Apple iPad? Google ChromePad? What it means to SEO

The Apple iPad announcement was the biggest news of the year so far, hands down.  Some say it’s just a big iPod Touch.  Some think it’s the next big thing.  Others complain about the lack of features.

But let’s talk about the SEO & Internet Marketing implications.

But first, let’s move beyond just talking about the poorly named iPad.  It’s barely been a week since the announcement and already we’re hearing rumblings about Google making something similar. 

Why not?  Google is turning Chrome into an OS and have already ventured into hardware with the Nexus One!  Check out the images and videos on this page and see what you think of them. 

Personally, I like the idea of having a slim, non-keyboard appliance to browse the Internet and check email on.  It would be a little easier to have something like this near the couch and perhaps even take with me on short non-work trips.  I welcome the idea.  After all, that’s what I use my iPod Touch for and I love it!

Let’s face it, the Internet is not just confined to a desktop or laptop anymore.  It is there.  But it’s also on our phones, our video games, and elsewhere.

How does this affect SEO?  How does it affect your Internet marketing plans and efforts?

This should not surprise you, but search will still be a major part of these methods of using the Internet.  But it may look different.  

Like Google does now, we will start to see much more than just ten links to web pages.  We’ll see links to videos, images, news, social media, etc.  We’ll see personalized results and localized results.  You’ll soon start to see different results on your laptop, your phone, and perhaps even your “pad”.

So your exact ranking for a particular phrase will become even less useful than it is now.  But SEO is not dead.  Do you SEO best practices.  Work your on-page factors and get your links.  But most importantly, just be the best at what you do.

If you’re still staring at PageRank and obsessing over your exact rankings, it’s time to move on.  Start improving your site and being the best at what you do, no matter what it is.  Write intelligently.  Make good content.  Have good prices.  Create quality video content.  Be the best. 

It’s not hard.  But it does take work.  Build a business, not just a search engine ranking.  It’s in your best interests long-term.

Popularity: 16% [?]