Search Intent Classifier

Search intent (also called user intent or keyword intent) is the reason behind a search query. When someone types something into Google, they have a specific goal in mind. Understanding that goal helps you create content that actually satisfies what they're looking for.

Google has gotten really good at figuring out search intent, and they prioritize pages that match it. You could have the most comprehensive article in the world, but if it doesn't match what the searcher actually wants, it's not going to rank well.

Search queries generally fall into four main categories.

Informational Intent - The user wants to learn something. These queries often start with "how to," "what is," "why does," or "guide to." The searcher isn't looking to buy anything right now - they just want information. Blog posts, tutorials, and educational content work best here.

Navigational Intent - The user wants to find a specific website or page. They already know where they want to go and they're using Google as a shortcut. Queries like "facebook login," "youtube," or "amazon prime" are navigational. You can only really rank for these if you own the brand.

Commercial Intent - The user is researching before making a purchase. They're comparing options, reading reviews, or looking for the "best" something. Queries like "best CRM software," "iphone vs samsung," or "top running shoes 2024" fall here. Comparison posts, reviews, and buying guides work well.

Transactional Intent - The user is ready to take action, usually to buy something. Queries include words like "buy," "discount," "coupon," "order," or "price." Product pages, pricing pages, and landing pages with clear calls-to-action are what these searchers want.

Search intent is one of the most important ranking factors that people overlook. Here's why it matters so much.

• Google measures user satisfaction. If people click your result and immediately bounce back to search, that's a bad signal.
• Matching intent increases dwell time and engagement, which are positive ranking signals.
• You'll convert more visitors when your content matches what they actually want.
• It helps you prioritize which keywords to target based on your business goals.

For example, if you're an e-commerce site trying to rank for "how to choose running shoes" with a product category page, you're fighting an uphill battle. Google knows that query has informational intent, so it's going to show blog posts and guides instead.

This classifier looks at patterns in your keywords to determine intent. It analyzes things like modifier words, question formats, brand mentions, and common phrases associated with each intent type.

The confidence score tells you how certain the classification is. High confidence means the keyword has clear signals pointing to one intent type. Lower confidence might mean the keyword is ambiguous or could fit multiple categories.

Keep in mind that some keywords genuinely have mixed intent, and Google sometimes shows different types of results for the same query. When in doubt, do a quick Google search and see what types of pages are actually ranking.