Google, the most trafficked search engine on the planet by a long shot, has added an original instrument called "Google Instant". Google's supremacy is without dispute. No other search engine comes near it in clout, and when Google alters it's results those changes rumble about the whole planet. Google toolbar users will find it familiar. It's a straight forward keyword suggestion tool. Outside the keyword suggestion, though, Google Instant displays a search results page as the searcher types based on popularity of previous searches. When you understand how it works, you can use it to find the best keywords for your services.

Keyword suggestions aren't new, but Google Instant has forced the SEO community to re-evaluate their importance. Casual users didn't usually use keyword suggestions, probably because of the subtleties of using the keyboard to select the ones you wanted. No such subtleties are needed to use Google Instant.

Let me put this is practical terms for you: It means that "New York Accountants" is a better keyword than "New York Accountant" because the plural version comes up as a result in Google Instant and the singular version does not.

Try to choose relevant keywords that appear as Google Instant suggestions. A good ranking in a suggested keyword will get more exposure and your accounting website will get more visits.

How It Works

Let's look an a practical example; suppose a searcher is looking for a "Boston accountant". As the searcher types Google Instant displays suggested keywords. The name of the city is too generic to offer any relevant results. Googe suggests search terms like "Boston market" and "Boston college". But look what happens as you type "a-c-c-o-u"... the suggested keywords become more relevant and eventually an appropriate key phrase appears! Most users are going to stop typing here and use their down arrow to select the search term they want... "Boston Accountants". Naturally this is a search term you want to market to!

What Does This Mean for SEO?

A lot of SEO types are dreading this change, and it will very likely be a painful one for affiliate marketers and retailers who make their money chasing the "long tail". The average small accounting firm, however, has nothing to fear from this change if they adapt quickly.

Google Instant actually helps your SEO, because it allows you to discover the most popular search terms. As you type, the keywords Google has found to be used most often show up in gray in the search box.

Deciding on your keywords used to be a bit of a guessing game - but this new feature changes that. Google Instant tells you exactly what keywords and phrases are the top hits.

Don't Forget the Basics

Keep the basic principles of accounting website keyword selection in mind. The basic keywords you need to implement into your website should consist of the services you provide and your location. This will give you a base to work with. Make a list of base keywords and expand it by adding specific terms like "audit", "tax preparation", and "tax planning". Try to identify other service terms prospects might use to find you. For example, someone could look for "Tampa FL QuickBooks Setup."

Once You Choose your Keywords...

You need to make your page relevant to the keywords you're competing for. One easy step you can take is using your keywords on the page you're optimizing. The home page should have keywords for your primary service and your location. Once you're done inserting keywords into your home page, move onto your About page and insert some keywords there as well. The more you customize your site the more relevant it will appear. Make sure your service pages are optimized to your location.

By following these steps, your page's SEO score will increase. Remember, you want to increase your visibility and ranking for as many keywords and variations of those keywords as possible.

And finally, don't set up five or six keywords and keyword phrases and then let your website sit for six months. SEO is a duty I treat like mowing the lawn; it's a a task that's never really over. It's a process, not a destination.

Happily, Google Instant makes the trip that much less tricky.