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Google Instant – Implications For SEO & Internet Marketing



BWMagic’s Internet Marketing News


Google Instant – Implications For SEO & Internet Marketing




Here’s a more detailed follow-up to last week post on Google
Instant. After only of a week of testing, I believe these
recent changes within Google will have more impact than
I first thought. Here are some of my views and findings…



Google Spot!








While reading Harry McCracken’s rather insightful article on Google Instant
in PCWorld, I was reminded once again, how narrowly focused my own thinking
has become in regards to Google. I keep forgetting, not everyone is into SEO
or Internet Marketing (lucky bastards), and that Google search has a function
outside of SEO.

I keep forgetting that the general public actually uses Google for online search,
there are millions of web users out there who have been using Google Instant to
find out the weather, the latest Lady Gaga outfit or which flat-screen HDTV to buy?
Of course, I know this to be the real function of Google, but if you’re a full-time
search engine marketer, your perspective is solidly aligned to all the SEO elements
– keyword rankings, link building and content placement in the most dominant search
engine in the world.

Basically, you will be more concerned with how Google Instant will impact those
top keyword rankings, your click-through rates and most importantly, what effect
will it have on your conversion rates and sales? More specifically, how does this
instant search impact the display of your listings in Google and what are the
long-term ramifications this instant display will have on your online marketing?

There are even some so-called experts which say Google Instant will be the end of SEO.
This is a rather foolish notion since the underlying structure of using optimized
strategies to obtain top rankings in Google or any other search engine, has not changed.
We still have the emphasis on quality content, high quality backlinks and on-page
ranking factors.


In the background nothing has changed, in the foreground everything has
changed. Well, somewhat.


Google Instant is a game changer for online marketers simply because it changes
“How” your listings are displayed. Not only is the faster speed a factor but Google
is guessing or rather dictating what the web surfer is searching for so Google’s
influence on what’s displayed has increased 10-fold. They are displaying results
not only based on rankings BUT on what their data tells them you’re looking for?
How big a role this other compiled data and web users histories plays in these
suggestions only Google knows.


Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google has been quoted as saying, “Never underestimate the
power of fast. Quick, quick, quick – we want to help you right now… we can understand
things like what you really meant.”


Only time will tell what effect this “jumping the gun” or “making up your mind for you”
will have on Internet marketing. The long-lasting effect of Google imposing its results
on the web searcher will no doubt have some strong impacts on web marketing. Getting
those first suggestions when a surfer types in just one or two letters… will become
the real money-makers in terms of online traffic and sales.

Those companies and products which pop-up first will gain in market share and importance,
but hasn’t this always been the case with getting those first place keyword rankings in
Google? Yes, but now Google is giving the searcher options and planting seeds/suggestions,
which Google has done in the past but not at this speed. The implications for online
marketing could be enormous, assuming of course, web surfers actually use this function
because Google does give users the option of turning off Instant search. In our hurried
fast-paced world, one would reason, web searchers would not turn off this function, although
if your Internet connection is too slow, Google will automatically turn off Instant search
for you.

From a marketing angle, webmasters must now note Google’s keyword suggestions which quickly
pop-up and target them in their SEO efforts. Analyzing and targeting which keyword phrases
Google are displaying in your niche market will be vital to capturing the majority of traffic.
Surfers will click on Google’s suggestions to find what they’re looking for on the web.
Getting top rankings for those 4 or 5 suggestions will become important if an online marketer
or webmaster wants to cover/corner all the search territory in their niche. Whether you actually
target these keywords would really be determined by their commercial intent probability which
can be discovered by using Microsoft’s Adcenter Laps
and of course, the amount of traffic each keyword gets each month.

