Picture this: you're at a coffee shop and notice a pair of shoes that catch your eye. Instead of approaching a stranger to inquire about their shoes, using Google Lens for a visual search can provide all the answers you need.

It's a fact. In 2024, we reside in a world that puts consumers first, where information, products, and services are just a click away on our phones. We have an instant gratification mindset, and with technology constantly evolving, businesses that embrace it early will set themselves apart.

You probably know about image search already. Optimizing image search is undeniably crucial for visual search, but it's essential to recognize that they serve distinct purposes.  Images that have been optimized for search using alt image tags may show up in an image search when someone is seeking information online. For example, as an advertiser creating an image of a pair of shoes for image search, you will input attributes such as alt tags, file size, and file title to improve the chances of users finding your image when they search using the attached text. Likewise, as a consumer, you might be looking for specific items like Nike Shoes or Bright Red Heels, and your digital device could display images that match your search. While the search results may be close to what you are looking for, it's not quite right. So you continue searching while trying to make the search engine understand what you want using words. Moreover, businesses that have not optimized their images will not appear in these searches at all.

Visual search is all about image or visual recognition. Google Lens provides one of the most advanced visual search platforms, with a vast database of millions of images. Not only can it identify objects, but it can also translate and extract text from images.

This allows users to blend information in various formats (such as photos, voice search like Alexa and Siri, and text) to locate the product they desire, marking a significant shift in the Google search experience.

Previously, users were limited to text queries, but now, with Google Lens, they can scan images and find exact or similar products, even in different colors. In Google's words, "you can search, translate, identify and shop what you see."

This highlights the importance for e-commerce to feature products with SEO-optimized images that fulfill the necessary criteria for optimal visual search. With Visual search, users can effortlessly snap a photo and Google Lens will refine the search until it delivers the desired result from its extensive database.

As consumers, we often struggle to articulate our desires in words. If you don't know what something is called, you can type it in a search. This is where visual search becomes invaluable. Unlike traditional searches that rely on keywords to match businesses with queries, the cutting-edge AI-driven search engines of 2024 prioritize conversational searches, visual searches and consumer intent, delivering optimal and more holistic results to the user.

Let's consider the case of shoes. Typically, you might seek out red high heels. This could lead to various options such as pumps, stilettos, bright red heels, dark red, red and black, and so on. Once you locate the specific heels you had in mind, you would then proceed to search for promotions, check for nearby stores offering the deal, verify the availability of the item, and ensure they have it in your size, and more. Each search query would be unique, and almost starting from scratch.

With visual search, Google and other AI-powered search results are now able to more accurately grasp your intentions. By utilizing visual search, Google has the capability to eliminate other shoe types typically associated with a search for red high heels, enabling it to precisely deliver the exact style you desire. Instead of initiating a new search for every query, Google anticipates the conversation and thought process, providing optimal answers even before they are sought. This ranges from suggesting the appropriate color and heel size to presenting in-stock promotions and providing directions to nearby stores. Visual search is revolutionizing the way businesses engage with their target customers and streamline the sales process.

Ready to revolutionize your business for visual search? Contact us for a free digital marketing consultation at

636-248-8231 or to learn more about how to leverage the power of SEO for your industry check out our website at www.MissouriMarketBoss.com.