• About
    • History of Dallas SEO
  • Contact
  • Topics
    • Bing
    • Blogging
    • Branding
    • Domain Names
    • Google
    • Internet Marketing
    • Link Building
    • Local Search
    • Marketing
    • Public Relations
    • Reputation Management
    • Search Engine Marketing
    • Search Engine Optimization
    • Search Engines
    • Social Media
    • Tech
  • Advertise
  • Services
    • Search Engine Optimization
    • Ongoing SEO Services
    • SEO Expert Witness
    • Google Penalty Recovery
    • Mini SEO Audit
    • Link Audit
    • Keyword Research
    • Combine Websites SEO Services
    • PPC Management
    • Online Reputation Management
    • Domain Name Consultant
    • Domain Names & Expired Domains
    • Domain Name Appraisal

Bill Hartzer

GoDaddy Airo: Register your .com domain name today!
Home » Search Engine Optimization » How Google Instant Impacts Search Engine Optimization

How Google Instant Impacts Search Engine Optimization

Posted on September 9, 2010 Written by Bill Hartzer

Google Instant is an enhancement to Google’s search engine that shows you, and changes, the search results as you type, in real time. By implementing Google Instant, Google is trying to enhance our overall search experience by delivering the search results to us, faster. Google has determined that many of use type slower than we read: thus by delivering the search results to us as we type, Google believes that not only will we get the results faster but we may even “formulate a better search term” because of that instant feedback.

Google has recently started rolling out this enhancement worldwide starting in the United States, and it will soon be available to everyone. It does, however, require a fast internet connection, and it will not show up or be available to users who have slower internet connections. I have also personally seen cases where Google has literally “turned off” Google Instant by itself because my internet connection suddenly slowed down. There are other cases where Google Instant is not available, like when you are using Google Search in a Toolbar or if you are using certain older web browsers. What this ultimately means is that not everyone is going to be exposed to (or even have a chance of using) Google Instant.

Google Instant Search is partly based on Google’s Autocomplete feature. As you type, Google’s algorithm predicts and displays search queries based on other users’ search activities. These searches are algorithmically determined based on a number of purely objective factors (including popularity of search terms) without human intervention. All of the predicted queries shown have been typed previously by other Google users. The autocomplete dataset is updated frequently to offer fresh and rising search queries. In addition, if you’re signed in to your Google Account and have Web History enabled, you may see search queries from relevant searches that you’ve done in the past. Now, add Google’s Autocomplete feature with Google’s auto-refreshing of the search results and you get what we are seeing today, Google’s new Google “Instant Search” feature.

What it means for Search Engine Optimization
Although Google Instant Search does not technically affect the search engine rankings, Google is attempting to fundamentally change how search results are be delivered. They are speeding things up and trying to predict our searches. Ultimately, this will have an effect on what is called the “long tail searches”, the keyword phrases that include more than one word in the phrase. Oftentimes, when performing a search, we will start with one or two words (like “plumbers”) and will not find what we’re looking for. We then realize that we are really looking for a “plumber in Dallas Texas” (where we are located), and find what we are searching for, someone to fix our toilet. The long tail search, “plumbers in Dallas Texas”, is highly relevant, and most likely the web sites that show up in the search results are going to be more appropriate. If you are a plumber in the Dallas Texas area, then you will want your web site to show up for “plumbers in Dallas Texas”, and not necessarily for “plumbers”. Keep in mind that when we search at Google, they are able to use personalization (based on factors like our location, our previous history of searches, etc.) to deliver better search results. So, Google might already know our location and show us Dallas plumbers when we’re in Dallas even though we search for just “plumbers”.

Let’s look at another specific example, though, where it gets very interesting because of the new Google Instant Search feature. Andy Beal recently wrote about Google Instant and how it will effect the long tail. With Google Instant, searchers don’t have to commit to any search query. They can, you know, live a little. As they start typing “san francisco hotels” they’ll not only see suggestions, but they’ll see their search results change as they type. As they expand their search query into the long tail.

They’ll start here: (search for “San Francisco hotels” at Google.com)

But, why not see where Google Instant Search takes them?

When you search for “San Francisco Hotels”, Google Autocomplete suggests additional long tail keyword phrases, such as “San Francisco Hotels near Alcatraz”. The searcher didn’t necessarily think that they wanted to find a hotel near Alcatraz, but why not? They might be inclined to try that search, as well. Because Google suggested it.

What does this mean? As web site owners and search engine optimization professionals, we need to make sure that we pay attention to what Google may be suggesting with their Autocomplete feature. Try a few searches at Google for the main keyword phrases and see if there are any additional keyword phrases that you might consider building additional content around. For example, if you are a hotel in San Francisco then you might consider adding a web page to your web site about Alcatraz. It seems something that might bring in additional traffic.

