As always, Google created a lot of controversy by releasing its new Google Instant Search feature yesterday (thanks to Donna Fontenot for keeping me in the loop!).
Your search results will now start displaying as soon as you begin typing in the search box. According to Google, this will cut out 2-5 seconds of search time.
2 to 5 seconds - my, my!
Here are a few of the core features in Google Instant, according to Official Google blog:
- Dynamic Results - Google dynamically displays relevant search results as you type so you can quickly interact and click through to the web content you need.
- Predictions - One of the key technologies in Google Instant is that we predict the rest of your query (in light gray text) before you finish typing. See what you need? Stop typing, look down and find what you’re looking for.
- Scroll to search - Scroll through predictions and see results instantly for each as you arrow down.
And here are some of Twitter reactions to the “core features” of Google Instant:
What’s next? Google Predictive Search feature?
What’s your take on it? Comment below.
Also: Here are a couple of worthy reads on the topic from other great bloggers:
Google Instant Ain’t Coffee - Keyword Research Tactics Changed By James The Just
How Will Google Instant Impact Internet Marketing By Kathy Blogger
You are right: you don’t have to comment or retweet, but do it anyway; I love hearing from you!
PS For more no-nonsense traffic generation and conversion tips from Ana, fill out this short spam-free form:
- » How To Improve Google Search Engine Ranking: SEO Myths
- » Need for speed: Search Engine Ranking Chase Gains Momentum
- » Content Recycling: How to Turn Articles into Videos in 5 Minutes
- » Blog Audit Friday: This Is How the Strong Become Stronger
- » Search Engine Ranking Tip: Perform a Colonoscopy on Your Blog
Digg it
Delicious it
Stumble it
Kube it
This post brought to you by Ana Hoffman
Ana is the founder of Traffic Generation Cafe and wants you to know that her 7 Steps to Complete Search Engine Domination free SEO report = SEO Made Simple. Don't forget to pick up your own copy today - just click on the link above!
Ana has written 241 great posts for Traffic Generation Cafe.
A wife to a great husband, a mother to a beautiful and, no doubt, genius little girl, and a successful internet entrepreneur. I also devoted my life to Jesus Christ many years ago, and He remains my true priority, focus, and hope.
{ 46 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Ana,
Get Excited & Stay Excited! I have to say I can feel either away about Google Instant. I think as a regular “researcher” this will help me when I’m searching for things… however, from the business aspect, I think it can be a potential disadvantage to the marketers who are not staying on top of the changes. But that’s the key- those of us who are doing online marketing, blogging, social media and so forth for our businesses need to stay with the program and change as our tools change… because at the end of the day that is all google is- a tool! So no point in complaining- just go with the flow & learn new marketing strategies! :0)
Blessings, Love & Light…
Kantrese “Tresie”
“Inspire. Encourage. Empower.”
Kantrese Smith invites you to read: Top 4 Ways to Use Video Email to Captivate Your Audience and Increase Your Leads
I like your attitude, Kantrese - we need to change as online world changes.
However, I am not too concerned about this update; I did not like Google Instant myself and hear that many people feel the same way about it.
Thanks for the insight!
Ana
Hi Ana, I believe that SEO consultants will be in demand as long as search engines exist. If anything, appearing in the top 3 results (whether paid or organic) has become more important than ever before.
Over time, I’m convinced that Google Instant will change the way we search in the same was as Google Suggest did. People will tend to search across longer tail keyword variations, away from head term. This is something I discuss in more detail in this post: http://www.searchmarketingman.com/2009/11/how-google-suggest-changed-how-we.html
Cheers,
Stephan
Stephan invites you to read: A strategy to target the long tail gold mine
I absolutely agree with you, Stephan. SEO consultants will always be in business as long as there is such a think as SEO and search engines in general.
Interesting take on long tail keywords. So far most opinions tend to go the other way. I am off the check out your post.
Thanks for coming by!
Ana
Hi Ana,
I haven’t experienced Google Instant as yet, but thanks for sharing this
All the best,
Mavis Nong
Mavis Nong invites you to read: Network Marketing As Endorsed By Bill Clinton…
You are not missing out on anything, Mavis.
Thanks for the backlink, Ana. I’m still not sure it’s as benign as many make it out to be. It would be one thing if all I cared about was one particular blog, or even 2-3…
But if you have multiple properties to consider, this may be the death of ‘set and forget’ - the backbone of doing SEO properly and then moving on.