Another area of concern has to do with the ever-decreasing space for organic listings
on the new Google Instant interface. With the drop-down menu and depending upon how many
paid listings are shown, there may only be room for 3 listings instead of five or more
above the fold. Keep in mind, we are mainly talking about lucrative keyword phrases which
will also usually have three Adwords paid listings in the spots where organic search results
were formerly displayed. Searchers are lazy, they will probably not scroll down, especially
if they see different listings popping up as they narrow down their search. So your SEO has probably
gotten much harder since you will now have to aim for the top 3 spots – thanks Google.

Of course, savvy online marketers know the real gold is in the long-tail keyword phrases
which surfers use to find what they’re looking for on the web. Google Instant could possibly
play havoc on this whole process because before the searcher finishes typing in the long 4 or
even 5-word phrases, they would be exposed to maybe 4 or 5 pages of Google listings… chances
are great that searchers will click on one of these listings before they finish typing,
especially if the listing contains a part of the searched for phrase.

Marketers will have to closely analyze their own web stats and conversion rates in regards
to Google Instant. I am seeing little change in my own online marketing… traffic has dropped
on some sites and risen on others, subscription rates are up and sales are steady. Other web
marketers have seen a bigger jump in traffic and sales from Google Instant.

What really concerns me is the fact that Google may not only be pre-judging their rankings but
also your mind. They are playing a much bigger role in how you decide which listing you click.
Granted, this is probably drawn from unbiased data but will the influence of top-brand companies
be more dominant in Google’s Instant results?

Another general concern, will the display of so many listings make it harder for your site or
page to be clicked? Will giving the searcher so many options so quickly, lower your chances
of getting that click-thru, even if you have the top spot in Google? The laws of probability
and human nature say your chances have diminished somewhat in this new instant search environment.
Not good news if your livelihood depends upon getting that click.

There is also a Star function which “logged in” Google users can click to
bookmark their personal choices, these listings will be at the top under
“Starred Results” if you search the same keywords again.

However, many of these changes and no matter how fast Google gives you their search results,
will not change the fundamental principles of good SEO practices. Keyword positioning will
still get you to the number one spot in Google for your chosen phrase if you have the time
and resources to create quality content, build quality one-way backlinks and use good on-page
optimization. Besides the smaller emphasis on organic traffic, the only other real concern is
in the degree to which Google will use their suggestions and how much those suggestions are
based not on SEO ranking factors but on users’ histories and compiled data. Even with this concern,
Google Instant, even at warp speed, doesn’t negate the importance of getting those top rankings.


For many search engine marketers, like myself, it’s business as usual. Full speed ahead.

To read more on my first impressions of Google Instant go here:


Google Instant Search – Faster Than The Speed Of Type




Helping You Succeed Online Since 2002!

Kind Regards,
Titus

http://www.bizwaremagic.com

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Google at Warp Speed – Does Google Instant Change SEO or Online Marketing?



BWMagic’s Internet Marketing News


Google at Warp Speed – Does Google Instant Change SEO or Online Marketing?





Does the introduction of Google Instant Search
really change how one markets online…


The introduction of Google Instant took me by complete surprise, even
though I knew they were playing around with the logo in some very strange ways, I
still didn’t expect such a novel change to how they displayed their SERPs.

The speed was truly blinding, not to mention somewhat confusing at
first until you quickly got used to it. Experiencing Instant Search
for the first time sent shivers down my spine and probably not for the
reasons you’re thinking.

As a full-time online marketer, Google directly or indirectly, accounts
for around 80% of my online income.

Any changes within Google, even small ones, can sometimes have devastating
effects on that income. Such a major change as Google Instant may have long-lasting effects and may even be a total game-changer in regards to SEO and
online marketing.

At least that was my first gut reaction, but calmer heads do prevail after
the initial shock of this warp speed search wore off. For me, it is all about
the numbers – traffic numbers, subscriptions, page impression numbers, click-thru
numbers and of course, the most vital of all – sales numbers.

Throughout yesterday and today, I kept monitoring those numbers as if my livelihood
depended upon it, which it does. Thankfully, what I saw and am seeing does not
cause me to be alarmed – it’s business as usual. There is not much difference,
actually my subscription, traffic and sales numbers are up slightly since Google Instant
has gone live.

