Google Drop Down Suggestions - Usage Numbers?

[LostOne]

Curious as to whether there are any findings in how often people use the suggestions when typing in a query? Personally I find it annoying. I would guess newbies or those less famniliar with searching use it?

[tedster]

I've seen no usage numbers for Google Suggest - that would be interesting.

I was personally against the idea, and I turned Suggestions off in my settings for all but one browser. I used that browser to explore what was coming up in suggestions - especially for seeing what extended searches might be suggested.

Over time, I found I appreciated the quick fixes for my typos as well has seeing what similar searches might be the most common. Now I often turn on the suggestions in my main browser - at least I switch back and forth. I find it's an education!

[icedowl]

I use it and only click on one of the suggestions if, and only if, it is the exact phrase that I was intending to type. Saves a few keystrokes for me.

Other than that, I look at it but usually don't bother with it although sometimes I find some of the stuff quite amusing. Good enough for a giggle and maybe a strange thought to ponder.

[Hissingsid]

The suggestions on google.co.uk are completely different from google.com when visited from the UK. The differences are very illustrative of the problems Google has trying to understand the semantics of the two similar languages ie American and English.

I wonder if it is going to push more folks in the UK to use google.co.uk

Cheers

Sid

[tedster]

Thanks, Sid - that's a great tip and I would never have thought of it on my own. I will be checking it out.

[jpt85]

personally, i think google suggestions, google wonderwheel (and of course the google keyword suggestion tool) are very good ways to check or generate keywords to integrate into my website. so from the point of view of a webmaster, the suggestions can be very useful - just a thought