The reason I feel that way (and only the market will tell, it’s much too early) is in conducting recent searches. I can see over time how the masses will be trained…and I don’t think Google’s 10 keyword suggestions (OK, maybe it’s more like 10 per letter typed…) is a big enough basket to continue riding the crest of a high ranking for a given search term.
I’m sure it saves time (what, a billion searches a nano second times 6 billion people squared multiplied by a googol…which is how you spell “googol” anyway)…but when Google holds the keys to the kingdom and suggests keywords to the public…
Hmm.. it’s like reading 1984. Big brother says, “here are the 10 places I think you’ll like most.”
Over a year’s time when everyone’s used to it…unless your SEO keyword basket included the Google Suggest/Instant keywords - you’ll lose traffic in time.
The only exceptions to this would be:
1) PPC ads…
2) If you generate traffic via social media, etc (I don’t do that much on my niche websites, been fine without on my money-making blogs/sites/web 2.0′s)..
3) Taking a more hands-on approach to generating traffic to your money pages.
I understand it can be done, but when you have a network of 70 sites, etc., all of which are set and forget (and quality stuff, I’m not talking auto-blog landfills), this is a potential nightmare.
JamestheJust invites you to read: Copywriting Tips That Will Make You A Million Bucks
Hi Ana
I think it comes from the desire to earn more money. I can see the larger corporations vying for top spot and therefore spending more in an effort to get placed in the “instant results”. What does concern me though is if the instant results will be a static response once the keyword is typed in and the remaining words overlooked. Then it would be a case of investing to stay in the loop. Can’t see it though because that would change the dynamics of search engines entirely.
Good point, Dennis.
So far it does not seem that Google Instant produces “static results”; they results keep changing as you type more words.
Thanks for coming by!
Hi Ana,
I turned off Google Instant after using it for about 5 minutes. I’m glad they give people the option to do that.
I know that ultimately the goal is to serve end users, and those of us who work in SEO would rather not have to think about everything this touches and potentially changes. If people like it, I’ll be okay with the changes but if some sort of survey indicated that it wasn’t helpful for people, I wouldn’t miss it!
Cheers,
Tia
Tia invites you to read: Web Content Strategy- The Key to Relevance in a Sea of Look-a-likes
I am with you, Tia - tried it, don’t care for it.
Wild guess - might not be the brightest idea Google has come up with (they’ve had a few of the bad ones lately, huh?)
Hi Ana,
Really been enjoying your posts. Loved all those tweets you shared about Instant Search, such a great compilation
Great to connect!
Thanks, Ben - I thought it was an interesting approach to do that.
Hey Ana,
I must be in my own little world lately. I haven’t heard a thing about it ’til today. lol
I just went and checked it out. It’s definitely not for me. Kind of annoying really. Of course I’m not your typical searcher.
As far as SEO is concerned, it’s kind of a shame that I don’t like it. What I did check out was making me pretty happy with the potential for what was showing up. A little research could have you ranking on the number one spot for anticipated keywords. Think of the possibilities. Good title and meta and you could grab the click away from competitors before the higher competition keyword results are displayed.
As long as searchers don’t get side tracked with the off topic things google was randomly spitting out.
My opinion. It has potential to give certain SEO techs an edge, but also has potential to waste more time than saved. Which is why I won’t be using it outside of research. I can see a lot of distraction coming from this.
Chris Owen invites you to read: I Can’t Believe I’m Selling Money…
That’s the general consensus thus far, Chris. Many of my readers are turning it off.
However, I like the way you think. Finding ways to take advantage of changes, whatever they may be, is the key to being on top or nowhere to be found.
Welcome back to the real world.
Only time will tell Ana
Will GI hurt the really long long-tail keywords, probably, especially if it causes the user to stop typing and accept results not based on that long-tail keyword.
But then again you would expect that happening already with Google’s auto-suggest, at least to some degree.
But the big picture is this, if GI does affect what keywords people use in the searches it does not make SEO dead, just makes it more interesting and competitive
Peter
Peter Fuller MBA invites you to read: Are You Making This Mistake When Setting Your Goals
Good way of looking at it, Peter!
