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Field guide

Search intent

Search intent is the task or purpose behind a search query. For a store, that purpose may be comparing product types, checking a specification or finding a known model. Intent is an interpretation that should be tested against the query and available evidence.

Separate product research from model lookup

A broad product comparison and an exact model lookup need different destinations. The words alone may leave uncertainty: “travel bag” can mean browsing categories, checking airline dimensions or replacing a specific item. Inspect the current results and the buyer’s next question before deciding which page should answer it.

Illustrative store: “hard shell or soft travel bag” leads to a comparison explaining weight, storage and protection, with links to both collections. “Orion cabin case model C24 dimensions” leads to the C24 product page with the exact measurements. Sending both searches to a generic luggage homepage makes each buyer do another search inside the site.

Choose a destination that supports the next buying task

Intent is not a permanent property of a keyword, and this example is not a live search observation. Results, location and wording can change the likely task. A classification such as “commercial” is too broad to determine the page layout on its own.

Next, write the buyer’s task in one sentence for each priority query. Compare that sentence with the proposed destination and record what evidence would confirm or challenge the match.

Website field guide · Map store searches to products, collections or guides · Product detail page (PDP)

Reference: Google Search Central: people-first content; Digital Marketing Institute: search intent. Checked November 4, 2026.