FAQs

What do I get with Gist?

With Gist you buy a package of credits that last for a year. Each topic request is one credit. If your topic does not generate any results, your credit will be reimbursed and you can try again. So feel free to try a topic without risk.

What is a topic?

A topic is usually a category or concept that people care about, look for information on, or share online. Topics can range from being broad to very specific. For example, "sustainability" is a very broad topic, "recycling" is a bit more targeted, while "food waste" is more specific.

From a technical perspective, Gist uses Google's topic definition, which is "a group of related search terms that share the same concept". This means some things that look topics may not be recognised by Google. In this case Gist makes an attempt to redefine the topic. If no data is found, we have an alternative approach which uses keywords (i.e. individual search terms) to capture data. Gist will automatically redirect your request to this if required and you'll still get a complete data file and dashboard of results if there is enough data.

A good way to think about defining a topic is what is the main idea or subject of interest. Then express this in a clear and definitive way. You may also want to explore multiple related topics at different levels of detail to get a fuller picture. For example:

Choose "pet treats" rather than "cat or dog treats"
Choose "menopause" rather than "women's health" if the former is your main area of interest
Choose "back pain" if you are interested in understanding causes, symptoms and remedies but choose "back pain exercises" if you are specifically interested in the latter

If your request is in a language other than English, you can either enter your topic in English (Gist will automatically translate your request) or in the target language.

If you would like some help defining what topic best suits your needs, just drop us a line at hello@gist-insights.com and we'll be happy to help!

What is a viable topic?

Gist's starting point is to see if there is enough search interest in a topic. Our general rule is that we want to find at least ten relevant search terms with at least 30 searches on average a month in your chosen market and language. That way we don’t waste your time exploring something that's too speculative.

Of course, should you want an analysis on a very niche topic, perhaps to guide a speculative piece of work, then please get in touch and we’ll run a custom analysis for you.

What markets and languages does Gist cover?

Currently Gist covers:

Markets - UK, USA, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
Languages - English, Germany, French, Italian and Spanish.

If you are interested in other markets or languages, please get in touch and we'll see what we can do!

What are your data sources?

Gist uses data across: Google (covering AdWords, Images, Trends, & Search Results), YouTube, Amazon, Google Play, Apple App Store, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), Blogs, Forums, and Reddit.

Links to explanatory notes with comprehensive details and definitions of data are provided alongside data outputs so you can see what it all means in practice.

What outputs do I get?

With each request you get a dashboard that covers data related to the topic across search interest, search results, social media posts, supported by summaries of key insights and recommendations. Optionally, you can also request a raw data spreadsheet alongside the dashboard.

How long does it take?

You usually receive your dashboard within one working day of your request.

Can I see a sample output or try out Gist?

Of course - we are happy to share a sample, or offer a free trial where you can explore the topic of your choice.

How much does it cost?

We offer one-off credits as well as a range of credit packages ranging from Small (15 credits), Medium (40 credits) and Large (150 credits) that are valid for 12 months.

We’re also open to finding a custom package that suits you, should you need something special.

Just drop us a line at hello@gist-insights.com to find out more.

I have another question....

Great - please get in touch with us at hello@gist-insights.com - and we'll get back to you asap!