We all know how Google search works:  We type in a keyword, click search, and then Google displays a list of “relevant web pages” that is based on our search keyword. However this method is far from perfect.

While Google is constantly changing their search algorithm to improve these results we are wasting countless hours of our time sifting through unrelated web pages; and sometimes we don’t even find what we want.

The biggest cause of this problem is that there is a constant struggle for business’ to show up on the first page.  This creates a highly competitive environment where people will do anything to be seen “above the fold”. This battle dilutes the quality of search results.

In order to remedy this experience, Google is now attempting to improve the way we search.  Instead of basing their search results entirely on one keyword search, they are shifting to concept results. A concept result is a specific topic related to the keyword that is typed in. Google gives the following example:

For example, if you search for [principles of physics], our algorithms understand that “angular momentum,” “special relativity,” “big bang” and “quantum mechanics” are related terms that could help you find what you need. Here’s an example (click on the images in the post to view them larger):

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/

As you can see in the image there is a list of concepts on the bottom of the page. Once [principles of physics] is searched, Google provides a list of related topics to choose from.  By providing this list they are funneling traffic to qualified web pages that have content about that concept.

I see this as a great step in Search Engine Technology. I would like to see Google put this concept list at the top of each search results page.  This way when we search a keyword, we see the relative search concepts and then select the corresponding topic we are interested in.

This change has the promise to save Google searchers hours of time. Hopefully this is the future for Google search. We’ll keep you posted.

Add new tag, concept search, Google Search, Google updates, semantic search