Real-Time Search
Google is once again changing the nature of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with their new real-time search. Thanks to partnerships with social networking powerhouses Facebook, MySpace, FriendFeed, Jaiku, Identi.ca and Twitter, a basic search on Google now delivers a “dynamic stream of real-time content from across the web.”
Try it for yourself. Type a popular company name like Pepsi or Dell into your Google search bar. Next click on “latest results” or “latest” in the search options menu to see real-time tweets, blogs and other news scrolling on your screen as it happens. What does all this mean for you?
Important Implications
First, consider how your SEO efforts are impacted. If the majority of the search engine results page (or SERP) is dedicated to real-time results, you may need to take greater effort to maintain your ranking.
Second, you may no longer have the option of ignoring social media as a marketing channel. Blog posts, customer reviews and even your tweets will take on greater importance.