Did Google change Search Results? - [Time to evolve]

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Did Google change Search Results?:

Yes, Google changed search results. This is a result of AI Overviews, which is a continued AI research, and development effort by Google, as well as to keep up with its recent algorithm updates after September 2023.

In fact, such changes are not new. Google has been constantly changing its search results over the years, which became prominent in 2022-23 onwards.

These changes are made to provide a better user experience and to ensure that the search results are relevant and useful for the user's query or search query.

Do you know? - “Consumers turn to technology to fulfil an immediate need. According to Google, more than 90% of their users use devices for help and inspiration while in the middle of a task” – Convince & Convert

To give you more information, let's go deeper.

Why Google Search Results Look Different?:

Google has already made updates to its search results algorithm to prioritize high-quality content, penalize websites with low-quality content or spammy practices, and improve the accuracy of its search results.

In other words, the pattern began to change gradually and slowly with the August 2022 Google Update that prioritizes people-first content over search-engine-optimized content.

“According to Google’s John Mueller, the quality of content encompasses the overall website, including its layout, design, integration of images, and page speed. These elements contribute to a positive user experience and are key factors that Google considers when assessing quality” – Search Engine Journal

As seen lately, especially over the past few months, social media images, videos, particularly those from YouTube, snippets, and enhanced local search results have taken up some space within search results.

This has resulted in decreased impressions, clicks, and changes in keyword ranking positions. Of course, quality content cannot be ignored too at all times!

“Images make up 62.6% of all Google searches. Google understands how crucial visual results are to a user’s experience, and search results now feature image carousels and visual results more” – HubSpot

Of course, Google continues to test new SERP elements to improve user experience and provide the most accurate results. According to most analysts, the AI revolution has been a significant motivator for those changes.

In fact, here is something you should know:

“don't worry if you don't anticipate every variation of how someone might seek your content. Google's language matching systems are sophisticated and can understand how your page relates to many queries, even if you don't explicitly use the exact terms in them” – Google’s SEO Starter Guide

AI Overview Study:

Image Content Source - Advanced Web Ranking

Last but not least, Google has also been giving more weight to mobile-friendly websites in their search results. Optimizing for mobile views or focusing on responsive web design has become more important than ever.

As per Meltwater's Digital 2024 Global Overview Report, the share of web traffic by devices is as follows: mobile phones (57.94%), laptops and desktop computers (40.06%), and tablets (1.95%).

With more and more people using their mobile devices to browse the Internet, websites need to be optimized for mobile viewing.

Google's mobile-first indexing means that they prioritize the mobile version of a website when indexing and ranking pages.

In conclusion, website owners and digital marketers need to stay up-to-date with these changes to ensure that their websites are optimized for better search engine visibility and user experience (UX).

Keeping up with Google's algorithm changes can also be challenging, but it's essential for online success.

Here's related information that you may also find helpful – Should Keywords be Capitalized?

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