SEO

Search Intent Types

Search intent types describe the primary goal behind a query, typically informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional.

Quick Answer

  • What it is: Search intent types describe the primary goal behind a query, typically informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional.
  • Why it matters: Clarifies the levers that improve visibility and rankings for high-intent queries.
  • How to check or improve: Audit on-page signals, internal links, and topical relevance.

When you'd use this

Clarifies the levers that improve visibility and rankings for high-intent queries.

Example scenario

Hypothetical scenario (not a real company)

A team might use Search Intent Types when Audit on-page signals, internal links, and topical relevance.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing Search Intent Types with Search Intent: The underlying goal or purpose behind a user's search query, categorized as informational, navigational, commercial, or transactional.
  • Confusing Search Intent Types with Keyword Research: The strategic process of discovering, analyzing, and selecting search terms that your target audience uses. Master keyword research to inform your content strategy and drive organic traffic.

How to measure or implement

  • Audit on-page signals, internal links, and topical relevance

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Updated Jan 17, 2026·3 min read

Why this matters

Intent determines what type of content can rank. Matching the correct intent type improves CTR and engagement.

Common intent type mistakes

  • Writing informational content for transactional queries
  • Ignoring commercial comparison intent
  • Over-optimizing for keywords without intent mapping

How to check intent types (quick checklist)

  1. Review top results and SERP features.
  2. Identify the dominant intent in ranking pages.
  3. Align content format with intent type.

Examples

Example 1: "best project management tools" = commercial intent.
Example 2: "what is technical SEO" = informational intent.

Common mistakes

  • Using the wrong page format (blog vs landing page)
  • Targeting multiple intents in one page
  • Ignoring SERP changes over time

FAQs

How many intent types are there?

Most SEO frameworks use four: informational, navigational, commercial, and transactional.

Can a keyword have multiple intents?

Yes, but one intent usually dominates the SERP.

How often does intent change?

Intent can shift as SERPs evolve; monitor rankings quarterly.

Does intent affect conversions?

Yes. Misaligned intent leads to low engagement and poor conversion rates.

  • Guide: /resources/guides/keyword-research-ai-search
  • Template: /templates/definitive-guide
  • Use case: /use-cases/marketing-agencies
  • Glossary:
    • /glossary/search-intent
    • /glossary/keyword-research

How to check or improve Search Intent Types (quick checklist)

  1. Review your current search intent types implementation on key templates.
  2. Validate search intent types using Search Console and a crawl.
  3. Document standards for search intent types to keep changes consistent.
  4. Monitor performance and update search intent types as intent shifts.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

Search Intent Types improvements compound when teams document standards and validate changes consistently.

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