Australians care for humanity….and the election!

Posted by Karina Wells, AdWords Team

In the month of October, Australians had a great interest in humanitarian issues. Searches varied from charities that aim to help women and children all over the world to concern about bushfire and floods. The Australian October Zeitgeist reflected the top fifteen gaining Google search queries for the month of October.

It seems Australians have a strong social conscience, with Unicef coming in as the number one gaining search query. Interest in floods and bushfire was also prevalent with the bushfire season approaching.

The election was playing on peoples minds. Labor leader Kevin Rudd’s website Kevin 07 proved to be of interest, while Parliament house entered the minds of many.

Always a favourite with free home delivery, Krispy Kreme doughnuts were desired by many. While munching on Krispy Kremes, what better to do than watch Evan Almighty or the preview of the Sex and the City movie, or perhaps sample the latest album from alternative rock band 30 seconds to Mars to be released in November.

Upcoming Christmas school holidays brought about interest in Movie World. Although daylight savings got people searching - do we turn our clocks forwards or backwards?

Australians in the market for a new car looked for Toyota Australia for more information, however those after something more compact went for the scooter option instead.

With Christmas on the way and lots of presents to buy, job hunters looked for the Jobs NSW website.

For breaking news and obscure information alike, people around the world search on Google. What follows is a summary of Google Zeitgeist results for the top gainers on Google.com.au in the month of October.

For more information, visit the Google Zeitgeist and Google Trends.

October's top gainers:

Unicef
Scooter
Floods
Jobs NSW
Toyota Australia
Bushfire
30 seconds to Mars
Evan Almighty
Movie World
Daylight savings
Krispy Kreme
Parliament house
Sex and the City movie
Kevin 07
Election

Read More Here...

Lads Mags and Education: September Zeitgeist

Posted by Mel-Ann Chan, AdSense Team

[Zoo mag] came in as the top gaining search term on Google Australia in September. The website (which is also a weekly men’s magazine) claims to showcase “sex, sport and stupidity from around the web” – no wonder it was so popular! Those after a dose of more cerebral news looked up the [Herald Sun] and tuned into [2UE] radio.

The new television show [Summer Heights] High was a favourite for many in September. Chris Lilley’s creation features the antics of Ja’mie, Jonah and Mr G, in a “typical” Australian school. Another popular show in September was SBS’s [Mythbusters], the show that uses science to test myths about everyday life, often with unpredictable and hysterical outcomes.

Amongst all the stress of end of year 12 exams, many teenagers from Sydney have been considering the [University of Western Sydney] as a possible university selection, with some even trying for [scholarships].

Footy is always important in Australia, so it was no surprise that many people wanted to know more about the [Manly] team that made it to the NRL final. Swimming fans checked out what retired world champion [Ian Thorpe] was up to.

Out of water and onto the track, those with a need for speed checked out the latest [sports cars] online, while gamers built up the hype for the latest release of the strategic war game from Xbox 360, [Halo Wars].

Some people may not have been too happy in their jobs, and needed some inspiration on writing a [resignation letter]. What better thing to do after resigning than go on a holiday? [New Caledonia] was a popular option, with its unique blend of French and Asian culture.

Victorians looked forward to celebrating the fifth birthday of [Federation Square] and the nuclear disaster in [Chernobyl] from 1986 was remembered.

For breaking news and obscure information alike, people around the world search on Google. What follows is a summary of Google Zeitgeist results for the top gainers on Google.com.au in the month of September.

For more information, visit the Google Zeitgeist and Google Trends.

September's top gainers:

1. Zoo mag
2. University of Western Sydney
3. New Caledonia
4. 2UE
5. Herald Sun
6. Resignation letter
7. Federation Square
8. Ian Thorpe
9. Chernobyl
10. Manly
11. Scholarships
12. Mythbusters
13. Sports cars
14. Summer Heights
15. Halo Wars

Read More Here...

August's top gaining queries

Posted by Diana Starmer, AdWords Associate

Well it’s plain to see, Aussies just want to have fun! The top gaining searches on Google for the month of August reflected an interest in the arts, entertainment and travel.

It’s time to start planning that summer holiday! Australian Google users got right into it in August, planning for school holidays, searching for travel agents on Google and checking out what deals Flight Centre had to offer.

