Google Instant Previews

Ever the innovator, Google’s search function now features a cool new tool for users, the Google Instant Preview. It represents a whole new way of bringing search results to users. Instant Previews uses cloud computing instead of a database search, so as the user types in a search term, the Instant Preview computes a new result for each letter or word, getting to ever more relevant results. It then lets users see the results in less than one- tenth of a second, and it highlights the most relevant results based on more sophisticated cloud computing principles. Users then have the option of clicking on the magnifying glass next to each result to view a snapshot of the actual website, so they get to basically scan the page for relevance before they even click on it.  Google’s Instant Previews thus brings us all a quicker, highly visual way of assessing results.

Google’s Instant Previews is a way to reduce wasted clicks or end up on websites irrelevant to your search.

Of course, Google is hoping their Instant Preview won’t go the way of Microsoft’s Bing—which cannot be said to have turned out to be all Microsoft expected. But the truth is, when it comes to random searches, Google is still the first place many people turn to; hence the phrase, “Just Google it.” They have become so synonymous with relevant searches that their name has become an adjective. Google has lived up to its name once again by bringing us rapid-fire, intuitively computed search results.

Impact on Online Businesses

However, each time they enhance their search functions, ad revenues go up with it. Thus, what the Instant Preview means for websites is that they will have to try that much harder to compete for eyeballs. Since users will no longer have to leave Google’s page while they are actually perusing each site the search engine yielded, companies will no longer have the advantage of getting a visitor who would have otherwise not wandered in, to click on their page. Many online businesses rely on these organic clicks to get a visitor in, and then they employ strategies on their ‘landing pages’ to keep the accidental visitor there—with the ultimate hope that the user will perform some desired action, such as buying a product or signing up.

Google‘s Instant Preview changes all of that by changing the opportunities available to online companies. Now websites have to work doubly hard at not only being listed on the search results page, but on getting a new visitor to even click on to their site’s landing page. That is why Google’s ad dollars will increase; companies who don’t know how to create results by optimizing their sites will have no choice but to turn to paid advertisement more to get seen and get clicked on. It’s genius on Google’s part really: by serving the user, they force businesses to compete even harder.

The Role of SEO

This makes high quality SEO (Search Engine Optimization) implementation that much more important for online businesses. If users can plainly see that your site is irrelevant—without even clicking on your landing page—you’ve got a problem. The only way to avoid what is sure to be a wave of increased advertising rates, is to enhance your online business’ site using search engine optimization techniques that will get you to your ideal visitor quickly and organically to your company’s site.

The only way to do this? Content. Lots and lots of high quality content that a cloud computation system will pick up through various intuitive ways, connecting you to a pair of eyeballs that will most likely result in a click to your landing page. I guess you could say Search Engine Optimization has just been kicked way out of the field for “dabblers”. If you still think you’ll be able to handle it yourself with a few simple free tools and a couple of blog entries, you might be seeing your bottom line decrease in the near future. It’s time to get serious and let a professional into your website to assess it and help you to compete in the new world where Google’s Instant Preview is at the hands of all your prospective clients.

Here at Optimum7, that’s our expertise. We know that it takes a variety of well thought out steps, from research to web development, to analytics, to the creation of relevant, quality – focused content, syndication, ad campaigns, and much more,  to get your business to compete in the online environment. What’s more, we don’t get paid if you don’t see results: 40% of our fee is contingent on whether your business gets highly ranked on a search engine results page and whether visitors not only visit your site, but actually convert.

I wish I could say you have nothing to lose, but times have changed and Google’s new Instant Previews feature would make that a lie. The good news is that you have everything to gain from making the services of a professional SEO company part of your strategy for success. Pay us a visit and see how much better we line up against any other SEO company when it comes to the rate of return on your investment.

November 11, 2010