tedster - 5:18 am on May 23, 2010 (gmt 0)

The fact is that most online business does depend on Google traffic. If that changes, then Google can't call the shots so powerfully. Right now, our customers have given Google the power that they have.

If you can build an online business that doesn't depend on Google (or any) search traffic to thrive, that's all good for you. I work with a few businesses like that - and they depend on a long term marketing plan with email lists, viral communication, and all manner of customer retention and service mechanisms.

They do make use of whatever search traffic Google sends, but they don't chase it. I check certain key rankings for them about twice a year - and that traffic could dry up overnight and they would still be OK. I'd say that approach only works for some markets, however. It's worth considering the ways that any site can diversify its traffic sources and income stream.

This https thing is brand new - and to a degree we're getting ahead of ourselves trying to think through through all the possibilities. It's not worth any excess stress right now, but it is worth some intelligent investigation and planning.