Entertainment is always an important part of Australian life. Art buffs were interested in Van Gogh and the recent discovery that “Head of a man” – which has been on display in the National Gallery of Victoria for over sixty years and thought to be worth $20 million – was in fact not painted by Van Gogh as previously thought. Still on art, sculptor and artist Andy Goldsworthy’s trip to Australia sparked interest in his work on Mount Victor Station.

Marilyn Monroe is still managing to capture the hearts of Australian Google users, coming in as the second top gaining query; with the sassy UK model/actress, Kelly Brook taking out the number one spot for August.

Many Australian’s were keen to freshen up their eyesight with some new glasses from OPSM perhaps to read Bram Stoker’s terrifying classic, Dracula or to watch Randwick Girls’/Boys’ high schools take out first place at the Sydney Rock Eisteddfod.

Jackass star Johnny Knoxville and his crazy antics are always a source of interest for, well, most people really! Survivor fans were desperate to find out when the new season was starting and Dr Who fans wanted to know more about star Billie Piper.

Human rights were on the minds of many. And shareholders' rights were also probably top of mind for people searching for the Coles Group.

For breaking news and obscure information alike, people around the world search on Google. What follows is a summary of Google Zeitgeist results for the top gainers on Google.com.au in the month of August.

For more information, visit the Google Zeitgeist and Google Trends

Top Google.com.au Gainers for August:

Kelly Brook
Marilyn Monroe
Andy Goldsworthy
Van Gogh
Human rights
OPSM
School holidays
Flight Centre
Dracula
Travel agents
Johnny Knoxville
Coles group
Rock Eisteddfod
Billie Piper
Survivor

Read More Here...

July's top gainers

Posted by Rafe Petkovic, Google Business Solutions Team

The top gaining Google Australia searches in July included everything from underwear to skiing to US sailors stopping over in Sydney for one night only…

Interest in Australian fashion came alive in July. Alex Perry's dresses won him a spot in the top fifteen. At the other end of the skin-covering scale, what better place to look for underwear than on Google? Australians BRIEFly searched for them via local brand Aussiebum, famous for their cheeky range of men's underwear!

Australians love their sport - there's no denying that. So it didn't come as a shock that Google users desperately wanted live AFL scores or that the results of the Wimbledon tennis tournament were a high priority, perhaps they just wanted to see if it had stopped raining there! Now we can't forget about NRL: West Tiger's player Benji Marshall made his comeback from a shoulder injury.

Impatient Harry Potter followers wanted to get in on the Harry Potter leak and find the answer to the question that everyone wants to know; who will die?

Actor/singer and overall teen sensation Ashley Tisdale proved herself worthy of her inclusion in Teen People's 25 hottest stars under 25, by coming in as the fifth top gaining query on Google Australia.

From teeny boppers to rock. My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero played his way into people's hearts with a mixture of punk attitude, black eyeliner and musical talent of course!

Gossip lovers found Deborah Hutton's relationship with former Hockeyroo player Danni Roche fascinating. The USS Kittyhawk's impending arrival to Sydney's shores raised the eyebrows of many others, bringing with it more then 7000 sailors.

Boys and their toys; Transformers 2007 have won back the hearts of many with the release of the new blockbuster hit movie based on the children's toys and cartoons. Those who didn't want to watch the movies, chose to watch their investments instead, with the stockmarket another top gaining query.

With the Sydney Opera House on the shortlist to be a new wonder of the world, Australians searched on Google to find the original Seven Wonders of the World. In other history news, many Australians searched for details of the anniversary of the the French Revolution (Bastille Day).

And with ski season upon us, Jindabyne accommodation was of interest for skiing enthusiasts.

For breaking news and obscure information alike, people around the world search on Google. What follows is a summary of Google Zeitgeist results for the top gainers on Google.com.au in the month of July.

For more information, visit the Google Zeitgeist and Google Trends.

Top gainers for July:

1. Seven Wonders of the World
2. Danni Roche
3. Stockmarket
4. Live AFL scores
5. Ashley Tisdale
6. Bastille day
7. Aussiebum
8. Transformers 2007
9. USS Kittyhawk
10. Harry Potter leak
11. Frank Iero
12. Wimbledon
13. Alex Perry
14. Benji Marshall
15. Jindabyne accommodation

Read More Here...

