This is a guest post by Alexander Puschilov at Rankpanel who shares some unique insights into Google Trends.
I think it was hard not to notice the creeping, and sometimes blatant change that Google is undergoing. Driven by the changes in the online ecosystem and Wall Street pressure for more growth, in an already insanely profitable and growing business, Google had to adjust its business model. No question about it.
As Google is still the prime driver for traffic with no change in sight
these profound changes are important for most of us.
Less search more services
Have you noticed the new black header? Right where previously all the different search options were located? Of course you have.
Have you noticed that prompt to sign up to Google Plus when you log out from Gmail and all other places? Of course you have.
Did you know that Google spent $213 MILLLION in 2011 to advertise its own products like Chrome and Docs. That’s quite a lot for a company that not too long ago did not believe in TV and print.
It seems like search alone is not sexy enough anymore.
Google is clearly aiming at a gaining a deeper level of search.
They have started with broad overall indexing of pages – this changed with the acquisition of ITA Software. It is clear that Google has an incentive to serve listing directly on its side, instead of giving vertical search engines affiliate revenues. It does not only keep more people directly on Google, but is also more lucrative.
Google officially regards vertical search engines and e-commerce
sites as competitors – just read their annual report – and GrowMap’s
analysis of the Panda Update impact on Google competitors.
After flight search it is not improbable that job search will also be served by Google in the future, too. Just give the regulators a bit of time to forget about that competition threatening ITA acquisition.
Less results more answers
If there is something the http://schema.org/ push told us, it is that Google aims to directly integrate data from third party sites. Why not save the user the click to your site when the result can already be displayed on Google, if you format your data in such a nicely structured way?
Just look at the Champions League results as an example. It won’t stop there.
Obviously, in order to serve answers Google needs much (much) more personal data, which brings us to…
Less outside more inside
Google is now an integrated company. It is integrated through many verticals leveraging its powerful AI machine. For the AI machine to learn meaningful interactions, though, it needs to be fed with gallons of data.
Important answer drivers are among others the “social spine” (Google Plus, YouTube) and location (Android, Google Maps). This is one reason these services are supported and why other services will be born to support this data collection.
GOOGLE TRENDS
These three big Google trends are important to understand in order to position your business online in such a way that you won’t be crushed between these three interests. Things you can do to increase your chances are:
- Build a brand
- Invest in user retention
- Build a platform
- Be the producer (of a great product) and not the middleman
Not only will these things improve your long term business odds overall, but they will also help your rankings.
I am asking Alexander to write another guest post for us explaining the benefits of the Rankpanel SEO insights search engine. In the meantime, you can follow Rankpanel on Twitter and read the Rankpanel Blog.
SURVIVING GOOGLE:
- Why eCommerce Sales Decline and Fluctuate – And What to Do to Increase Your Conversions and Profits
- Search Engine Watch ~ Google Penalty or Algorithm Change: Dealing With Lost Traffic
- Why Having a Brand Evangelist Increases Conversions, Customer Satisfaction and Profits
- How YOUR Small Business Can Get Totally Free Advertising on Google Places, Yahoo! Local, Bing and Hundreds of Local Directories and Niche Sites
- Local Search Directory Submissions: Universal Business Listings UBL Example Webcards
- Increase Conversions By Sharing Pillar Content When Your Audience is Most Receptive
- Quantity Equals Failure. Success Focuses on Quality!
- Small Business Economy: How to Beat the Recession
- Why Small Business and Bloggers Can NOT Ignore Economic Decline and Occupy Wall Street
- CommentLuv Your Way to Business Prosperity
- Case Study: How to Deal with a Negative Review on Google Places
- Local Search Case Study: Local Search Directory Referral Traffic Thanks to Universal Business Listings
- Google Farmer Update aka Panda Slaps Google Shopping and Google Maps Competitors
- Small Business Internet Marketing: Where to Start
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Twitter: GrowMap
May 10, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Hello Saif,
Most people believe Google makes almost all of their money from selling ads, but they actually own a ton of other businesses and have many sources of income.
Is it the indication that SEO works is about to die? I hope not….
Google changes is an eye-opener for the bloggers to make a quality
contents…
jeni would love you to read ..Adjuster License Reciprocity
I really like your four tips, especially “invest in user retention.” This is one that, I think, is often overlooked in the world of search marketing. The more you can decrease your reliance on search engines and first-time visitors the better…
Twitter: CaoimheHermosa
May 3, 2012 at 6:38 am
This is the content I was looking for my friend told me to search for government and education websites related to my research and thank god I found this through Google and this is exactly what I needed. Can I ask your permission if I can use this content for my study. You may find my contact details here:
Mobile Make Money Thank you!
Twitter: smeseo
April 28, 2012 at 4:17 pm
Google plus isn’t doing very well, I think they entered that market far too late. Posts can have hundreds of tweets, linkedin shares and likes but barely any plus ones at all. I just think google + fails to bring anything fresh to the mix, ironic for a company that penalises websites for not having enough unique content on a daily basis!