Only time will tell…
Ana
It’s interesting to see how it’s going to impact SEO. I hope that it’s not going to impact the SERPs too much.
I also don’t see the point of showing results while searching. Because until you are finished searching you are not going to be interested in the results Google is displaying in the meanwhile.
Julius invites you to read: How to Build Backlinks the Smart Way
I am with you, Julius.
I know what I am searching for and I am not inclined to allow Google to “help” me in any way.
I’ll give you a different perspective, Ana - the user experience. A little background - I basically live in Google as part of my job. When I need to research a product, or a technical specification, I type it into the search bar and hit . I’m not looking at the Google Instant list, my hand isn’t on the mouse - I might not even be looking at the display until after I hit .
It’s faster to scan results and modify the search string, than it is to play with the search string and watch the Google Instant list. I need snippets and URLs (looking for .gov and .org mostly) to know that I’ve hit the right search string, so Google Instant is no help, here.
Google Instant? Meh.
Oops - “enter” got stripped-out
Should read “hit enter.”
Very usable perspective, Roy. Sounds like my experience with Google Instant thus far.
I can’t believe this is so talked about…
Ana
Ana invites you to read: Link Building Mixology- Your “How To Do It The Right Way” Guide
Hi Ana
Your blog was recommended to me and as a newbie blogger I like to visit new blogs and keep learning. I am in a relatively small niche and so most of my traffic isn’t coming through Google at the moment. A lot of the visitors to my site come from other blogs and the blogging community who I am connecting with. Also I read somewhere that Google aren’t doing this in Australia yet so it doesn’t affect my blog for the moment. Good to stay updated though as it could happen here too.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia invites you to read: Lavender Health-Lavender in treatment for hair loss
Thanks for coming by, Patricia; it’s always fun to see readers share your content!
Referral traffic is huge; that’s why networking is so tremendously important. I know of many bloggers who are doing very well without being listed in search engines. However, it does take TIME to do business that way.
Ana
Thanks for pointing people to my article Ana.
A lot of people including some of these commenters are not so worried about this new change in Google. They are probably right that they shouldn’t be worried. Most people do not go after the really long tail keywords.
Those of use who know that there is big money in really long tail buying keywords are worried though. The kind of user that I target for certain niche websites is not going to finish typing that seven or eight word long tail. I have heard people conducted preliminary tests already and confirmed it. This will substantially impact the really long tail that was ridiculously easy to get position one for. Those are low volume searches, but high converting and highly profitable keywords.
Kathy invites you to read: How Will Google Instant Impact Internet Marketing
I can definitely see some people taking a hit on that.
However, it will come down to how much the searchers like using the new feature. It would not be the first time Google came up with something they had to “recall” shortly thereafter. If this feature doesn’t work for the public, they will disable this option.
Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, we have to go with the flow.
Thanks for bringing up this valid point, Kathy.
Ana
Ana invites you to read: Treasure Island of Link Building- How to Find the Best Links Every Time
I don’t thing it to be much different then the autofill features of some search boxes. It helps with other searches that I would not have otherwise thought of. This is a good thing and will not change SEO much either.
I am sure some of these changes will affect folks whose bread and butter are long-tail searches. However, it’s just a speculation right now; we’ll wait and see.
Thanks, Joy!
I am somewhere between scared and slightly apathetic. As a user it doesn’t seem a bad idea. If you have a specific phrase in mind it doesn’t stop you from going on.
But, though I am not ready to go running around like Chicken Little yelling, “the sky is falling” I think this almost has to have some sort of negative impact on long tail keywords.
How much or how bad is really hard to say. I am hoping it is much ado about nothing.
Steve invites you to read: 20 Travel Horror Movies that Make You Want to Stay Home
It most likely is too much ado, Steve.
Even if the searchers focus on shorter keywords in the beginning of the search, they still might not find what they are looking for and have to refine their search.
In my opinion, that’s the biggest flaw of the new feature.
I want to see the results I am looking for, not what Google thinks I am looking for.
I am not worried.
Ana
Ana invites you to read: How To Use Google To Help You Convince Your List To Buy From You
Hey Ana,
I’ve read a lot on this topic for the last two days. My take is if you know how to drive traffic & promote it won’t affect you. Looking forward to use the new search engine features.
Have a great weekend…
Josh
Josh Garcia invites you to read: See How Easily Overcoming Procrastination Can Be Done
Bingo. If anything needs to be adjusted in the way we market, we’ll do it. Nothing to make too much noise about.
