After the last GUI update, where Google introduced an “everything” left hand side column, there is another GUI update that Google recently tested. I saw the update and knew instantly that there is again going to be a lot of traffic shuffling as this feature rolls out. How? Watch this video first -

As you can see above, the screen changes when the keywords are entered displaying relevant websites corresponding to each search query which is suggested by Google itself. Now, the probability of earning a click for a website for a pattern of keyword search would depend whether a website ranks well for all the keyword derivatives.  That being said, if this update rolls out, it would become necessary that the webmasters have their sites optimized for each and every keyword string derivative to have the necessary probability in the dynamic SERP Layout.

IMHO – strength of business keywords for which a website ranks would get diluted if this GUI feature rolls out and it would become imperative for the webmasters to rank for all the other alternative and derivative keywords where they dont rank yet. ‘

While Google has its share of fun working on these GUI updates, SEO services along with webmasters must prepare for this update, beforehand, to ensure that like last Google GUI update which resulted in traffic scattering, this one doesn’t proves to be another traffic sieve.

Is it Bye Bye Long tail? Or welcome Short Tail.. Only time will tell. Right now it looks like the race between the websites would now involve which website can rank well for the shortest keyword derivative.  Link Building Services and Link builders around the world might update their Anchor Text and Link Inventory something like this:-

1. Long Tailed Keyword – 10 links

2. Long Tailed – 100 links

3. Long – 1000 links?

Whats your take on this Dancing SERP test that Google performed recently? Do you see it as a cool Ajax trick or a Threat to your long tailed traffic? Well, it reminds me of the last MayDay Update.. only time will tell.

Local SEO could be dis-satisfactory and disturbing if you are unable to mine the backlinks which get you trust for your Local SEO rankings. Some are of the opinion that links are links – whether global, national or local. However, when you are going after local keywords which have exact keyword competition raging close to 7 figures, you are in for some solid backlink war.

When going about building or acquiring backlinks the most important question is how do you identify a Heavyweight link? A heavyweight backlink from 2 years ago might be present day’s malnourished link. Google has always been a dynamic beast continuously rolling out new updates, interface changes and several other features. Bing still in its primordial state is struggling to establish trust and relevancy in its Search Engine results.

It seems that on June 2nd, Google made an attempt to reverse the Mayday Update which was responsible for massive traffic drop in long tailed traffic throughout late May. Recently, Google also confirmed that its Caffeine Index is complete and also boasted on providing more upto date information including blog posts, forum, video and real time updates from Twitter. But after June 2nd, it seemed that the things started to settle down back to normal. (atleast for us)

Many SEOs around the world were of the opinion that the drop in traffic is due to Google’s attempt to reindex the web and it seems that the latest declaration by Google confirms just that. Talking about our own blog, we used to get over 100 uniques a day from a keyword like “Link Building Services“. Many more such keywords which were apparently high traffic keywords took a serious hit and the traffic saw a downward curve. Reason being the new Google interface which is no doubt more informative as compared to the old interface that Google had but the fact is that now Google’s search engine result pages are now more retentive as compared to the old interface and distracts the visitor by giving him information from various resources. We discussed how SEOs  and Link Building services could still take advantage of this whilst optimizing their client websites.

What does Google still lack? Keyword intelligence. Why? Imagine someone searching for a keyword “Cleaning Services”. Why is this person presented with the news? Google has turned totally daft to the fact that there are people and business owners out there who rely on it to make a living by getting discovered on its Search Engine Result Pages. When half the page is occupied by Adwords Advertisements and the rest via these real time news, blogs and pictures. There is a 10% less chance that someone would consider going on the second page for finding a more relevant site on Google. As a result — SEOs and Link Building Services will now need to be ever more strapped and technically equipped to get their client’s business websites on the top 10 page of Google.

More discussion on the above can be found in this thread on WebmasterWorld.