The webmaster knows what you are thinking.
One way to learn what people are thinking is to have them write it down. Good luck having random strangers type out their inner-most thoughts, fears and questions. Look no further because people do leave a record of their thoughts through web search queries. A recent study of web searches has actually captured the signal that certain drug interactions are creating dangerous side effects.
What my visitors were thinking
When I began blogging on my own web site I started paying attention to wealth of data that is captured about visitors to my site. WordPress was capturing what internet query phrase people typed into their web browser that ultimately led them to click on my site.
These summary results are only for search terms with the exact same words typed into the query box. I have hundreds of unique strings and sentences concerning the same topic that have also been typed in.
Who referred my website?
WordPress was also keeping track of what was the referring application or software from which my web site was offered to the searcher.
Even I began to notice repetitive patterns in the monthly search query summaries. Another tool, Google Analytics, told me that 80% of my visitors are new and over 90% are based in the United States. It was fascinating to see that with just one or two blog posts on a particular topic I could begin to peek at the level of hidden interest.
I hope they found answers
I say hidden because folks have typed in some very disturbing searches and found my web site. Most of the searches involve health related issues and circumcision in general. Circumcision is not a lunch time topic but many people are struggling with whether they should circumcise their child or dealing with the effects of circumcision, both male and female. “i am a woman circumcisied, can i still enjoy sex”
Content driven search results
Of course, I am only seeing web searches that brought people to my website for content that I have written on a particular topic. What if you could look at web queries to detect emerging trends, topics or health related issues. That’s what a group of researches did involving the possible side effects of two new drugs.
Predicting side effects
The New York Times reported on a study to find unreported side effects of paroxetine for depression and pravastatin for cholesterol. They were able to find web search queries that people taking both drugs might be experiencing the side effect of high blood sugar. The researches, with the aid of Google, Yahoo and Microsoft search engines, looked at queries for paroxetine, pravastatin and potential side effects such “blurry vision”, an indicator of hyperglycemia or high blood sugar.
Time frame of web searches
Over a twelve month period they were able to link searches for all the variables and conclude that folks taking both of the drugs might be experiencing high blood sugar as a side effect of the combination. The results were strengthened by the fact that the search combination by individuals occurred within a narrow time frame of either one day or week.
I want an answer NOW
Those of us who turn to our computers and the internet for health questions usually do so in a short time frame. After all, when you get that rash you don’t want to talk about, you want to know what it is and how to get rid of it immediately. Web query surveillance, while practiced by the federal government for sometime to identify terrorist activities, may become an emerging tool for product marketing and health indicators in the future.
Responding to web searches
I suppose this is the next best thing to reading someone’s mind…anonymously of course. But on a practical note, it underscores the importance of reviewing the statistical data provided by your website, host, or Google Analytics to better respond with content that your audience or clients are looking for.