Well it has only been a few days since Apple released the iPad but there is already a ton of opportunity for those looking to grow their business.   Unless you were completely disconnected from the web all weekend you have been inundated with news, reviews, and comments on the iPad.  While the initial sales may have been less than what some fan may have expected (300 – 400 hundred k according to several reporting firms) the constant buzz online and offline shows the opportunity for online marketers to reach new customers.

First there is the obvious, the iPad means more people searching online for products/services.  With the iPad users will have a device that makes it easier for them to go online and search.  Now when at the coffee shop, on the couch, or on the train the iPad will enable people to search for more and do more in depth research.  Because the iPad has a larger screen and fairly good sized keyboard users will be able to do more than with their smartphones.  The iPad shipped with Google as the default search engine so having a prominent position on Google is important as usual.  Another nuance in the search market for the iPad is the non traditional user who may feel that browsing and searching on the web is easier on the iPad than on their standard PC or Mac.  There has been numerous stories floating around the web speaking of the “grandparent” who has never used anything post typewriter who is going to buy the iPad.

The next opportunity presented by the iPad is the ebook market.  Many busy professionals and consumers who are researching a buying decision search out valuable white papers but never get the time to read them.  The iPad will allow firms to turn their white papers into iPad friendly documents which potential buyers will be able to read on the go or in the comfort of their living room.  The fact that the iPad will allow for these buyers to read PDF’s will help in giving them an opportunity to actually read the information which will require little work on your part because many white papers are already PDF’s.  However creating attractive iPad versions of white papers may be what gives your firm the edge over the competition, getting the potential customer to download your white paper or actualy read the entire thing.

Finally there are the apps.  Having an app has become a sort of competitive advantage.  If your firm offers an app for the iPod, iPhone, Android device, etc it becomes easier for the owners of those devices to consume your firms information.  Developing apps for the iPad will have the same effect.  There will be a huge opportunity for search marketers to discover the demand for iPad apps and then develop creative and interesting apps that meet that demand.

The iPad will give search marketers a new set of tools for reaching new customers and as the iPad develops so to will the ways in which marketers reach their audience.