The latest Google search tool has been launched in selected countries worldwide.

‘Google Instant’ search results are revealed in real time, bypassing the need to hit the ‘search’ button.

There’s always alot of noise anytime Google changes its search facility, and the common ‘is this the end of SEO’ question has raised its rather tedious head once again, now that ‘Instant’ is on the scene. One of the key objectives of Google Instant, according to Matt Cutts (head of Google’s webspam team) is that it will provide results much faster due to its predictive search and the instantaneous nature of its results.  So will this really be the end of SEO? I believe there’s a short answer to this question. No, it certainly won’t.

Ok, I guess I should expand on this a little…
Taking a glance after searching for various keywords, you may notice one crucial factor – the search results Google Instant generates are the same as we’ve seen before – they just appear quicker as Google attempts to predict what you’re looking for. Google also states this clearly on its website when it says ’Instant doesn’t impact on the ranking of search results’ Therefore the need to correctly optimise in order to gain a top search listing remains as valid as ever.

Fundamentally, SEO should be about creating unique, inspiring and engaging content – then ensuring this content is applied in a search engine friendly manner. It shouldn’t be about getting bogged down with perpetual keyword strategies. The bottom line is that the same ethical techniques required for a successful SEO campaign will still be valid. As always, time will provide the ultimate voice of authority, but for those of us who believe that content should lead – with keyword strategies following, Google Instant shouldn’t provide any significant obstacles.

Finally, from a searchers point of view, if you’re oh so slightly irritated by Google’s latest technology, you can always switch it off

If ever you wanted an example of how great content underpins great search engine optimisation, this is it.

If ever you wanted proof that optimising your site for human beings is the best way to optimise it for search engines, this is it.

The Woodlands Junior School (Tonbridge, Kent) website isn’t the prettiest thing to look at…

… but boy does Google like it.

A post on the Hitwise Intelligence blog makes this point extremely well. It shows that the Woodlands site picked up over a third of all clicks on the term ‘mother’s day’ for the 12 weeks ending 13th March 2010.

I read the post with professional interest, but with a vague personal bell ringing in my head.

It was only when I looked at the site that I realised why. It is the self same Woodlands Junior School site that my daughter’s primary school teacher had recommended to me for its interactive times table games at a parents’ evening only last week.

In fact the site is a treasure trove of useful interactive educational tools. Wall to wall utility.

No wonder it has a reputation amongst the teaching profession as a valuable classroom and parental resource.

A reputation that translates into search engine authority.

I was the seven hundred and seventy second person to save the Woodlands site to Delicious, and the popular tags suggested by Delicious when I saved it tell their own story.

The content has been developed by teachers for teachers, and this is reflected in the recommended tags – resources, school, interactive, curriculum, junior, games etc.

Once the teaching profession grapevine kicked in, so did the inbound links to the site. Indeed, at the time of writing, Yahoo Site Explorer shows 86,541 inbound links to the site.

With that kind of Google-friendly authority, it’s not surprising that a short term Mother’s Day piece on its homepage outranks all other sites for that search term.

An excellent case-study showing that consistent development of useful content for humans is the best way to appeal to robots.

I don’t really know what’s going on here, but it’s weird for sure.

Dave Norris, for about the 5th year running (Yeh, I’m keeping my eye on him – I like to think in an undercover CTU style) is still the No. 1. Dave. In the whole wide world. Quite an accolade. Out of all the famous Daves? Really. Erm.. yeh, okay… famous Dave’s are kinda thin on the ground, but still, you get the idea.

Maybe the moral integrity of the google pigeons has been compromised. A sly back hander. Well… back winger. Maybe something far more sinister.

Hmmm…Yeh…. I can see Dave in a dimly lit multi-storey car park, sliding documents to a pair of gnarly looking but sharp suited pigeons. Their wee beaks hidden by the shadow cast from their Columbo style hat. “Here’s the latest crop reports my feathered amigos, you’ll find them very interesting, very interesting indeed. Just keep me no.1 yeh.”.

Er… yeh.

An anomaly at least.

His fame isn’t just prominent in our own Culture. He’s tip top in Japan and Zimbabwe. Even our more highly cultured cousins hold him in high regard, though I kinda prefer their no. 1 Dave. He’s pretty darned cool. Damned French. They have to be different.

Anyway Dave, I know you think you’re getting away with it but you’re not. I’m on to you.

And Geoff Sutton… you’re on my hit list an’ all.

John Paczkowski, don’t think you’re safe either.

The swines.