While many of us have been excited about seeing their Spotify Wrapped, our SEO team have been excited about a different round-up…
Google didn’t make a big song and dance about it, but they just released 2024’s most searched-for topics and questions in the UK.
Absolutely brilliant.
Between the Euros, Oasis reuniting and the US elections, there’s been a LOT going on in 2024. Here are some of the top searches that defined 2024 in the UK.
What’s been in the news?
2024 saw heartbreak for many of us across the country, as England’s men’s football team fell short of winning the Euros.
There are a few other big events that have captivated us, from the tragic death of One Direction star, Liam Payne, to the British teenager Jay Slater, who went missing in Tenerife earlier this year.
Here are the biggest news events of 2024 according to Google:
1. Euros
2. Liam Payne
3. Jay Slater
4. Michael Mosley
5. US Election
6. Kate Middleton
7. Baby Reindeer
8. Olympics
9. Oasis tickets
10. Fool Me Once
The people we’ve NEEDED to know about
Coming in at the number one spot is the Princess of Wales, following her prolonged absence from royal duties.
Following a slew of speculation, it was eventually revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. This had people across the UK Googling Kate Middleton more than anyone else this year.
It’ll come as little surprise that Donald Trump followed in a close second, followed by the legend Luke Littler himself. What a year that lad has had!
1. Kate Middleton
2. Donald Trump
3. Luke Littler
4. Keir Starmer
5. Imane Khelif
6. Alan Hansen
7. King Charles
8. Richard Gadd
9. Michelle Keegan
10. Yung Filly
The films that stuck with us
It was one hell of a year for films, with Dune: Part Two, Inside Out 2, Gladiator 2 and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice making it the year of the sequels!
The Joker sequel also made waves, but not necessarily for the right reasons, with it receiving some of the worst reviews of any big-budget movie this year.
1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
2. It Ends with Us
3. Inside Out 2
4. Dune: Part Two
5. Deadpool & Wolverine
6. Alien: Romulus
7. Gladiator II
8. Poor Things
9. Madame Web
10. Joker: Folie A Deux
The TV shows that have captivated us
Perhaps no surprise to many, it was Baby Reindeer that topped searches in the world of television. It sparked controversy, especially as the real-life identities of some of the characters were slowly revealed.
A “true” story, Scottish lawyer Fiona Harvey was “forced” to come forward after death threats were sent to her. She’s filed a £127m lawsuit for defamation, which is still ongoing at the time of writing.
Some of the other notable mentions include mind-bending thriller, Fool Me Once, Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen and wildly popular video game adaptation, Fallout.
1. Baby Reindeer
2. Fool Me Once
3. The Gentlemen
4. One Day
5. Fallout
6. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
7. Rivals
8. The Perfect Couple
9. Mr Bates Vs the Post Office
10. Until I Kill You
The unfortunate deaths
Deaths always make the headlines, and no death shocked the nation quite like One Direction star, Liam Payne. The 31-year-old died after falling from a balcony at his hotel in Argentina.
1. Liam Payne
2. Jay Slater
3. Michael Mosley
4. Steve Wright
5. Maggie Smith
6. Robin Windsor
7. Donald Sutherland
8. Shannen Doherty
9. Kevin Campbell
10. James Earl Jones
The musicians that touched our lives
No surprise to anyone, Oasis’ reunion absolutely dominated Google’s search results – it’s the reunion nobody expected, but everyone’s here for!
In fact, several members of the Catalyst team have tickets to go and see the boys. We’ll report back on how that goes next year!
Following Oasis, you’ve got Sabrina Carpenter’s meteoric rise, and a little bit of controversy surrounding the adulterous Dave Grohl.
1. Oasis
2. Sabrina Carpenter
3. One Direction
4. Dave Grohl
5. Raye
6. Coldplay
7. Chappell Roan
8. Linkin Park
9. Justin Timberlake
10. Cyndi Lauper
The athletes that impressed us most
We’re buzzing about this one, with Luke Littler (our office hero) snagging the top spot – THE MOST SEARCHED-FOR athlete in the UK all year – get in lad!
He’s even managed to beat out Olympians, such as Simone Biles. What a star in the making our Littler is.
1. Luke Littler
2. Lamine Yamal
3. Simone Biles
4. Jude Bellingham
5. Adam Peaty
6. Anthony Joshua
7. Ollie Watkins
8. Chris Hoy
9. Cole Palmer
10. Nico Williams
The “When is…?”
The US presidential election captured many of us this year, but let’s be honest, “When is Coronation Street on this week”, and “When is Traitors on?” are far more important questions!
The Euros final and the budget are also on the list (naturally) (but we’re far more interested in Traitors).
1. The US election
2. The budget
3. The Euros final
4. Coronation Street on this week
5. Mike Tyson v Jake Paul
6. England playing next
7. Traitors on
8. The solar eclipse
9. The general election
10. The World Cup
The “How to…?”
This is our favourite category of question, as it ranges from the mundane to the barmy, although 2024’s results err on the side of the mundane.
The top ten list this year probably won’t come as much of a surprise, with “How to vote in the UK election” and “How to get Oasis tickets” coming in at the number one and two spots respectively.
People also wanted to know how to watch some of the biggest fights in the world, with Fury vs Usyk and Tyson vs Paul coming in at 3 & 4.
We also loved having a gander at the Northern Lights this year (although it’s never as impressive as you expect in person!).
1. Vote in the UK
2. Get Oasis tickets
3. Watch Fury vs Usyk
4. Watch Tyson vs Paul
5. Make a pornstar martini
6. Watch the Olympics
7. See the Northern Lights
8. Block someone on TikTok
9. How to make life in infinite craft
10. Vote for the UK in Eurovision
What can these trends teach us?
As a specialist SEO agency, we’re, of course, looking at this through a very specific lens – what can these trends teach us?
The main takeaway is this: trends are really, really important to any SEO strategy.
Your industry will have its own unique SEO ebbs and flows – you need to be taking advantage of them and ensuring that you’re producing content that targets the things people truly want to see.
Keep your ear to the ground, listen to what people are talking about and make sure you’re answering the questions that people want to know.
