What is the Difference between a Search Term
and a Keyword?
The world of digital advertising consists of a wide terminology. The set of terms or jargon used in
online marketing is so diverse that even experienced marketers sometimes get confused. One
such confusing term is 'search term' or 'search query,' which is often used interchangeably with
'keyword.' But they aren't the same; there is a lot of difference between the two.
If you also treat these two terms the same, this article will help you know the difference between
the two. So, let's get started!
What is a Keyword?
A keyword is a phrase or string of text you bid on to target your Google Ads to the customers.
Keywords are based on the products and services you offer and make it easy for the search
engine to rank your page in the SERP.
For example, if you own a sportswear store, you will likely target the keywords, like 'women
sportswear' or 'best sportswear for men.' You can find high-value keywords with keyword research
and use this data to find the most valuable keywords for your Ad campaign.
What is a Search Term?
A search query or search term is what a user enters in the search bar while searching for a
product. If five users are searching for the same product, they will search in five unique ways,
creating five different search terms or queries. Along with the use of different prepositions, the
search terms may include misspellings also.
For example, when users are searching for sportswear, they may enter search queries, like 'what
is the best sportswear for women,' 'where to buy sportswear,' 'best stylish sportswear for women,'
etc. So, all these users are searching for sportswear with different search queries.