Google’s new Instant Search system has created some really strange rumours regarding SEO. The theory seems to be that somehow Instant Search will replace SEO. In fact, the opposite is the case. Instant Search is in fact a refinement of the basic principles of SEO using the most common searches, derived from SEO.
Instant Search basics
Instant Search is derived from a series of statistical analyses in which it is possible to project likely search subjects. The current system of Instant Search was developed from the original Google Suggest search system.
For example:
If you’re searching “AB”, Instant Search will provide the following options:
ABC, ABCD, ABCDEFG, and so on.
These are actually qualifiers to the basic elements of the search which has been entered. Additional elements to entries will therefore naturally change the qualifiers on Instant Search.
SEO and Instant Search
It follows from this that search popularity is a major element in Google Instant Search. That’s where SEO comes into the equation.
For example, a search of the name “Jessica” will produce:
Jessica Alba, Jessica Smith, Jessica Jones and so on.
As you can see, the most likely search in this scenario would be Jessica Alba. This name will be at the top of the list purely because this would be the most common search for this particular name. In other words, SEO in practice as usual. The fact is that Google’s Instant Search actually enhances SEO and makes it more functional, and also drastically improved search efficiency.
SEO ramifications of Instant Search
What is not immediately obvious is that Instant Search is a fundamentally new paradigm based on the original search algorithms concept. The intention of the Google search algorithm from inception was to create a meaningful series of search results based on quality as well as demographic incidence of a particular search term.
Google tends to base its search functions on a series of well-proven criteria. That’s been shown in its progressive development of consistent search engine strategies over its entire history. It should also be noticed that it’s very much in Google’s interest to provide the best possible SEO results for its own functions like Google AdSense, Adwords, and a vast array of other statistically related functions.
So it’s actually pretty ridiculous to assume that somehow Google would negate all these years of hard work attempting to obtain useful search results. The net rumor mill, as usual, has got it wrong, as usual.
There are ramifications for search engine optimization, but they actually exist beyond the search process. The most important ramifications of Google Instant Search are in improved demography and statistical accuracy relating to search terms. This will actually be a major benefit for both marketers and consumers, because it improves options in terms of basic searches and therefore improve the accuracy of searches.
To check this out, try a few of your normal searches, and see how many useful searches Google Instant Search provides while entering the search. Just as a matter of interest – did Google Instant Search provide a few useful options as you typed as well? It probably did. That’s what this is about. SEO not only isn’t dead, it just got a lot better.
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The problem with instant search is, that some people who are looking for jessica smith, will land on the jessica alba page instead. So jessica alba gets traffic that without instant search would never reach her site.
I don’t think this will be the case very often unless the site ranking well for Jessica Alba, is not making it clear their page is about Jessica Alba and not Jessica Simpson or whoever. In that case the page would likely not be ranked high for that phrase anyway. The people who don’t see what they’re looking for when they only enter part of their search will just refine the search further. Plus even if those people do end up on the wrong page, they will simply go back to Google and find the right page they were looking for.
I agree with your point of view that SEO is not dead but it’s just getting better and stronger. To me, the content is still the king and you have to ensure people will gain benefits by reading your posts. Then, your post will be recommended by people and Google Search Engine will rank your post in higher position.
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As you mentioned, the Google Instant Search makes the search more efficient. If you optimize a keyword very well in search engine ranking, you will get plenty of visitors from that. However, it is the time for us to change the style of SEO for our site.
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It is also one rumor that with introduction of Google instant the SEO campaign will diverted towards characters instead of words.
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That rumor is incorrect. With Google Instant Search, they are not displaying results for the first few characters you type, they are displaying results for the most common phrase that starts with those characters. It will bring more focus upon those popular keywords though. They will become more competitive as it becomes more advantageous to go after the most popular keywords instead of relying on lower volume phrases.
SEO will of course continue to exist as long as there are search engines, but it may well become less relevant.
I think the more people who are “SEO – Specialists” today will go on to become some kind of “Traffic – generator” instead, and therefore adapt its approach to how the web works. And it will of course never die; it will just be on different approaches. My customers are buying traffic today, not SEO. It sells as well as packages and strategies that may include new websites, social media campaigns, and blog posts from the strong domains, SEO, PPC, a new and improved content. And the main goal will be to generate more traffic, which is a further development of SEO more from online-promotion side.
There are so many myths in blogosphere about SEO and Google instant search. I am sure this article will clear their doubts. If you are still doing proper SEO without spamming and have quality content, I am sure it will drive traffic. There is nothing to fear about SEO strategies when it comes to Google Instant.
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No, SEO is not dead but things are going to be very complicated from now on and too competitive also. The thing about SEO is you can’t call myths ‘myths’ and nobody confirmed the reality. So, we all keep guessing!!!
Amit Sharma@Make Money Blogging recently posted..What Are The Benefits Of Search Engine Marketing
I love Instant Search, it’s intuitive and quick… but it might slow down a little when my line is moody! Haha…
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I like the Google instant search, it actually provides me with ideas on which keywords to target for my site. The thing I have seen recently on Google that I’m not sure if I like is that they are using the local results to replace several of the natural results. It bumps all the natural results down about 7 positions. Have you heard if this is going to be a permanent change?