Google Instant & It’s Implications For Bloggers
Recently, Google unveiled on Google’s Youtube Channel Google Instant, the new way to search on Google.
Basically, whilst people were worried about the implications on SEO, it turns out there isn’t really one. Google Instant is Google’s attempt at creating a new type of search, and change the way we search, rather than algorithmic change.
Nevertheless, there could be some changes which your blog may change the way you approach SEO for your blogs. Here’s some areas that could effect your blog.
Long Tail Searches May Drop For Your Average Linkbait
People will find useful articles first. Take for example a classic linkbait tip – “Top 5…” lists. The results change for “Top 5 SEO Tips For Bloggers” per word goes like this:-
Notice the change in URL from beginning to end? Maybe now you should think about your title of your linkbait rather than “Top 5…” whatever, though I can imagine in the first place that won’t be great linkbait.
Linkbait should now return to what it originally set out to be, a bait to get links to your blog, rather than a post to rank highly in search. Pages you want to push in search really should be category page, with links to your most useful content.
Long Tail Searches Remain, But More Competitive
Long tail seaches do still remain (long phrases), but in the long run they’ll become more competitive. You have now access to the most commonly searched for phrases (in terms of suggestions) at the top of the search engines. Optimising for these phrases in terms of pages of content will be the next step in SEO, which’ll mean a range of high content pages – rather than individual posts – in search results for these (which is a good thing surely?).
Build Your Brand Up
For the phrase highlighted above, it’s become more important than ever to build your brand up. Google will always favour brands over non branded terms, as it will give you a licence to be more aggressive with your SEO efforts. If say Copyblogger (for example), wants to rant about “Product X”, calling it a scam, then likelyhood it’s post will be one result below the products website will be Copyblogger. Furthermore (and I’m not sure that they’ll want to do this, hence an example), say if Copyblogger was to black hat their blogs with loads of paid links to their website. Google won’t delist them. Why? Because the fact that Copyblogger doesn’t show for “Copyblogger” related searches makes Google look bad, not Copyblogger.
Don’t Piss People Off!
Related searches are becoming more and more important, and you need to make sure that related searches to your chosen brand phrases are good. Google the phrase “reverse funnel system” (a long since dead scam that defrauded a lot of people), and the first few results are the following:-
- reverse funnel system
- reverse funnel system scam
- reverse funnel system review
- reverse funnel system wikipedia
Could you imagine if the most search results with your brand are like that? I don’t know about you, but I’d skip the review, and look at Wikipedia results & see what they said.
It’s an extreme example, but you really don’t want to be associated with negative keywords. Build products that work, a brand that’s solid & whilst you’re always going to get haters, your overall impact on this world will be positive.
Thoughts!
What are your thoughts on Google Instant? Like it or hate it? Do let us know in the comments!
Tags: Blogging, google, scam | Comments: 7 Comments
Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay. 
Correct me if I’m wrong, but what I take from this is that in your “Top 5″ example, you would now be better off wording your title thus:
“SEO Tips for Bloggers – Top 5″
In order to get picked up by Google Instant ‘faster’, as it were. This could then be taken a step further into category page titles and the like – as long is it didn’t harm your ranking in Google ‘Normal’.
There’s some experimentation and deep thinking to be done here!
Can’t say how it will impact but one thing is sure that it well mislead user as some of them may stop and select suggested keywords.
Apparently, PPC ads are charged if they are shown for 3 seconds or more…implicates a little for those running a PPC campaign.
Rhys L: That’s not what I’ve heard. I’ve heard it will be counted as an Impression, rather than a paid click, if it’s been live for more than 3 seconds
With instant search, we will now have to second guess what is the first words that the user will type in. The first 1-2 words will really determine which site the user will end up on.
I doubt whether millions of Google users will retrain themselves to type the most important keyword first.
Hi Rhys,
very interesting article! I have learned more about the google search from it, much appreciated.
I came to your page as I was researching plugins for my friends website.
Do you find the In comment more useful than the do follow?
Thank you
Yorinda