If you hadn’t yet noticed, there’s been a change made to the Google search engine that will influence how search results are presented to users. Google’s ‘Instant’ feature, introduced in 2010, is no more.
Instant was what would cause results to begin appearing the moment you started to type a query into the search engine’s homepage. This function was different than the search suggestions that users see in a drop-down as they type their search, which will continue to appear.
The elimination of Google Instant is the result of an effort by Google to focus more strongly on how people are searching, given the variety of devices that may now be used. Google’s statement reads:
“We launched Google Instant back in 2010 with the goal to provide users with the information they need as quickly as possible, even as they typed their searches on desktop devices. Since then, many more of our searches happen on mobile, with very different input and interaction and screen constraints.”
In other words, so many people have transitioned from using Google on a desktop to using Google on a mobile device that it is no longer practical for Google to continue supporting Instant. That, combined with the tendency for many to use their browser’s address bar to initiate a search (which Instant wasn’t compatible with), reduced the efficacy of the feature to the point that it wasn’t worth maintaining.
This only shows that all businesses, even those as large as Google, need to adapt their business strategy to suit their customers. Otherwise, they will find an alternative that meets their needs better.
So, what do you think about Google Instant going away? Do you anticipate that its loss will impact your browsing habits? Tell us what you think in the comments, and make sure you subscribe to our blog!