Of course, Google Live is only available in some countries yet so the full impact
can’t really be judged, but first impressions have me a little relieved. From
those first impressions, I don’t believe Google Instant will drastically change
SEO or even online marketing.

Sitepronews has a very good discussion of this question on their site, it might
be worth your while to get second opinions on this issue.

Does Google Instant Mark The End of SEO?


There are even some people saying it will kill SEO, which is totally ridiculous
in my opinion, any webmaster can still optimize his site/content to rank at the
top of Google. How and at what speed Google chooses to display those top listings
doesn’t really stop the flow of targeted traffic to your site – it actually speeds
up that flow of traffic.

Which can be very good news for those who have those top rankings in Google,
your listings will instantly appear, even before the searcher has finished
typing your targeted keyword phrase. More power to Google and to you!

Some observers are saying Google is displaying too many top brands in their
results – or they are favoring the top brands. I have seen this happen in many
of my own keyword phrases but to be fair, these top brands have not completely
dominated Google’s listings. If they did, I and a lot of other small-time
online marketers would have been driven out of business years ago.

Google seems to have found a balance or perhaps they’re just displaying
the true rankings which come to them from their many different ranking
systems and countless rules… stranger things have happened. These brand
names are becoming more important in Google, but in the back of my mind,
I am figuring this is because large multi-national companies are finally
seeing the true benefits of SEO and are putting more of their resources
into getting those top spots in Google.

As for Google Instant, it will benefit sites and marketers who have
those top listings in Google. It will display their listings much faster
and bring those visitors much quicker. Or at least those are my first impressions
but it will take days, even weeks before the full ramifications of Google
Instant will have on web surfers and how they do their searching.

I am such there will have to minor tweaking to your SEO and some adjustments
to your online marketing, but for now it seems like business as usual and
it’s all keywords on deck, or rather at the top of Google.

To read more on my first impressions of Google Instant go here:


Google Instant Search – Faster Than The Speed Of Type




Helping You Succeed Online Since 2002!

Kind Regards,
Titus

http://www.bizwaremagic.com

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help spread the word – recommend this content by using
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Some Tactics For Getting Those Top 5 Spots In Google



BWMagic’s Internet Marketing News



Some Tactics For Getting Those Top 5 Spots In Google



Google Spot!





Actually, getting in the #1 spot is best but I will settle for the top 5 or
even anywhere on the first page for very competitive keywords. Obtaining those top
rankings for your targeted keywords in Google will obviously be very important to
achieving your online goals.

I don’t have some magic formula just online marketing stuff that works. Very simple stuff
that everyone can do to get those top rankings. Here are some things I do:


– article marketing thru the free article directories

– create videos on my niche products

– make blog posts in my niche areas

– do press releases for my targeted products

– create free ebook guides on my subject areas

– build separate lists for each major niche market with follow-up emails

– participate in online forums with my sig links added

– find out my competitors’ main backlinks and duplicate them

– create Google Alerts for my major keywords and add comments/links to the ones I like

– keep adding fresh content pages to my sites keyworded to phrases used by buyers


Now on second thought, some of those are not so simple but they can be easily
done by most webmasters. Or you can get someone to do them for you, for example,
I get my videos done for me. If you’re poor at writing or have little time you can
even get someone to write your articles for you as well.

Still, these tactics are fairly basic online marketing stuff which anyone can do
to get those higher rankings. Perhaps, what many webmasters fail to realize, getting
and keeping your keywords on the first page of Google does take a lot of work and time.

For very competitive keywords, I usually put in a year’s work to get to those top
spots. It sometimes takes a lot less if your content (an article or video) becomes
viral and lands on a lot of sites, that does happen but for me, it is mostly building
steady one-way quality links back to the page or site I want ranked high.