Mike would love you to read ..What Everyone Forgets about Web Design!
From the past few months, i have noticed that Google brought and also bringing many changes with its services and algorithms as well like a crazy one. I can’t understand what fear harasses Google.
All of our properties went up in pagerank or stayed the same. But you are right that some of the websites that we pay little attention to jumped higher than some of those that we actively work on.
Google is less of a search engine and more of an advertising agency more and more. Just look at where their revenues come from – ads!
Carmen Brodeur would love you to read ..Scottsdale and Phoenix Foreclosure Trends
One of the things that most bother me about the big G is that they will soon know absolutely everything about most of us. All kind of personal data, like where we go, what we buy, search, talk and write and even our exact location. Not to mention the Google glasses
. Ha-ha. They wish …
Ans the other thing is the thing you mention, that slowly but surely less people need to actually visit our sites. The examples you gave are good and I also want to add if for example I want to see the IMDB score of a movie before I watch it. If I search on Google I will see it without visiting.
But what can we do? Google is growing like crazy. I do not know their end goals, but I hope they are noble.
Regards.
Twitter: b_overstreet32
April 20, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Hi Gail,
Holy cow, this article is eye-opening. The cynic in me gets scared as hell when companies like Google come along and try to push everybody else out of the market. I get wanting to dominate a market for profitability and such, but I have a huge disdain for companies that do by strong-arm and changing the rules.
How many online businesses took a huge hit when Google changed the rules a while back without any real warning to anybody? Again, I get making sure that people play by the “rules” so that the search results people get are the best quality results for them specifically, but go after those who are gaming the system. Don’t make system-wide changes that affect tons of honest online marketers who depend on Google to survive.
Sadly, I’m hooked into Google just like they want as an owner of an Android phone. It’s hard for me to change gears with the seamless nature of GMail, Android, Google, Google search, Google calendar, and on and on and on…..and you never really know when these companies are tracking more information than anybody would want without anybody knowing about it. It really is scary.
Thanks for the great information! I hope you have a great weekend and hope to chat with you again soon!
~Barry
Barry Overstreet would love you to read ..We All Face The Same Challenges In Life
It is surprising as to why Google is spending that much on television advertising. Surely everyone knows who Google are by now?
Twitter: Moviesonclick
April 20, 2012 at 2:11 am
Google used as more than search engine now. The trend of google is change, you can check daily new app or things which add in google. After orkut google launches his social networking G+. Google daily change their algorithm due to comes out the poor quality website from their ranking. Because Google never wants to give poor or bad result to their users. & now i am going to read your post on google evil………..
Multi-national corporations are a abundant force. What is even added alarming than that are web companies. The appulse they accept on the abridgement is ridiculous. We saw what the dot-com bang did to the US, brainstorm what it will do beyond nations. Google ability even implode. Exciting but alarming times.
I think,Google had to adjust its business model.
It’s definitely interesting how much Google is spending to promote themselves.
I also think it is important to note that to ensure you don’t fall off the Google map, that your website contains relevant and useful information, that was written by you. Part of Google’s latest updates was an effort to get rid of spammy websites, or websites that were trying to ‘trick’ Google in any way.
Google is so much more than a search engine now. Their autonomous car technology has recently been legalized in Nevada, and their newly announced goggles further their transition into the tangible market place. Google is becoming a great force indeed. With such a wealth of information and the market cornered on sharing said information, Google’s limits for growth are pretty limitless. Be on Google’s good side, folks. Sheesh.
Twitter: dmcihomesonline
April 18, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Changes in Google algorithms are for the better. I personally think that the goal of this change is to eliminate low quality sites. Google wants to give more relevant and useful result for the searchers. That’s simply it!
Really, really interesting data on how much Google is spending outside of online.
I’m really not liking how search as been changing as well, especially social search, I feel like it gets rid of the “serendipity” of truly finding what you are searching for.
Twitter: AAttorneysGroup
April 18, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Yikes! That’s a huge advertising budget for TV and print. Those figures demonstrate Google’s ambition to become the one-stop online shop for everything on the web.
Rob Koenig would love you to read ..San Marcos Palm Tree Crash Leaves 1 Dead
Twitter: GrowMap
April 18, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Hi Rob,
Google’s ambition is to be the one and only – they are THE system. See my post on Google Evil paying special attention to the video about IBM being behind Verichip and their part in the Holocaust.
We need to all start realizing that all the multi-national corporations have a common plan for the world and if we don’t want to be on that train it is time we got off.
.
growmap would love you to read ..Why eCommerce Sales Decline and Fluctuate – And What to Do to Increase Your Conversions and Profits
Multi-national corporations are a great force. What is even more frightening than that are web companies. The impact they have on the economy is ridiculous. We saw what the dot-com boom did to the US, imagine what it will do across nations. Google might even implode. Exciting but scary times.
Rob Koening would love you to read ..Car Clips Motorcycle Officer in Fresno
You are right about that. Google is cracking down and it is quite interesting how much money they have been spending to promote themselves.
private server would love you to read ..Superb.net
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