I love Google's predictive texting, which often finishes my search idea before I get to the end of typing.
It's also quite informative about what's on people's minds.
For example, as you start typing: "why do bank", you get a list of the most popular things people are asking about banks:
Why do banks exist? charge interest? need guarantors?
All good questions, although the most popular one here is: why do banks fail? Very topical.
Or try "why are bank":
and again, it's very topical: why are banks not lending? not lending money? still not lending? and, again, the most popular question: why are banks special?
Sounds like the general public are wondering why banks are too big to fail.
A good question.
The thing is, you find general searches are rather more telling. For example, "what do" comes up with:
Fascinating that the top three searches that start with this are: "What do I want to do with my life?", "What do I do with my life?" and "What do I want for Christmas?"
IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THEN GOOGLE ISN'T GOING TO TELL YOU, YOU DOLT!!!!!
Sorry. A Homer Simpson moment.
But y'know what, there are some real strange things going on with Google lately.
For example, when typing "why do":
How come the first question is: "Why do men have nipples?"
It's a good question, but it wasn't the obvious one I thought of when typing "Why do".
Or try "is it wrong" ...
... mmmm, there's something about that cousin isn't there?
Or try "why is there":
"Why is there a dead pakistani on my couch"?!?!?!
What?
Are we in Google UK-land the weirdest searchers in the world or what?
Ah well, have fun trying a few yourself.
This was certainly very, very illuminating (and inspired by Graham Norton).
Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...