Google Instant Keyword Suggestions - how are they determined

[zehrila]

I am wondering how Google Instant is determining the keywords users want to search for? is Google tweaking keywords it suggests in Instant on its own, is it trying to change user search behaviour by making them type for longer queries which Google thinks is more relevant? I remember i used to search for a different set of queries for mobile phone searches, i used to target them and now all of sudden the queries have gone longer with extra strings and different set of sites rank for those, making older queries obsolete, i can also spot increase in traffic for those new sites and dip in traffic for old sites. People are now searching for what google instant suggests.

[Even_Steven]

I tend to agree.

I think Google is recommending words that would generate the most profitable AdWords.

[tedster]

It's a complex algo, however its foundation is actual search volumes. That seems to get combined with needing a decent amount of results for the query plus a filter to nix legally problematic results, adult images, etc.

If there is any tweaking based on Adwords revenue, I haven't heard about it or seen data to support the idea. It's common for people to assume these short-term financial gain possibilities with Google, but in general they always seem to take a long-term and balanced "please the user" view.

So if anyone has data on this topic, we'd all love to hear about it. Otherwise, IMO, it just sounds like webmaster FUD to join in with the Google FUD - a nice FUD Soup.

[zehrila]

Ted: in this local search engine, search suggestions were not very descriptive, 2-3 words at maximum. Those were the most searched phrases as well, now that search bar has expanded, i see the same keyphrase has gone to 3rd 4th position and replaced by longer string, suggestions might be tweaked to show more relevant results, it could be a FUd, i could be totally wrong as i have no statistics to back what i said.

Anyway, i had been searching for a query in a particular local engine and now i see it as a suggestion in search bar, does it mean you can get couple of people to manipulate search suggestions?

[tedster]

I've heard there are people who manipulate search suggestions. Google will tell you they have safeguards in place - but as with any kind of spam, there are people who study those safeguards for loopholes. It certainly shouldn't be as easy as getting a couple people to make searches.

[tedster]

I've heard there are people who manipulate search suggestions. Google will tell you they have safeguards in place - but as with any kind of spam, there are people who study those safeguards for loopholes. It certainly shouldn't be as easy as getting "a couple people" to make certain searches.