However, it is this time factor which DEFEATS most people, they don’t have the patience
or the resources to wait it out. After a couple of months, they throw up their hands
and come away believing all this Internet marketing stuff is for the birds.

Don’t get the wrong idea, there are probably programs and systems out there which
will give you instant success on the web – I just haven’t found them yet, nor am I
really looking since I have figured out how to get those top rankings and earn money
on the web. However, the catch is, it usually takes around a year or two of hard work
before the serious money starts flowing.

There are exceptions, if you’re good at writing articles, you can get immediate
traffic and a few sales. Same goes if you’re into making videos and they become
popular and featured in Google… you will make some sales.

However for steady targeted traffic which flows regularly and keeps the sales
coming each day – then you will need to keep those top rankings in the search engines
for your keywords, especially in Google. Once you get those top rankings, I find
you have to maintain them by continuing to build links by writing articles, making
posts, creating videos… and so on.

My goals are very modest, steady money for me is around $100 – $300 aday,
keep in mind I am doing affiliate marketing or sales where I usually get
from 2% to 5% since I am promoting high-end electronics which offer low
commissions. I also do some ClickBank type info products where the commission
rates are much higher – 50% or more.

I also concentrate most of my time on products/services which give me
a recurring income – make one sale and earn a percentage for years to come.
The trick here is to promote products where once clients sign up they tend
to keep these products for years… services like web hosting, autoresponder
services, telephone services, internet services and so on.

If you have your own products your daily earnings will be much higher, the same
thing if you do drop-shipping… but that also brings in other complications
and worries. I like affiliate marketing before it suits my lifestyle, I refer
the sales or clients and the merchants does all the rest.

Now, I have also found if you target longer keyword phrases which have little
traffic but also much less competition, you can bring in sales in a matter
of months, sometimes weeks. This “long tail marketing” as its called, those
faster but you have to cover a lot of ground to be successful.

I prefer picking “mid-range” keywords that have competition but if you put in
the work you will land on the first page of Google. I usually stick to keywords
that have around 1000 – 10,000 searches a month. Highly popular keywords that get hundreds of thousands or millions of searches I don’t bother with because I
know I just can’t compete with multi-national companies getting most of this traffic.

So it is a matter of picking the keyword battles which you have a good chance of
winning. You do need to do a lot of research to see who is ranking for these
keywords, what kind of backlinks they have and what kind of resources they’re
pouring into obtaining/keeping those rankings?

I also check to see who owns the domains in the top five spots or on the first
page, if one person or company owns 4 or 5 of these sites, it means you’re going
to have your hands full trying to compete for the top spots.

One simple strategy for getting those top spots in Google is to create two
or three keyworded domains competing for the top spot. Link these together
and one or in most cases all of them will land in the top three or four positions.
For lucrative keywords this can prove very profitable because your sites
are receiving the majority of the web traffic for those keywords.


However, keep in mind, in many niche markets major companies are now hiring
writers, SEO services and webmasters to get those top spots.


It sometimes can be unnerving – imagine you’re a small webmaster operating
in a niche for years and suddenly you have four or five top brand multi-billion
dollar companies competing with you for the same keywords in the search engines.
This happened to me and to Google’s credit, small webmasters still have a chance
to keep their spots on the first page.

How long before these small webmasters are totally wiped out is anyone’s guess,
but I believe for very lucrative keywords it is only a matter of time before
these big companies throw so much advertising revenue and SEO resources at getting
those top spots – a little guy will have a very slim chance of holding their
keywords.

Fortunately, there are countless small niche markets and products that an online
marketer can target and rank well for in Google with just a little hard work and
patience. Using some of the tactics listed above will get you to those Top 5
spots in Google – just give them and yourself some time to reach your goals.




Helping You Succeed Online Since 2002!

Kind Regards,
Titus

http://www.bizwaremagic.com

Did you find the above information helpful? If so, why not
help spread the word – recommend this content by using
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