Yesterday, I broke the news that Google Instant has been disabled and Google no longer will show you search results as you type. Google Instant launched in September 2010 as was coined the future of the search results page.
It basically showed you search results as you typed in an instant. It was really really big news back then. In fact, I saw it coming, predicted Google Instant and I had about 5 seconds of air time with Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News to discuss it.
Many folks said Google Instant would kill SEO. Well, several years later, SEO is still around. Many people said it would hurt AdWords advertisers, nope.
Now Google is killing it because they want to align desktop search more with mobile. I am not sure why mobile search can't do Google Instant but hey, that is what Google said. Here is their statement:
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.
There is a large thread at Google Webmaster Help but the truth is, I do NOT see massive complaints like you would normally see with core changes to web search. I guess most searchers simply do not notice it.
The issue also is that SEOs and search marketers use to use it for keyword research and now Google is showing only three suggestions.
Pretty huge change for users & SEO's doing kw research - if permanent, you will only be able to get three suggestions! (cc @rustybrick) pic.twitter.com/V7QHtYJMt8
— Dan Shure (@dan_shure) July 26, 2017
There is a lot of chatter around this change and don't get me wrong, this is a big change - big one. But fundamentally, I think going away from Google Instant makes sense for Google.
Forum discussion at Hacker News, Twitter and WebmasterWorld.
