Google Instant & Search Marketing

(day / month / year)

SEOmoz PRO Webinar: September 30, 2010

Presenters:

Jamie Steven, VP Marketing

Joanna Lord, Director of Customer Acquisition

SEO is dead.

SEO is dead.

SEO is dead.

Okay maybe not.

What is it?

A feature that predicts what a user is searching for and shows dynamic results as you type the query. As you type letters, Google auto completes popular related queries and populates them below the search box.

INSTANT!

Searching in ye ‘ol Google of yesteryear

Searching in ye ‘ol Google of yesteryear

And with Google Instant?

And with Google Instant?

Oh HAI!

What else is in the search results?

What’s this? A t-shirt?

Shirt for sale at Threadless.

What was I looking for? Ah yes, a t-shirt.

Save time

Query suggestion

Preview query result

Increase impressions and (maybe) clicks to AdWords campaigns?

Why did Google launch this?

Searching for ‘turbo for mustang’

Searching for ‘turbo for mustang’

3 seconds later, and the ‘TurboTax’ PPC campaign records an impression

Searching for ‘turbo for mustang’

3 seconds later, and the ‘TurboTax’ PPC campaign records an impression

Okay before we go further, don’t forget Google tests things. (…like all the time)

There were testing this for months before rolling out.

Lots of time for them to tweak how it functions.

Improve user functionality (and advertiser success) without rocking the boat.

http://techcrunch.com/2010/08/21/live-update-search/ Google Search Scientist

The color of AdWords listings in the SERP.

Before

After

How has it changed the way people search?

It will take months to know for sure.

But here is what the data is showing us...

What the data is showing:

Google Instant hasn’t changed things much.

What the data is showing:

Google Instant hasn’t changed things much.

(yet)

Example #1: Conductor using 880,000 visits

http://blog.conductor.com/2010/09/what%E2%80%99s-been-the-impact-of-google-instant-on-searcher-behavior-so-far-not-much/

Conductor published data showing the difference (or lack there of) between the search term length driving traffic to their site before Google Instant launched & after. As you can see… there isn’t much change.

Example #2 : MEC using 10,000 searches

http://www.mecmanchester.co.uk/blog/google-instant-data-after-12-days.html

Similar results were published by Matt Bennett from MEC. He used the data from 5 sites, 12 days after Google Instant went live and showed that not much has changed.

Example #3 : Distilled using 11 sites and 75,000 keywords

http://www.distilled.co.uk/blog/seo/impact-of-google-instant/

A third survey from Justin at Distilled, did show a slight decrease in 2-3 word KWs, and a slight increase in 6-7 word KWs.

Example #3 : Distilled using 11 sites and 75,000 keywords

http://www.distilled.co.uk/blog/seo/impact-of-google-instant/

A third survey from Justin at Distilled, did show a slight decrease in 2-3 word KWs, and a slight increase in 6-7 word KWs.

Example #3 : Distilled using 11 sites and 75,000 keywords

http://www.distilled.co.uk/blog/seo/impact-of-google-instant/

A third survey from Justin at Distilled, did show a slight decrease in 2-3 word KWs, and a slight increase in 6-7 word KWs.

I can haz less organic?

US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia who use the following browsers: Chrome v5/6, Firefox v3, Safari v5 for Mac and Internet Explorer v8.

And now: Signed-in users in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.

More countries in the weeks ahead.

Where is Instant available?

US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia who use the following browsers: Chrome v5/6, Firefox v3, Safari v5 for Mac and Internet Explorer v8.

And now: Signed-in users in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.

More countries in the weeks ahead.

Where is Instant available?

US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia who use the following browsers: Chrome v5/6, Firefox v3, Safari v5 for Mac and Internet Explorer v8.

And now: Signed-in users in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.

More countries in the weeks ahead.

Where it is not:•Browser’s search boxes and toolbars•Mobile searches•iGoogle•Third-party sites that access Google Search•Autocomplete or Google Suggest are turned off•Google SSL beta•Slow internet connection (keep an eye on those dial-up minutes)•Bad words like “crack” and “turd”

• Full list -- NSFW link http://www.2600.com/googleblacklist/

Where is Instant available?

US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia who use the following browsers: Chrome v5/6, Firefox v3, Safari v5 for Mac and Internet Explorer v8.

And now: Signed-in users in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.

More countries in the weeks ahead.

Where it is not:•Browser’s search boxes and toolbars•Mobile searches•iGoogle•Third-party sites that access Google Search•Autocomplete or Google Suggest are turned off•Google SSL beta•Slow internet connection (keep an eye on those dial-up minutes)•Bad words like “crack” and “turd”

• Full list -- NSFW link http://www.2600.com/googleblacklist/

Where is Instant available?

What about built-in web browser search?

Internet Explorer 53% market share

Firefox 31% market share

Median of August 2010 Data from Net Applications, W3Counter, Stat Counter, Clicky,

Chrome 11% market share

Safari 5% market share

* http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/report_google_search_box_in_firefox_accounts_for_9.php

9% of all web searches come through Firefox built-in search

Internet Explorer 53% market share

Firefox 31% market share

Median of August 2010 Data from Net Applications, W3Counter, Stat Counter, Clicky,

Chrome 11% market share

Safari 5% market share

Not likely.

