Goodbye Google Instant
Gone In An Instant:
In 2010 Google launched Google Instant. Now, in July of 2017 they have decided to drop the search engines powerful feature that we have come to love and use on a daily basis.
Google instant was a predictor of search results and displayed those results as you were typing. Google's autocomplete feature conveniently showed us those results in a drop-down box. Those results would continue to change by each additional letter that was typed.
These autocomplete instant results were the fundamental mechanics behind what many call the "alphabet soup technique".
Millions use their mobile phones daily to conduct searches, and so, the decision by Google Execs was based on the reality of this fact.
Google spokesperson stated: "We launched Google Instant back in 2010 with the goal to provide users with the information they need as quickly as possible, even as they typed their searches on desktop devices. Since then, many more of our searches happen on mobile, with very different input and interaction and screen constraints. With this in mind, we have decided to remove Google Instant, so we can focus on ways to make Search even faster and more fluid on all devices."
It is believed that more than 50% of all searches on Google are done on mobile devices.
The questions to consider as we go forward:
- How will the loss of this tool affect webmasters?
- How will this affect you and how you do your keyword searches?
- What old or new technique will you use to replace the "instant" feature?
- If this will not change how you do research, what would you suggest to others who rely on this powerful feature?
Please leave your comments and questions below and share this as needed!
Recent Comments
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You're welcome Linda. I wish they would reconsider don't you? I have used it many times and it helped turn the light on in some areas never considered. Did it do that for you too?
Of course it did. It helps in personal searches for information and in keyword research as well.
Although I've never heard of it, I miss it already. That is one tool no one talks about. Why so much training on keywords without including a tool such as this? I'll keep doing the alphabet soup one letter at a time. And check my queries in Search Console for previous posts. Any other ideas?
Yes Carole we won't see much difference and especially if you haven't used it much. We have great keyword tools and other means of coming up with great content to write about. You do agree, don't you?
Well that sucks! I never use google on my mobbile, only on my PC because I love that feature!
Luckily I got Jaaxy, so I will be settled. Annoying that Google takes it offline. What is the chance that Bing and Yahoo adopt the system though?
I agree with you about Jaaxy Steven and maybe Bing or Yahoo will see the opportunity and take advantage of it. It just might increase their search engine usage.
I read this on MSN and it had a video there. Don't really think anyone will miss the feature. It was only bringing up search pages while you still type in your letters.
Since this only will matter on desktops if they didn't write the story I doubt anyone would have realized it was even gone. You can still do the alphabet soup technique...
This is definitely huge in my world and in the work we do!! I use this function to look up good keyword titles and to figure out what to use on my site. Great post! Thank you for sharing this with us!
You're welcome Misty but you can use Jaaxy's alphabet soup function if you are not already doing so.
Hey Michael all we will get from now on will be the actual response to the intended search whether on our desktops or on mobile search.
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I'm not aware of this tool. Change is always for the better, rarely on the bad side.
Kyle mentions this in many areas of his training Jimmy, so we will see how it affects WA and the training on utilizing Google Instant