Google recently rolled out its new “Google Instant” in the U.S. with more countries to come. How will this affect small businesses, especially those advertising online?
First, what is Instant Search? For awhile now, when you start a search at google.com they will add suggestions as you type in your search query. With Instant Search Google will actually start producing results as you type, supposedly saving 2-5 seconds on your search.
One of the main reasons for this launch may be because Google is expanding into mobile search. Any saving of time or typing can be a big advantage there.
But for small businesses, it appears that the first results that Google posts are for mostly major brands. Of course, they may show up at the top of the list after a complete entry, but Google Instant may be changing the behavior of the searchers.
iCrossing came up with a list of single letter results, like I for Ikea, J for Jet Blue, L for Lowes, etc. Your results may be different depending on your location and past search behavior, but here’s what I mean…
While Google says its final results will be the same, I’m worried that searchers will be clicking on major brands before the whole search phrase is completed. Why? Because Google is “predicting” what the user wants.
So, if you are doing business online, you may see some lessening in your organic click-throughs and even variations in your impressions if you are using Adwords, which Google talks about in more detail here.
Try Google Instant yourself and see what results you get. Keep an eye on your stats and see if I’m right..
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I came across Wolfram Alpha from a rumor that Microsoft’s search engine Bing would present some of the content that Wolfram Alpha generates. Then, Time magazine had Wolfram Alpha as one of its top 50 websites.
So what, exactly, is Wolfram Alpha? It’s not a search engine per se. It doesn’t provide links to answers. It GIVES you the answer that it calculates or finds in its database.
According to Wolfram Alpha
Our goal is to accept completely free-form input, and to serve as a knowledge engine that generates powerful results and presents them with maximum clarity.
From simple things like converting measurements to plotting out mathematical equations to the weather any place on any given day to geographic data on major cities to the fish production of France. Or even a comparison of the fish production of France to that of Poland.
It’s definitely worth watching the video on the site.
What else? A quick look at companies by their stock symbol, or comparisons of companies. Calculate mortgages. Find nutritional data of foods or add them up for a meal. Everything from mortality data to quantum physics.
I did find an article that says it falls short on baseball statistics, but this tool almost makes me giddy with delight!
Let me explain. The Internet has three basic uses – email, information and shopping – in that order. The information aspect has grown exponentially but finding that information can be a chore.
Continue reading .
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