No question, Google Instant will change how people search.
But how?
One change will be when a location is typed “plumbers New Orleans” or “New Orleans plumbers.” Until now there has been little reason to do it in one order or the other. The tendency has been to put the location first as that is more natural language.
Now the reverse behavior will often reward with faster searches, especially when you are sure what the main search phrase is going to be.
Because of personalization, as soon as you type “plumb” Google starts serving up local plumbers in its click ads and map listings. One more letter and it starts giving suggestions for specific locations in the area.
I can get “plumbers Tampa” organic listings with 7 key strokes – p,l,u,m,b,e and two down arrows.
The reverse will probably turn out to be true where you are unsure of the best search phrase.. Put “Tampa” first then start typing in the likeliest phrase. Use suggestions or back up as needed.
In local searches this will also probably mean an increase in the percentage of clicks on paid and map listings.
Here in Tampa Bay it probably will mean a higher percentage of clicks on “Tampa” searches as opposed to individual localities in the area such as “Clearwater” or “Largo”.
Stay tuned.