These past few weeks have undoubtedly had an impact on our daily lives and our behaviour offline. But the internet has, of course, not been immune to the changes brought about by this unprecedented situation. Little by little, we are finding our feet and adapting the way we work, shop and communicate.
At DJM, we have been analysing Belgians’ online search queries since the start of the lockdown. What are our fellow citizens’ new priorities? How are the upheavals of recent weeks reflected in our online searches?
Latest trends on Google
Covid-19 burst into our lives unexpectedly and forced us to adapt quickly and effectively. The suddenness and urgency that characterise this exceptional situation have naturally given rise to many questions… to which everyone is seeking answers via their favourite search engine.
In practical terms, which search queries topped the charts this month?
To write this article, we took a look at the statistics provided by Google Trends. This tool offers an overview of search volumes, with the option to filter the data by country and language.
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‘Coronavirus advice’
Unsurprisingly, searches for ‘coronavirus advice’ have risen by 1,800 per cent in Belgium over the last 30 days. Belgians have quickly become concerned about this virus and its spread. They have therefore sought information so that they can be better prepared to deal with this new disease.
‘Lockdown in Belgium’
In the same vein, searches for ‘lockdown Belgium’ showed a marked increase of 250 per cent, with search volumes peaking during the press conferences organised by the National Security Council.
‘How to sew a face mask’
The shortage of face masks in shops has naturally prompted Belgians to take an interest in making their own face masks. As a result, we are seeing a record number of searches for terms related to making face masks, notably ‘tutorial: face mask with filter’, ‘making a cloth face mask’ and ‘how to make a face mask for coronavirus’.
Staying in touch
During this period of lockdown, digital technology is enabling us to stay in touch with our loved ones, friends and colleagues. There has, of course, been a surge in searches for and downloads of apps and platforms for video conferencing, chat and online collaboration.
‘bpost postcard’
The Mobile Postcard app, developed by us, allows users to send postcards directly from their smartphones. Since the start of lockdown, the search term ‘bpost postcard’ has seen record search volumes. In fact, we have sent over a million postcards since the start of lockdown!
‘Zoom’
Zoom allows users to create a virtual meeting room where staff can interact via their computer, tablet or smartphone. The surge in remote working has propelled the video-conferencing platform into the spotlight, with a 180 per cent increase in search volume.
‘Wazzou’
Wazzou is a platform that enables pupils to practise the concepts they have learnt in class. With schools closed, interest in this type of digital tool has only grown in recent weeks. Indeed, searches for ‘wazzou’ have risen by 350 per cent.
Have some fun
Many people find time drags on. You’ve no doubt noticed that social media is full of images and videos designed to entertain users, who happily go along with it.
Google searches also reflect this desire to keep oneself occupied throughout the day.
‘E-shop’
As we now know, the clear winner of this health crisis is, by far, online shopping. With high-street shops closed, consumers are turning to online shopping not only to meet their basic needs, but also to buy so-called ‘non-food’ items. Many internet users type in the name of their favourite retailer followed by ‘e-shop’ to place an order online. For many retailers, this growing trend presents a real challenge, but above all, new opportunities to be seized!
‘Netflix’
For some, the famous streaming platform has become their best friend during lockdown. Netflix has made its way into the top 20 most frequent searches carried out by Belgians last month. Various series on the platform have proved particularly popular with internet users, notably ‘You’ and ‘La Casa de Papel’.
‘Weather’
Belgians have shown a clear interest in the weather, with this term coming in fifth place in last month’s rankings. Let’s face it, the weather has been very kind to us since the start of lockdown. There have been very few rainy days. In fact, we’ve seen a spike in searches for inflatable swimming pools since the start of April. So a few lucky souls have no doubt been splashing about in their gardens over the last few days!
‘Bread recipe’
The big trend during lockdown: homemade bread! As you may have noticed, people online are constantly sharing photos of their latest batches on social media. Flour is, in fact, in short supply on supermarket shelves. This new craze is causing concern amongst some bakers, who are organising delivery services and urging their customers to support their local businesses.
Before… and after
A new lease of life for the planet? New economic and social models?
One thing is certain: the coronavirus is highly likely to act as a catalyst for a more digital world. Online education, remote working, e-commerce… Lockdown measures have forced us to rethink the way we communicate, sell and engage with customers.
We’ve all realised this: digital technology brings us together and offers us a wealth of opportunities. The next challenge? Preparing for the recovery, avoiding the same mistakes and, above all, making the most of the tools at our disposal.
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