Google Instant Impact on SEO and Your Search Rankings

The introduction this year of Google Instant did not include search algorithm changes.
You probably never noticed a change in your search engine rankings.

So what’s the big deal? What does this instant search technology mean to you, your business, and your search engine rankings?

What’s ultimately changing here is how consumers are searching. Search query patterns will change, click patterns will change, and obviously, page scanning behaviors will change. Searchers will better understand how to modify their search queries, and can easily get more targeted results with long-tail phrases and auto-complete suggestions.

As a marketer, you need to be aware of your prospects changing behavior. First page rankings on broader, short-tail keywords are even more important now than ever. Your long-tail targeted keyword phrases are no longer the first results consumers see.

Give it a shot yourself – how’s your website fare on the broader short-tail with Google Instant? The typical searcher may not even scroll down the page while changing search queries, making it more important to be ranking above the fold.

So what can you do?

• Optimize for broader, more general search terms, or publish newly optimized landing pages. Pull out all the stops on your small business SEO techniques, or get the qualified online SEO training you need to get ahead.
• Optimize for shorter keyword focused Title and Meta descriptions. The more keywords you stuff in here, the less weight they all hold. Don’t junk it up here – keep it short, and sell the click.
• Optimize for the auto-complete suggestions, as these will gain even more search volume now.

It’s hard to predict just how Google Instant will affect the way people search, and ultimately, your search rankings and website traffic. Many people may turn off the function altogether. Yahoo! claims it infringes on patents it’s held for years. Have any predictions or thoughts on the matter yourself?

• Pin It
• Share
• Tweet