Over the past week SEO specialists and PPC advertisers have been up in arms about the introduction of the new Google Instant. The Search Engine Journal jumps into the fray as well, introducing the issues related to the switch to the new search interface. They are not alone in the world with regards to Google change fears. It seems that every instance of Google’s attempt to help the general public sends online search specialists into a tizzy. I admit to be one of those as well, but I step back, take a breath and repeat to myself that Google knows what is best for everyone. And in this case in particular, apparently it does.
The article discusses the immediate impacts of plural v. singular keyword searches. Because Google Instant now infers what the user is typing, singular version of the keywords will increase for searchers. They discuss the effects this may have on both search engine optimization projects as well as keyword selection for Google AdWords.
The most interesting part of the article to me, and probably most overlooked, is the affect this switch will have on long-tail keywords. The article discusses that companies saving money by using misspelled keywords, will probably have to rethink their strategies. Since Google Instant automatically populates the search results with correct spelling, the likelihood of misspelled keywords drops to somewhere around 0%.
Is this censorship on the part of Google? Are they manipulating the minds of the general Google searching population? The answers to these questions will truly be tested by time, but it is safe to say that everyone will bemoaning the death of search engine optimization and the goal of Google to harm its advertising base. This type of thing happens all the time…
