Dec202007

Google Universal Listings Not Taking Away From Original 10 Spots In SERPs Anymore?

Back in April, I wrote about the manner in which the Google Local Onebox was appearing on the results page. Up until a few days ago, the Onebox/Universal listings were taking away a number of the 10 spots available on the results page, as shown here from a screenshot taken of a search for bellagio las vegas from the previously mentioned post made back in April:

(Click on image to enlarge)

As you can see, the Local Onebox took away 3 spots from the 10 results, so there were just 7 remaining spots left for the rest of the results.

Today, when I perform the same search, I see this:

(Click on image to enlarge)

I have the Customize Google FireFox extension enabled, which gives you the option to number the search results… So, as you can see, now there are 10 regular results in addition to the Local Onebox, for a grand total of 13 results!

I first noticed this phenomenon a few days ago when I performed the following search for kosuke fukudome and saw the the results were numbered to 11, which I never saw before:

(Click to enlarge image)

So, now, it appears as though the Local and News Universal Search listings do not count as one of the 10 listings on the results page. However, it looks like Video listings still take up number of spots from the 10 allotted, as seen in this search for surfing huge wave:

(Click on image to enlarge)

I think these result sets make a lot more sense. I have a feeling that more users were clicking to the second page when the Local listing previously took away 3 spots and left just 7 spots for the rest of the results.

The video listings still taking up a number of the 10 spots also makes sense because it’s inevitable that more than one video would be relevant for a query, whereas there will always be just one result for a News listing.

However, I still don’t like how the News listing could appear at the top, middle, or bottom of the results. I’d rather just see it appear at the top.

I also don’t see why the Local result still needs to take up all that space and show 3 listings. I think it should appear like the News listing and I’d also rather just see it appear at the top in the traditional Onebox location.

I think Goog will slowly migrate back more towards the traditional Onebox at the top of the results for some of the Universal listings in the months to come. It just makes more sense to me…

What do you think?

Check it,
—kid disco

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12 pimp-style comments, so far... »

Barry

December 20 2007 @ 5:18 pm

I have been arguing with Danny about the definition of Universal results. I have been noticing this as well, but it is not that simple… Hope to have an answer soon.
kid disco

December 20 2007 @ 5:28 pm

@Barry - I think I know what you mean. The more I thought about it as I was writing, the more questionable it became for me to think I was using the correct terminology.

Hopefully, I painted a good enough picture for readers to get the gist of what I was trying to get across.
David Mihm

December 21 2007 @ 7:53 am

Nice find, Kid.

The Local Map+3, will, I think continue to get smaller and smaller (and moved further down the page) as users continue to revolt by clicking through to the 2nd page for better results.

The problem is that G’s Local algorithm returns so many irrelevant results, particularly in larger cities where an office close to the centroid is often all you need to rank well in that algo.

Personally, I’d like to see the map go away all together & just LIST the local businesses with an address and a plus box for the map…seems simple enough, no?
Local SEO Specialist - Terry Reeves

December 21 2007 @ 12:34 pm

Your analysis made sense to me. I am sure Google would not add the three listings back into the search without a good reason. We know that Google is a big believer in testing and it probably does not take long to realize a mistake when they make one.

Anyway, I do not believe any added content to the search result should push any other site from it’s logical place. There is enough real estate on Google’s SERPS to add additional content without crowding sites off the page.
suchmaschinenoptimierung

December 27 2007 @ 2:14 pm

this is a very important theme for seo´s. i think a good picture is here: http://www.eyetools.com/inpage.....eatmap.htm

This EyeTracking Study verifies the importance of homepage positions and rankings in both Organic and PPC search results for visibility and click through.
Searchtroop

February 14 2008 @ 3:47 pm

Very good analysis. Google does not need to crowd.
Mark

March 29 2008 @ 12:11 am

“The video listings still taking up a number of the 10 spots also makes sense because it’s inevitable that more than one video would be relevant for a query, whereas there will always be just one result for a News listing”

I don’t get this. Why 4 videos are ok? I think is pretty useless to have 4 videos and 1 news result. WHy will always will be 1 result only for news listing?
There is just 1 news source for a query at any given time?Neah…
Thanks
kid disco

March 29 2008 @ 8:32 am

@Mark - There will never be more than one News listing because it’s simply a jump link to Google’s News results for that query.
Mark

March 29 2008 @ 8:50 am

Got it now
Thanks
content writing advice

April 4 2008 @ 11:15 am

I had the opportunity to get two different Google representatives to comment on this topic of Universal search results displacing sites - See my blog post here http://footinmouthdisease.net/.....ur-images/, one at SES New york and the other at Google Webmaster Chat.
Unfortunately, they won’t come straight out and say which way they’re leaning for results…
Jutta

May 18 2008 @ 10:19 am

This imformations are good to know for SEO´s
very good article.
www.fettverbrennung.org

May 25 2008 @ 8:20 am

The problem is that G’s Local algorithm returns so many irrelevant results, particularly in larger cities where an office close to the centroid is often all you need to rank well in that algo.