Google Stops Showing Indented Results: What You Need to Know
In a recent development, Google has made significant changes to its search results that could impact your website’s SEO strategy.
The End of Indented Results
Google has officially stopped displaying indented search results in its listings. This feature, which used to show secondary results from the same domain indented under the main result, has been discontinued in recent weeks.
Why Did Google Make the Change?
Danny Sullivan, the Google Search Liaison, explained that the decision to stop indented results was made because, with continuous scrolling, it wasn’t as helpful as it used to be. Google’s diversity system still aims to show only two results from the same site in the top results.
What It Means for Your Website
This change is not expected to significantly impact how often your content is displayed in Google Search. However, it does affect how that second listing appears in search results, which could influence your click-through rate positively or negatively.
Unintended Consequences
While Google intended to simplify search results, some unintended consequences have arisen. In some cases, more than two listings are appearing for non-branded results, contrary to Google’s intentions. This de-grouping of results and the floating of listings in different positions may not have been part of the plan.
Impact on Site Owners
For site owners, especially those with multiple listings for high-volume queries, the change may mean they now rank with a single page rather than multiple pages. However, there is also the issue of de-grouping and multiple URL impacts, which could lead to your second URL appearing in a different position.
The Future of SERP Features
This change in indented results is part of a broader trend in Google’s efforts to simplify search results. The ultimate goal is to make results appear cleaner and less cluttered. While some SERP features may return in the future, this shift represents a clear change in how SEO might be approached.
Stay Informed
It’s crucial to stay updated on changes in Google’s search results to adapt your SEO strategy accordingly. Follow the latest developments and insights on our website and on Twitter.
Still Unsure ? Want to make you next move? Need any assistance in business? Schedule a Business Appointment with Us Now!
