Google has recently announced that they will be integrating “real-time search” in their search result pages that will include data from Google+ as well as other Web 2.0 sources. The results will include a stream of social news updates as they unfold on different social media channels. This will once again allow users to stay on top of current news and events directly on Google search.
Twitter as you know is one of the best real-time news and information sources. Last month, Google’s first attempt at real-time search was brought to a halt when they failed to come to an agreement with Twitter to use their data. It appears that Google are quite confident in their ability to deliver real-time search results which will include elements of Google+.
Real time search and Google+
Google+ is still lacking keyword search functionality so the overall integration of Google+ for their real-time search results may seem slightly ahead of itself. At the moment, there is no way of monitoring “what is being” said on Google+. This is in the process of being fixed as Google hinted that they are busy working on the search issue.
It is really going to be quite interesting to see how they incorporate real-time search and how it will interact with Google+’s upcoming business service. I imagine that the “real-time” feed would offer a way to monitor what is being posted on Google+ by brands and how relevant it is. Brands will most likely be able to see what was said about them in the past.
The real-time search will be featured on Google’s default search so it is quite likely that brands could begin seeing social entries on the result pages which will be a further incentive to optimize their social media strategies and campaigns. Google+ for businesses will be huge if this “real-time search” service by Google is successful.
SEO and social media working together
The return of “real-time search” data on Google search is not just another move on Google’s part for all the online marketers. This will potentially bring components of social media and SEO to work closer together. Brands will have to make sure that their social media and SEO strategies are complimentary so that they can take advantage of the increased exposure.
Another point to consider is how well Google will filter and block out spam. Their complex algorithms will have to constantly monitor and check the circles on Google+ to filter out all the gremlins. For now, we can only wait and see how Google will deal with the ever-increasing spam issue.
Google seems to be including more and more results in the search result pages. I think I have seen something similar to real-time results when I perform searches, and the results seem to come from Twitter.
With Google pushing forward with Google+, it will be interesting to see how online marketers begin to change their SEO practices to include real-tme search results.
I agree 100% with you @2b39c151be25b98a01ccc5cde942473d:disqus
SEO and SMM is going to play a big role if you want to optimize your rankings for real time search.