How does Google instant affect SEO?

Just recently, Google released their new feature called Google Instant.It is an intriguing feature that changes the search results page even as you type while they are suggesting search queries for you.

Testing Google instant

Where is Google Instant Active?

This feature is enabled only in certain countries such as US, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Russia who use browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari for MAC.

How can I turn off Google instant?

Google instant can be turned off with the button on the upper right hand corner of the search text area.

What is Google instant?

Google created this feature to speed up the pace of information of a user’s query. It is also meant to help the user see all the suggested results that they might have missed when typing in a longer query.

Just how can Google Instant affect your website’s SEO?

I personally think that Google instant gives SEO specialists a better understanding of how important it is to be in the top ranks of search results. Now that Google instant is out, you have more chances of exposing your website if, and only if you’re in range of Google instant’s real-time results range.

As you can see in my screenshot (which is a full-screen screenshot, mind you) only a handful of websites will be able to expose themselves in Google instant’s real-time results. If I took a screenshot without the full-screen feature of Firefox, my guess would be it’s only going to be the top 3 who will get an impression to the searcher.

Since Google instant doesn’t affect rankings, it’s doesn’t pose any threat to change SEO methods and practices. But I think it is also safe to say that it will revolutionize the search game by creating an immediate awareness to businesses regarding just how powerful search has become in marketing out your company.

Google instant has upped the search game a notch. People will definitely want to be on the first place results now that the game is played real-time as you go typing your query.

If you want to try out Google Instant for yourself and it is not yet enabled for your country, you can do that here:

https://www.google.com/webhp?sclient=psy

If you want to read further information about Google instant, you can read about it in Search Engine Land’s entry: Google Instant Search: The Complete User’s Guide

And Check out Search Engine Watch’s take on Google instant:

Google Instant – 10 Things Marketing Teams Need to Know

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Sean Si

About Sean

is a Filipino motivational speaker and a Leadership Speaker in the Philippines. He is the head honcho and editor-in-chief of SEO Hacker. He does SEO Services for companies in the Philippines and Abroad. Connect with him at Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Check out his new project, Aquascape Philippines.