresistible calls to action. It's not just about clicks; it's about conversions!

Transactional search intent is primarily search phrases that indicate an intent to buy. This is matched with the conversion part of the sales funnel and can be seen in search results that include promotions or immediate precursors to buying. If I have a restaurant and am promoting a happy hour menu, visits to this page would indicate transactional intent.

When the users are researching and comparing products or services before making a decision. Example: "Best budget smartphones 2023" or "Compare web hosting services."

Commercial intent is like the middle ground in the SEO journey—it's where users are not just window shopping, but they're not at the checkout counter just yet. "iPhone vs Samsung" or "best SEO tools" searches scream decision-making time. Optimizing for commercial intent is a delicate dance. You've got to be the helpful guide, providing unbiased information that aids in their comparison journey. Throw in some testimonials, reviews, or social proof to sprinkle that trust factor. It's about being the friend they turn to for advice before making that final call. When you nail commercial intent, you're essentially laying down the path from consideration to conversion.

In my experience, Commercial intent , better known as Commercial Investigation intent. Users research & explore different products / services to make a purchase; commit to but not at the point of transaction. Key characteristics include: 1-Comparative Research: Users often compare multiple products or services to find the one that best suits them. Features, reviews & comparisons inform decisions. 2-Product Specifications: Users search detailed product specifications, benefits & use cases. 3-Brand Consideration: Users are open to exploring different brands on reputation / reviews. 4-Decision-Enabling terms: Users consider terms like "top-rated"/ "reviews" or "features"; indicating a desire to proceed in the decision-making process.

In addational explain: Search intent in SEO refers to the reason or purpose behind a user's search query. It is the goal that the user wants to accomplish through their search. Understanding search intent is important for SEO because it helps in creating relevant and useful content that meets the needs of the users. There are four main types of search intent: informational, navigational, transactional, and commercial investigation. By understanding the search intent, marketers can optimize their content to match the user's needs, which can result in higher rankings, traffic, and conversions.

With transactional intent and if you have the right business, publish a page of any current promo codes you have going. Most of us would rather get a customer, even at 15% off in hopes they might buy from us again. It's a strategy I've seen work in multiple industries.

In my experience of User Intent for SEO we should consider: 1-Local & Mobile Intent: When users are looking for information or something using a mobile device, often with local or immediate context & related to a specific location. 2-Voice Search intent: Similar to above but specific to voice-activated searches. 3-Long-Tail Intent: Users are using longer and more specific queries. Understanding these intents is crucial for optimizing your content. I.e. if your page is about providing information, ensure that the content is informative & answers the user's questions. If it's transactional, make the purchasing process clear & straightforward, improving your pages ranking higher in SERPs and the needs of your target audience.

To really cater to user intent you have to go one step deeper than these broad categories and ask yourself at the page level, perhaps even the keyword level, what a user is intending when they search and choose your page. For example, for some queries, a user is confused about the topic already, and so part of their intent is to gain clarity and find a page that makes things simpler. So your first job as the SEO or writer is to make the top part of the page simple and easy to understand, reassuring the user that they’re in the right place. It’s all about putting yourself in the shoes of the searcher as a place to start, and then gathering data to support your user theories so you can alter the content to better suit search intent.

Other than the above types of intent, here are some other intents: 1. Local Intent: Users want to find businesses or services in a specific geographic location. Example: "Pizza delivery near me" or "Dentist in [City Name]." 2. Brand Intent: Users are looking for information about a specific brand or company. Example: "Nike shoes" or "Apple customer reviews." 3. Educational Intent: Users seek in-depth knowledge or educational content. Example: "How does photosynthesis work?" or "Einstein's theory of relativity explained."