Hope you are enjoying (enjoyed?) your trip!
Ana
Ana invites you to read: Mistery of Google PageRank Solved
Hi Ana,
I know I’m kind of old, and not an internet expert, but this reminds me of something that happens to me at Walmart or the grocery store. The technology handling my debit card is so fast that I hold up the line behind me, trying to get my cards in my pocket, trying to get my bags in the cart, trying to get OUT OF THE WAY. I stilll have to be part of the process, and I can’t move any faster. Recall the heads up display technolgy in fighter jets that moved so fast that it was beyond the capacity of the pilots to keep up with it. I can’t comment on the effects on keywords, but hopefully it turns out to be a good thing for everyone.
Lou Barba invites you to read: Did you Endwell today
Such a great example, Lou. I think many times “fast” is “too fast”. Now if you were writing a check…
I am willing to wait for the extra 2 seconds the regular search takes!
Thanks for reading my blog, Lou. I know you are trying to learn and it does not make much sense most of the times. But you’ve got to start somewhere!
Ana
Ana invites you to read: Make Money with Twitter
I have posted my take on google instant search here: http://www.linknami.com/blog/2010/09/seo-advice-for-google-instant-search-results/
I didn’t realize you had a blog attached to your site, Andreas. Thanks for the link.
I like the point you made on your blog. I definitely see logic behind it.
The one factor we’ll have to see about is whether the public likes it and uses it.
If searchers find the new feature too annoying, they will use the “disable” option and will go back to the “normal” way to searching.
What do you think?
Ana Hoffman
Ana invites you to read: 17 Traffic Building Tips from Some of the World’s Most Popular Bloggers
Hi Ana,
I second Samuel’s take in that if Google is making big changes you can only seize the opportunity to change your marketing strategy. If not, complaining is a waste of precious time and energy.
It seems like much ado about nothing though.
Ryan Biddulph
Ryan Biddulph invites you to read: How to Slap Your Next Blog Post Out of the Park
I am with you, Ryan - this is the only time I am willing to talk about it.
The world changes and our businesses should change with it.
Ana
Ana invites you to read: Treasure Island of Link Building- How to Find the Best Links Every Time
Hi
I think google is always with those whose post has value and also follows basic SEO tips.Quality link building and other techniques are also must
Thanks For Sharing
-Abhishek
Very true, Abhishek. Basic SEO principles still stand; nothing changed there.
Ana
Due to tough competition Google implementing its service day by day…
I haven’t tried it yet and that’s fine by me.
Thanks, Vijay.
Ana,
Nice recopilation of blogger’s opinions.
If something really changed, we must take it as an opportunity, maybe letter by letter SEO. Google is doing this to increase the number of impressions, that will increase their income too. Finally, it’s a business.
I think Google must be very carefull with the changes it makes. Why? maybe sometime will make a mistake, or the people can start using different search engines because gets tired of those changes.
Samuel invites you to read: 3 sencillos pasos para ser eficiente
That’s a nice thought, Samuel; unfortunately, we can’t count on Google to do proper research before releasing anything. Just recall Google Buzz and Wave!
One thing is for sure: we’ll readjust a bit and keeping going like not much changed. Because it hasn’t.
Ana
Ana invites you to read: Link Building Mixology- Your “How To Do It The Right Way” Guide
Hi Ana,
Being in Australia I haven’t had the opportunity to experience Google Instant just yet but even before it was released I could smell the panic from a distance.
Today I have read so many over-reactions to this release that I am already “over it” to be honest. I don’t propose to be an SEO expert so I couldn’t really comment on it’s impact with my authority but I say we should all take a deep breath and remain calm. I quite like Jonathan Leger’s take on it and think I’m going to recommend his post on my blog.
Thanks for raising what will continue to be a hot discussion subject.
~Marcus
Marcus Baker invites you to read: Why you Need a Written Blogging Plan
You and I make two, Marcus.
The only reason I brought up the topic is because of its currency and potential for debate.
We were fine before and we will be fine after Google Instant.
I found it hilarious to read different opinions sometimes, because all I want to say - where does it come from!!!
Thanks, Marcus.
Ana invites you to read: Scribe SEO- Why All The Cool Kids Are Doing It