Yikes (Google changes)

So Google changes their search to provide “instant” results as you type. This is going to be HUGE, and it’s going to sting a lot of people. Likely me included. Until we adapt, at least.

One big problem I see here is negative keywords in adwords. For example, I do “business writing”, then minus a few keywords, like “tips” (because I don’t want to pay for a visitor who is just looking for “business writing tips”). But my ad starts showing up before the searcher gets to even write “tips” – thus, showing this person my ad. That’s not going to be good (at least on the surface.)

Second, many advertisers counted on “long” keyphrases, like “NY hotel upper west side” – but now, most searchers will stop after typing “NY Hotel” because Google will give “NY Hotel” results right after “NY Hotel” was typed, making it very possible that the rest of the phrase won’t get typed out.

This is going to outright destroy some businesses that relied on towns and such in their online keyword advertising. I don’t know what it’ll do to me yet, but I’ll find a way to adapt. I suspect it’ll raise my ad budget some (as I didn’t rely on location stuff, but I did do well with a few “longer” phrases). But some businesses might not be so lucky. And others will probably flourish.  

Such is the nature of the internet. You gotta stay sharp.

Anmyway, I’m off to tweak adwords some, and then work some more on the new site.