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All lessons in SEO for Beginners Lesson 1.2 of 26

Module 0: Introduction

  1. 0.1What is a search engine?
  2. 0.2How do search engines work?
  3. 0.3What is SEO?
  4. 0.4How to start SEO

Module 1: Keyword Research

  1. 1.1What are keywords in SEO?
  2. 1.2What is search intent?
  3. 1.3How to find keywords for your website
  4. 1.4Keyword difficulty
  5. 1.5Keyword mapping

Module 2: On-Page SEO

  1. 2.1What is on-page SEO?
  2. 2.2How to optimize a page for a keyword
  3. 2.3How to write title tags and meta descriptions
  4. 2.4How to use headings for SEO
  5. 2.5Internal linking for SEO

Module 3: Link Building

  1. 3.1What is link building?
  2. 3.2What makes a good backlink?
  3. 3.3How to get backlinks for beginners
  4. 3.4Blogger outreach

Module 4: Technical SEO Basics

  1. 4.1What is technical SEO?
  2. 4.2How to check if a page is indexed
  3. 4.3How to find broken links on a website
  4. 4.4XML sitemap and robots.txt for beginners
  5. 4.5How to do a basic SEO audit

Module 5: Measuring SEO Results

  1. 5.1How to set up Google Search Console
  2. 5.2Clicks, impressions, CTR, and position explained
  3. 5.3Your SEO action plan

What is search intent?

Covered here

  • The four types of search intent
  • How to read intent from the search results
  • How to match your page to intent

Short answer

Search intent is the reason behind a search: what the person really wants to do or find. There are four main types: informational, navigational, commercial, and transactional. Google and other search engines rank pages that match the intent. If your page answers a different need, it will struggle to rank, even with the right keyword.

Why intent matters more than the keyword

Two people can type similar words and want very different things. “Iphone 16” might mean “show me the price” or “tell me the specs.” Search engines study millions of searches to learn what most people want.

Your job is to give searchers the kind of page they expect. A recipe search wants a recipe, not a cooking school’s sales page.

The four types of search intent

IntentWhat the searcher wantsExample searchBest page type
InformationalTo learn somethinghow to renew NBI clearance onlineGuide, how-to, explainer
NavigationalTo reach a specific siteGCash loginThe brand’s own page
CommercialTo compare before buyingbest budget phone 2026 PhilippinesReview, comparison, list
TransactionalTo buy or act nowbuy rice cooker LazadaProduct page, booking page
Four types of search intent📖Informational“how to renew NBI”🧭Navigational“GCash login”⚖️Commercial“best budget phone”🛒Transactional“buy rice cooker”
Every search has a goal. Match your page to it.

Most searches mix types. “Best aircon for small room” is commercial, but the person may also want to learn about horsepower first.

How to read intent from the search results

The fastest way to find intent is to look at what already ranks. Search engines show what they believe people want.

  1. Search your keyword. Use a private window on Google, and check Bing too.
  2. Look at the top five results. Are they guides, product pages, lists, or videos?
  3. Check the extra features. A map pack means local intent. A shopping row means buying intent. A “People also ask” box means people want answers.
  4. Match the format. If the top results are “best of” lists, a single product page will likely struggle.

These extra boxes are called SERP features. They are clues about intent.

Sorter: what is the intent?

Tap Informational, Navigational, Commercial, or Transactional.

  • what is a VA

  • Shopee seller center

  • Globe vs Smart prepaid promo

  • order lechon belly Cebu

  • how to start a small sari-sari store

  • book hotel Boracay December

Quick quiz

1. “Best laptops for video editing” shows which intent?
2. What is the best way to check search intent?
3. A map with local businesses appears in results. What does it suggest?

Common mistakes

  • Writing a sales page for a learning search. People asking “how” want steps first.
  • Skipping the results check. Always look before you write.
  • Targeting two intents on one page. A guide and a checkout page usually need separate pages.
  • Ignoring local intent. Searches like “dentist near me” need a Google Business Profile and a location page.

Your action

Key terms

Search intent
The goal behind a search.
Informational intent
The searcher wants to learn.
Navigational intent
The searcher wants a specific website.
Commercial intent
The searcher is comparing before buying.
Transactional intent
The searcher is ready to buy or act.
SERP features
Extra boxes in results, like maps, videos, and “People also ask.”

Questions beginners ask

Can intent change over time?

Yes. Search engines update results as people’s needs change. Check the results again every few months.

Is intent the same on every search engine?

Mostly. Google and Bing may show different formats, so check both for important keywords.

Want someone to handle SEO for your business while you learn? The team at Remar Digital can help.