Top gaining queries in June

Posted by Alex Heat, Account Associate

The month of June witnessed another mixed bag of weird and wonderful search terms gaining ground on the Google Australia Zeitgeist.

It seems Australian Google users had a great love for heavy metal music this month. Punk rockers were among the fastest growing search terms including local band I Killed the Prom Queen falling in at number one, followed by My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and German industrial metal band Rammstein.

And what do we like to do whilst listening to our heavy metal, well.... eat of course! This month's top gainers highlight how we Aussies are certainly food lovers of all varieties. Sweet tooths had a passion for Krispy Kreme doughnuts, while the naked chef himself, Jamie Oliver cooked his way into our hearts after becoming part of our regular TV viewing.

Teen queen Sophia Bush from T.V. show One Tree Hill showed us where her three teen choice award nominations came from and American actress Emma Roberts' portrayal of fictional heroine Nancy Drew got our search fingers twitching. Locally based singer Amy Pearson has been in our thoughts following the release of her debut album, coming in at number twelve.

A mixed bag of Pirates, spiders and Spartans appear to be quite the favourite. Johnny Depp's Pirates of the Caribbean proved that sequels are just as good making the journey from our cinema screens to our searches, while heartthrob James Franco from the Spiderman series was also much admired. The 300 movie proved that Spartans with spears are very engaging.

Now it's not all fun and games, some serious online shoppers investigated the best place to buy handbags and some eager mums wanted to know how to cash in their Baby bonus.

In the end, people just want to be entertained. Cirque Du Soleil's hit show Varekai is currently touring Australia.

For breaking news and obscure information alike, Australians are searching on Google. What follows is a summary of Google Australia Zeitgeist results for the top gainers on Google.com.au.

For more information, visit the Google Zeitgeist and Google Trends.

Top Gainers for June:

1. I Killed the Prom Queen
2. Krispy Kreme
3. My Chemical Romance
4. Sophia Bush
5. Cirque du Soleil
6. Emma Roberts
7. Jamie Oliver
8. Fall Out Boy
9. Handbags
10. Pirates of the Caribbean
11. James Franco
12. Amy Pearson
13. Rammstein
14. 300 movie
15. Baby bonus

Read More Here...

Sport and music dominate, but some found it all too taxing

Posted by Diana Starmer, Account Associate

Ed: We thought the blog was a great place to start announcing the monthly "top gaining searches" on Google Australia

Last month saw a curious mix of search terms gaining ground on the Google Australia Zeitgeist.

Hype began to build around the Socceroos playing in the upcoming Asian cup behind star defender Lucas Neill. We also had NFL fever and Kevin Sheedy’s troubles at essendon football club featured in the headlines.

Popstar Pink hit our shores for her huge national tour and all across Australia, fans went online in search of pink concert dates and ticket information. Tickets for xavier rudd also went on sale in May ahead of the release of his new album White Moth.

But it wasn’t all sport and music, Australians began to feel the end of the financial year approaching, turning their thoughts to their tax file number and interest rates at the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia).

On the celebrity front, Home and Away starlet indiana evans along with American actress and wrestler stacy keibler occupied our hearts and minds. Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton’s visit to Sydney had us searching for our Hollywood gossip, but there was a nod to higher culture when an Andy Warhol painting broke new records at auction.

And finally… for the school holidays is everyone planning to go to seaworld? Maybe we’ve put two and two together to make five but these two were certainly popular search terms.

For breaking news and obscure information alike, Australians are searching on Google! What follows is a summary of Google Australia Zeitgeist results for the top gainers on Google.com.au in the month of May.

For more information, visit the Google Zeitgeist and Google Trends.

Top Google.com.au Gainers for May:

1. lucas neill
2. pink concert
3. rba
4. nfl
5. wireless broadband
6. indiana evans
7. tax file number
8. perez
9. concept cars
10. Mars
11. wheat
12. xavier rudd
13. childhood obesity
14. street fighter
15. stacy keibler
16. burberry
17. Andy Warhol
18. essendon football club
19. seaworld
20. school holidays

Read More Here...