Now that the dust has settled after last week’s announcement of Apple’s iPad, we can get down to what’s really important, at least for those of us involved in Web and Internet marketing: how will the iPad change online search?
The truth is, the jury’s still out on whether the iPad will be another revolutionary device along the lines of the iPod and iPhone, or if it will suffer a similar fate to Apple’s first major tablet idea, the Newton.
Plenty of Web and Internet marketing professionals have already weighed in on the pros and cons of the iPad, so we’re not going to do that here. Instead, we’d like to focus on the iPad’s strengths and explore how it may affect the way we use online search.
While a lot of people, Web and Internet marketing professionals included, aren’t fully convinced that the iPad will completely replace the good old-fashioned book, it’s effectiveness as a reference tool seems pretty solid. The iPad will make it easy for users to access an online dictionary and thesaurus. Users will also be able to look up topics on Wikipedia. Imagine that you’re reading an ebook about Italy and the city of Genoa is mentioned. Not sure where Genoa is? Use your iPad with Google Maps to locate it. Then look it up on Wikipedia and get a quick rundown of the city’s history.
The second thing the iPad could change the way people search is through what we’ll call the rise of kitchen computing. The Internet has been a boon to chefs. There are thousands, actually hundreds of thousands of recipes, online. But right now getting a recipe online means one of three compromises is necessary. You’ll either have to print out the recipe, bring your laptop into the kitchen, or keep running back and forth between your desktop computer and the kitchen. But with the iPad, it will be simple to access an online recipe and prop up your iPad in a convenient corner of the kitchen. Web and Internet marketing professionals should take note: the iPad could signal an increase in searches for “how to” or “service” articles. Now that people can carry their iPad to their car, down to their basement or into their backyard, one can expect car repair, home repair and yard maintenance instructionals to become even more popular.
Even if the iPad does become a common accessory, it probably won’t completely replace the desktop PC or the laptop. That means Web and Internet marketing experts should still optimize their Websites for traditional search. But the potential for a new facet of online search is definitely possible. Web and Internet marketing professionals would be wise to pay attention to the iPad’s impact so they can get in early on this burgeoning market.