Likely.

A few months.

Maybe.

What about built-in web browser search?9% of all web searches come through Firefox built-in search

Videos

News

Books

Blogs

Updates

Discussions

New Instant features launched yesterday

Instant now available on: Keyboard navigation of the search results:

Videos

News

Books

Blogs

Updates

Discussions

New Instant features launched yesterday

Instant now available on: Keyboard navigation of the search results:

General Implications for Organic Marketing

Monitor data closely for the next couple monthsPosition 1 & 2 more important than everCTA might move to title tagsLong tail traffic changes (eventually?)More qualified visitorsRethink on site optimizationRemember the different experiences for searchers

SEOmoz PRO Webinar: Google Instant, 9/30/10

But we are SEOs! Let’s talk algorithms.

Prediction algorithm: changedRanking algorithm: not changed

SEOmoz PRO Webinar: Google Instant, 9/30/10

But we are SEOs! Let’s talk algorithms.

Prediction algorithm: changedRanking algorithm: not changed

But the cool part is you can see these changes.

Plus you get another tool for SEO Awesomeness.

Using Google Instant for Keyword Research & Competitive Research

You see:• Other words to consider• Brand associations to consider• Query extensions to consider• What domains keep dominating the top listings as you scroll over options• Quick representations of current landscape• Low hanging fruit opportunities

http://www.blueglass.com/blog/use-google-suggest-keyword-research-and-beyond/Looking for other uses? Check out:

(shady spying squirrel)

(shady spying squirrel)

http://www.connectivewebdesign.com/using-google-instant-for-keyword-research

You can type out top value keywords and research query extensions, the keywords suggested, and see what competitors are dominating share of voice.

Example #1: (Connective Web Design) Horse Photography

http://www.connectivewebdesign.com/using-google-instant-for-keyword-research

You can type out top value keywords and literally build out lists. Remember these queries have already been proven to Google as relevant, lot less guesswork.

Example #2: Brainstorming for relevant keywords to target

Okay my SEO is safe, but what about my PPC?!

More real estate!

Impressions are going up

CTR will likely see a dip, relative CTR will not likely change

CPCs will likely go up over the next few weeks for head terms

Keyword lists need a revisit

The wrong negative keywords could hurt you here

On page optimization just became more important

Impressions

CTR

So let’s get to it…what counts as an impression?

• Press “Enter” to execute their search• Click on Search• Click on a result• Click on a prediction/suggestion• Click on a refinement option (to the left of search results)• Pause for 3+ seconds

Awesome post: http://www.fastcompany.com/1687976/google-instant-impressions-3-seconds-sneeze

How will Google Instant impact impressions?“I don't have the data yet. But my opinion is that it will increase impression counts for a lot of keywords. Think about how older demographics type in Google. They are going to take longer than three seconds sometimes. Not to mention that during that time, we're all getting distracted. It makes it difficult for the Hitwises and comScores of the world to actually count impression shares.”

Dr. Sid Shah, Director of Business Analytics at Efficient Frontier

Wondering why you should listen to “Dr. Sid Shah” ?

Shah has a PhD in “algorithm development.” Uhmm WTF?!

CTR & Quality Scores

How does CTR play into this?The CTR algorithm has not changed, so relative CTR will stay the same.

What does this mean for quality scores?CTR is a weighted factor in a keyword’s quality score, so quality scores will adjust accordingly.

What does this mean for my bottom-line?Bigger brands are getting an advantage.

So will I still make enough money to afford my bling?

How should you change your PPC programs to avoid this?

How should you change your PPC programs to avoid this?

Definitely:Use Google’s suggestions in Adwords more effectively

Build out keyword list using Google Instant

Revisit ad copy, headlines matter more than ever

On page optimization revamps

Probably:Exact and phrase keyword volume may decrease (yet to be proven) so consider broad and broad modifier match types

General Takeaways for Search Marketing

The algorithms that guided us before the Google Instant launch still stand as is (no public changes announced).

The preliminary data released shows no drastic changes as a result of Google Instant launching.

Google Instant is most likely here to stay, and holds value as a new research tool in a variety of search marketing capacities.

Your best bet is to revisit research basics, keep a close eye on things, test before changing anything significantly, and operate as usual…

…SEO is not dead.

I can haz more information?

Official Google page on Google Instant: http://www.google.com/instant/

How Google Instant Search Will Impact Advertisers: http://bit.ly/93sZeX

I Wish We Had Google Understand Not Google Instant Search: http://bit.ly/cHHx7g

Google Instant & Prediction (spreadsheet): http://bit.ly/9DxTc2

How Google Instant will Affect PPC: http://bit.ly/ac7Xnf

How to Set up a Google Instant Experiment for AdWords: http://bit.ly/dcuglx

Google Instant Expands To Videos & Other Search Verticals: http://bit.ly/9F7gy4

SEOmoz PRO Webinar: Google Instant, 9/30/10

Q&A Time

www.seomoz.org

Presenters:Jamie Steven (@jamies)Joanna Lord (@joannalord)

I miss Danny, but you two weren’t that bad.