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The difference between an informational, navigational and transactional query

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The use of queries, i.e. words within a search engine, is the basis of internet searches. The term ‘query’ itself refers to a question, a request, and a web search. The search engine then transforms the query into a standard computer language system and eventually manages to retrieve the answer within the online data database, which as you can imagine is immense. The process of finding the answer is obviously extremely fast, takes less than a fraction of a second, and is also very precise.

The various data in the internet database are arranged. So, that they can be searched and found very quickly to meet user requests. The query, therefore, is also important from an SEO perspective, since it is precisely through searches, targeted or not, that new customers and customers can be found.

In positioning a site, in essence, it is also necessary to take into account the SEO rules referring to search queries, because, on the basis of the words entered on the site, different results can be obtained.

Based on the specificity of the query, the results can be very specific or fairly generic; from millions of pages as a result of a few dozen pages or less. That’s why knowing the query system is essential for SEO and can make a difference in the positioning of your website.

The various queries to consider

First of all, it is good to specify that there is not only one type of query but different types. In fact, we can distinguish:

  • the navigational queries. Navigational queries consist of queries that are arranged to search for a specific and well-located site. If you search for a keyword on a particular site, then you use a navigational query: this search can lead to the site in question and also to affiliate sites. Obviously it is the fastest search ever because it allows you to obtain a precise and direct result, specifically what you were looking for.
  • The transactional queries. Transactional queries are queries that impact the popularity of the site. When you enter a transactional query on the web. The database replies with a resource such as a sale or for example or with the object you are looking for. For example, if you search for “restaurant risotto”, the web search will provide the closest restaurants.
  • The informational queries. These are the most widely used queries because they are used to gain access and discover something new on any topic. For example, information searches are a search for information on a breaking news item, or a search for “natural remedies” for sore throat “. They do not send to a specific site, but simply to a more or less wide range of results. Also depending on the complexity of the informational queries.

Set up SEO based on queries

But how to set up the website, which queries to take into account to manage the SEO of your site?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer because based on the type of result you want to obtain. You can choose a possible query to be set as the SEO base.

If you are looking for a lot of traffic, for example, informational queries are the perfect ones for your needs. If, on the other hand, you want to get more site views, then you need transactional queries. However, informational queries are those that are generally used in the SEO setting because they are able to receive more user traffic and therefore increase visits.

To understand which are the most used queries. You can take advantage of useful SEO tools such as SemRush, Google Adwords Keyword Planner, and so on.