SEO and Google Chrome

We all use web browsers to access the internet so that we can surf the net, in most cases it’s either Microsoft’s Internet Explorer or Mozilla’s Firefox.  They are the user’s first point of contact with the web and they all have their own pros and cons.

In the beginning of September Google released its’ own brand new browser called ‘Google Chrome’.  According to Google it promises to be a browser that “combines minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer and easier.”  It has even been touted as a potential slayer of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer by some but that opinion is quite premature.

Currently, Google is best known as a search engine, indeed it is the world’s most popular search engine and they are always looking to improve this tool.  With the potential data they can obtain from users of Chrome they can further develop and refine their understanding of how individuals interact with web pages which may have a dramatic effect on their ranking system for search query results.  This could potentially lead to big changes in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).

However, this is a topic on which Google remains quiet.

With the advent of Google Chrome already upon us the question of how its current features will affect the business of SEO is a more pressing one.  Especially when you consider that Chrome has already amassed an impressive number of downloads.  Obviously, the aims of SEO will not change.  Receptional will still seek to increase visitor numbers and sales, boost brand awareness and provide a high Return on Investment (ROI) but some of the ways we go about achieving this will change.

Because of who Google are, that is to say their brand power, online reach and the quality of their new browser, Chrome is likely to become increasingly popular.

Therefore, as the use of Chrome as a browser is likely to increase in the coming months and years so to is its’ affect on SEO and thus on a significant part of what Receptional does for our clients.   Because Chrome is currently in its beta (testing) form, the full range of the browsers capabilities and possible affects cannot be fully evaluated but one of the features it offers as standard will definitely alter the way we work to some degree.

Google Chrome automatically offers the user alternative and more specific search terms when they enter a search query.  A mini AdWords Keyword Tool is one way of looking at it.  Given the potential usage of this feature it means that the keywords and search phrases offered as alternatives by Chrome will become more used and more competitive (the latter being likely have a larger impact on Pay Per Click).  This is also likely to greatly reduce the number of searches with misspellings as they won’t be present in the alternatives offered and users may opt for what may seem a more promising search term.

However, we are still some way from Chrome being the default browser out there but given Google’s previous successes and dominance of the search engine market it would be wise to, at the very least, take note of the possible changes it may cause to some of what we do if we’re to remain on top of our game.

Chris Meredith
Receptional Ltd.

Back 16.09.2008.