Designing and SEO Tips for Google Instant Preview

In the face of stiff competition from Microsoft Bing, Google has revised its search engine algorithm to provide faster search results. The latest feature to be integrated in the search engine is Google Instant Preview. According to Google’s official blog, the new functionality facilitates users to get results “as quickly as they type”. In addition to this, Google Instant Preview allows users to ‘preview’ results on the search engine result page (SERP) by presenting a screenshot at a click on the magnifying glass icon. Since Google continues to be the most popular search engine by far, it is essential that search engine marketing strategies are modified to suit this new functionality.

Designing Tips for Google Instant Preview

Google Preview offers a visual representation to users to determine whether to visit a website. This has a meaningful impact on the effectiveness of a site’s search engine marketing. The Preview functionality has made the first impression offered by a website more important than ever. Subsequently, the importance of website design has increased tremendously.

Google Preview offers a visual representation to users to determine whether to visit a website. This has a meaningful impact on the effectiveness of a site’s search engine marketing. The Preview functionality has made the first impression offered by a website more important than ever. Subsequently, the importance of website design has increased tremendously.

While modifying the complete website design or the user interface for Google Preview is not recommended, it is important to appreciate the need for bettering some aspects of website design. Below are some important designing tips that can make the functionality work for websites:

1. Flash content may not be displayed by Google Preview. For critical content, a different presentation style is recommended.
2. It is crucial to remember that not just the homepage of a website shows up on this new feature. Any indexed page can pop up on the SERP. While making alterations to suit Google Preview, website designers must consider design elements for an array of web pages.
3. The size of the preview offered is quite small. Therefore, website owners have to ensure that the branding and logos are prominent and placed right on top of the pages. This will facilitate existing clients to distinguish particular websites and also further brand awareness.
4. The use of colors that contrast with Google’s background is recommended as this makes websites more distinctive and easy for users to see as well as read.
5. Google Preview necessitates careful use of layout patterns as well as white space on web pages, since these offers a sense of structure and improves readability.
6. Website designers must consider font and page title sizes. Additionally, relevant and attractive headlines or titles can gear better click through.

SEO Tips for Google Instant Preview

Apart from website designing, SEO strategies, too, need some amount of revamping if businesses have to take advantage of the ‘searchscape’. The following are some SEO tips that can help websites stay ahead in the race:

1. Refining of the meta-description becomes important. Although a sophisticated functionality, Google Instant Preview requires searchers to click on the preview button (magnifying glass) to derive an idea about the site. Websites, therefore, have to convince searchers that previewing the website will be in the best of their interest. An interesting and well-defined proposition, within 150 characters, offers the perfect incentive to searchers to preview particular website.
2. Fixing header tags is crucial. Since the preview display is very small, it is unlikely that searchers will be able to decipher the entire text. However, the larger items in the header tags will be distinguishable. Searchers are most likely to use information in the title and the header tags to decide upon the page structure and usability of the website.
3. Alt text is also important. Images that show up for relevant keywords must have descriptive and accurate alt text to grab the searcher’s attention.