Google is not perfect?
In the beginning there was not much in the way of searching, aside from asking Jeeves… and then Google created their search engine and there was much rejoicing.
However, no system is perfect and how we interact with Google search is a good example.
Let’s set the scene: It’s summer and it’s hot, your kids want to play outside and have a water fight. As a nice present for the summer holidays you decide to get them each a toy.
You type into Google “Water Guns” and you get an assorted amount of relevant sites for you to browse. “Thanks again Google, you’ve saved me a lot of time”, you think as you click the most promising link.
Step into the other side of Google
Now for some role-reversal.
You’ve just set up your own shop selling water guns for kids and have just launched your brand new website, full of your selection of water guns, painstakingly filled with high quality images, lengthy descriptions and clear pricing.
How could it not do well?
The first month after launch you review what people are typing into Google to end up on your site, and are surprised to see:
Submachine Gun
Water Cooled Gatling Gun
Waterproof Guns
This is a good example of how Google doesn’t work all the time, at least for your water gun business. Though I suppose your water guns are waterproof, else they’d be in the same category as Self-peeling Labels and Chocolate Teapots.
Touché Google.
A Wake Up Call
Moving on from those small frustrations, you spot another group of entries:
Low price water gun
Where can I buy water guns for a cheap price?
This is exactly what you’re looking for people to type in to get to your site. Your customer will be taken from Google search to your website and have a good chance of buying something.
You take this moment to perform a celebratory fist-pump when you almost fall off your chair, and you’re back in the office of your price gun shop, having dozed off on your lunch. In-front of you on your screen you realise with utter defeat that people who search for all the above terms are all going to your website.
It’s then I realise this should be something to blog about.
We sell Price Guns, Google. “Low Price – Price Guns”. Not “Low Price Guns”.
Final Thoughts
Spare a thought for firearms websites, who are surprised to learn they get visitors looking for “Price Guns”, “Water Guns” and “Spud Guns”.
… and no, despite popular demand from Google searches, we don’t have the sheet music for Jessie J’s song “Price Tag”.