A lot can be learned about marriage - preparing for it (or not), the engagement process, and marriage trouble - from Google search patterns. The Google Keyword tool displays how many searches are done each month for any particular term or "keyword". As many in our church continue to study the biblical process for marriage preparation, I find these patterns interesting.
keywords: "marriage prepare" or "marriage ready"
marriage preparation 6,600
preparing for marriage 5,400
preparing marriage 2,900
marriage preparation course 1,900
catholic marriage preparation 1,300
ready for marriage 6,600
marriage ready 4,400
keywords: "marriage save"
marriage save 60,500
to save marriage 27,100
saving marriage 22,200
how to save marriage 14,800
save my marriage 14,800
save your marriage 14,800
save a marriage 12,100
saving your marriage 12,100
to save a marriage 9,900
how to save a marriage 6,600
how to save your marriage 5,400
These show that interest in getting ready for marriage (marriage - not the wedding) is overwhelmed by interest in saving a troubled marriage. Looks like "saving" out numbers "preparing" by 10 to 1 or better.
But folks do apparently prepare plenty before they get married....
keyword: "engagement"
engagement 4,090,000
engagement rings 1,830,000
engagement ring 1,000,000
engaged 550,000
engagement diamond 450,000
engagement jewelry 368,000
wedding engagement 368,000
diamond engagement ring 246,000
diamond engagement rings 201,000
gold engagement 165,000
The preparation goes mainly into the 1 oz. ring they wear, rather than into preparing for the lifelong oath they will soon take.
So as expected, the result is...
keyword: "divorce"
divorce 9,140,000
divorced 301,000
divorce records 201,000
divorce attorney 135,000
divorce lawyer 135,000
divorce law 110,000
divorce laws 110,000
divorce lawyers 110,000
divorces 110,000
divorce attorneys 90,500
Is courtship the answer? Maybe...
keyword: "courtship" (omitting 'courtship of eddie's father' results)
courting 33,100
courtship dating 8,100
crystal castles courtship 4,400
courtship marriage 3,600
christian courtship 1,900
courtship and marriage 1,900
Note the top two involve possible synonyms for dating scenarios, as the numbers fall greatly when courtship and marriage are searched together. 30 times more folks are interested in "divorce law" as are interested in "courtship marriage".
Moral: Failing to prepare for marriage is actively preparing for divorce. A pretty ring does not a lovely marriage make.
These books can help you prepare for a successful marriage:
source: https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordTool (Feb 2009 monthly data)
