In August, Google and Facebook once again demonstrated that search marketing and social media can be worlds apart when it comes to topics of interest. August 2015 shows very little in common with Hot Searches – August 2014, with Father’s Day, sporting events, reality television and the hacking of a certain dating website being the most popular Google searches. As for Facebook, products, music, films and public figures dominated the conversation.

Australians got it right this time (here’s looking at you, Hot Searches – June 2015) and in the lead up to Australia’s Father’s Day on 6 September, Googlers were steadily searching for this term as the month went on. The searches hit a peak towards the end of the month, with the ACT dominating in the search for gift inspiration. Top rising related search terms included ‘Father’s Day cards’, ‘Father’s Day craft’ and ‘Father’s Day date’.

Facebook users in August were again captivated by upcoming advances in technology – this time, momentum built in August ahead of Apple’s September iPhone 6S announcement. Despite this, Android was the most-talked-about technology product among Aussies. You can’t win ‘em all, Apple.

As is par for the course for Googlers, sports fans were out in full force in August searching for highlights of the English Premier League. Search volumes peaked and dipped over the course of the month, reaching the highest peaks every Saturday, coinciding with the games held on the weekend. South Australians displayed the most interest in the sport, followed by the ACT and Western Australia.

Nutella was in the spotlight in August, largely thanks to a Sydney café who posted images of how they use Nutella in a doughnut-milkshake hybrid. Dubbed the Tella Ball shake, young women in particular marveled over the creations from Foodcraft Espresso and Bakery. Thanks to the images of the shakes going viral on social media, the café saw a massive rise in business and even ran out of doughnuts and milk after the images were posted online.

Ronda Rousey’s epic UFC 190 knockout against Bethe Correia on 1 August was hugely publicised – and with good reason, considering Rousey knocked Correia out just 34 seconds in. Held in Rio de Janeiro, the event was talked about worldwide, and Australia wasn’t one to miss out on the action. Searches for Rona Rousey peaked on 2 August, and top related rising search terms included ‘Ronda Rousey 190’, ‘Ronda Rousey YouTube’ and ‘Rousey vs. Correia’, Aussies flocking to Google to find footage of the fight.

Music and films were popular topics on Facebook in August, with films Deadpool and Straight Outta Compton creating a buzz amongst young men. As for music, Facebook users of both genders were captivated by a thousand people from the Italian town of Cesena gathering to play a cover of the Foo Fighters song “Learn to Fly”, in an attempt to coax the band to play there (it worked).

In August, a dating website for extramarital affairs – whose slogan reads, “Life is short. Have an affair” – was hacked and individual users’ email addresses were leaked online and became searchable. Search results for Ashley Madison, the name of the site, peaked on 20 August. Most searches involved terms like ‘Ashley Madison checker’ and ‘Ashley Madison data’, indicating a few Aussies were interested in having a look at just whose emails were listed as users of the site. FYI: Residents of the ACT were the top searchers.

Public figures were once again a hot topic on Facebook in August. Older women mourned the passing of Australian racehorse trainer Bart Cummings and British singer and television presenter Cilla Black. Bronwyn Bishop also topped conversations on Facebook, as her resignation from Speaker of the House was an item popular on the Australian news agenda for older men and women.

After premiering in late July, the third season of Australia’s rendition of The Bachelor has seen a steady rise in peaks on every Thursday throughout August. Breakout search terms involved a contestant on the show; Snezana – after it was revealed her ex-husband has a criminal past. ‘Snezana’ and ‘Snezana The Bachelor’ were the top two related search terms. Viewers in the ACT were again the top searchers for this term, with Queenslanders caring the least out of everyone.

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