Google’s Real Time Search, Social Media and SEO

We knew it was coming. When Realtime Search showed up, few in the SEO industry were surprised. Some shrugged; others went “yup”. Those who knew better set about developing strategies to capitalize.

Now, when Realtime was just a tagline in the SERPs, it was just one more place to target. Think about it; front-page exposure, even if your site is buried on page 100. Very nice – if, from the optimizer’s standpoint – you can impress upon the client it’s importance.

Well, Google RT Search moved to its own website. While they may have fallen out of the mainstream SERPS for the most part, they’re now front and center on a little Google site known as Realtime. In a search for “interactive agency”, for instance, realtime results didn’t show up in the “Everything” SERPs until page three.

However, searching for the same term in the “Updates” section gives you viable information from real people. It’s not all chatter, either. In the picture below, six posts out of eight are relevant to:

• A competitor of an agency
• Someone looking for a good interactive agency
• An agency

To many, Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed and other social media sites turn companies into people, the faceless into a face you can like. Searching for SEO is like getting a list “must read” information. “Furniture deals” can get you a ton of information on where the best buy is – and where it isn’t. A search for your company name can tell you exactly what people are saying about you:

So what does all this mean to you? What does it mean for your SEO, business and social media strategy?

You can bet that people will be using Realtime Search to find information, people and products. As you can see, the possibilities and potential reach are various and huge. You can’t afford to pass it up; those who do may be left behind on page 100.

If you’re still sitting there wondering if you should bother with social media, it’s time to get off the fence. Yes, you should “bother” with social media. Yes, because you can’t afford not to. Yes, because it’s a chance for exposure that, depending on your competition, you may never get with SEO alone.

Do yourself and your business a favor. Incorporate social media into your SEO campaign. If you have a marketing team and they haven’t been pushing, it’s time you updated them. Can you use social media to build your business? Yes… but will you?