A commercial search query refers to a search made by users on search engines that indicates an intent to make a purchase or a transaction. These queries suggest that the user is in the "consideration" or "decision" stage of the buying process and is actively looking for a product or service to buy, or at least is researching options with a strong inclination toward purchasing.
Informational Queries: Where the user is looking for information on a particular topic but is not necessarily intending to make a purchase (e.g., "how to bake a cake" or "history of the Eiffel Tower").
Navigational Queries: Where the user is trying to get to a specific website or page (e.g., "Facebook login" or "OpenAI website").
Many online businesses and advertisers place a premium on identifying and targeting commercial search queries because they represent users who are closer to making a purchasing decision. Recognizing these queries allows businesses to create more targeted and conversion-optimized ads and landing pages.