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!
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{ 25 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 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.
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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.
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
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Good way of looking at it, Peter!
Only time will tell…
Ana
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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.
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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
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.
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