At this point, I would not go out and change your entire search engine optimization strategy just because Google launches a new feature. While it will mean some changes, many of the changes are going to be searcher’s side of things, helping them find more relevant web sites when they search. I would, however, take a look at what Google suggests and see if there are any additional content opportunities. And watch your web site statistics for additional keyword opportunities, as well.

Filed Under: Search Engine Optimization

About Bill Hartzer

Bill Hartzer is the CEO of Hartzer Consulting and founder of DNAccess, a domain name protection and recovery service. A recognized authority in digital marketing and domain strategy, Bill is frequently called upon as an Expert Witness in internet-related legal cases. He's been sharing insights and research here on BillHartzer.com for over two decades.

Bill Hartzer on Search, Marketing, Tech, and Domains.

Recent Posts

  • Why Everyone on Google Trends Is Suddenly a Person—And What It Means for SEO July 14, 2025
  • Grow Your Instagram Like a Pro with Hexrate’s Game-Changing Tools July 14, 2025
  • Unbounce Doubles Down on AI and Automation to Boost Go-To-Market Teams July 10, 2025
  • NameSilo to Acquire SewerVUE Technology in $2.45M Deal July 10, 2025
  • Internet Marketing Ninjas Acquired by Previsible.IO July 9, 2025
  • Metricool Brings Real Analytics to Personal LinkedIn Profiles July 8, 2025
  • This Cleveland Agency Found a Smarter Way to Rank in Every Suburb—Without Opening More Offices July 8, 2025
  • Survey: Gen Z Reuses Passwords but Demands Bank-Level Security From Small Businesses July 8, 2025
  • Liftoff Reveals What’s Actually Working in Mobile Ads July 7, 2025
  • EasySend’s Big Move: AI Tools That Make Static Forms Obsolete July 7, 2025
  • Is Social Media Failing Small Businesses? New Survey Reveals a Hidden Blind Spot July 7, 2025
  • Why Cloudflare’s Pay Per Crawl Is a Trap for 99% of Websites July 2, 2025
  • The Hidden Risk of Double Letters in Brand and Domain Names July 2, 2025
  • GEO Verified™ Launches to Help Brands Survive the AI Search Shakeup July 1, 2025
  • RetailOnline.com Hits the Market After 25 Years—And It’s Built for the Future of E-Commerce July 1, 2025
  • AI-Powered Task Planning: The Future of Business Efficiency and Personal Productivity June 30, 2025
  • New Yoast Add-On Turns Google Docs Into an SEO Power Tool June 26, 2025
  • Simon Data Flips the Script on Marketing with AI Agents June 26, 2025
  • IAB Lays Down the Law for Gaming Ads—Here’s What Brands Need to Know June 26, 2025
  • Google Review Extortion Text Message – Scam Warning for Business Owners June 25, 2025

Hartzer Domains

Bare-Metal Servers by HostDime

DFWSEM logo

Bill Hartzer is a Brand Ambassador for:

Industry Friends

I Love SEO
WTFSEO
SEO By the Sea
Brian Harnish
Jeff Lenney
Jeff Gabriel
Scott Hendison
Dixon Jones
Brian Hartzer
Navah Hopkins
DNAccess
SEO Dallas
Confirmed Stolen

Connect With Bill Hartzer

Bill Hartzer on Twitter
Bill Hartzer on BlueSky
Bill Hartzer on Instagram
Hartzer Consulting on Facebook
Bill Hartzer on Facebook
Bill Hartzer on YouTube

Categories

  • Advertising (109)
  • AI (201)
  • Bing Search Engine (8)
  • Blogging (43)
  • Branding (19)
  • Domain Names (316)
  • Google (261)
  • Internet Marketing (52)
  • Internet Usage (95)
  • Link Building (53)
  • Local Search (63)
  • Marketing (232)
  • Marketing Foo (34)
  • Pay Per Click (9)
  • Podcast (19)
  • Public Relations (9)
  • Reputation Management (14)
  • Search Engine Marketing (46)
  • Search Engine Marketing Events (60)
  • Search Engine Marketing Firms (94)
  • Search Engine Marketing Jobs (33)
  • Search Engine Optimization (189)
  • Search Engines (223)
  • Social Media (302)
  • Social Media Marketing (59)
  • Tech (16)
  • Web Analytics (21)
  • Webinars (1)

Note: All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only, and are mentioned only to help my readers. All other trademarks cited herein are the property of their respective owners. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.

 

Hartzer Consulting

Website, Content, and Marketing by Hartzer Consulting, LLC.

Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 ·