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Universal Search has changed the way we view search engines and even the act of searching.
Now Google has changed the way video shows up in the Universal Search results.
Google adjusted the interface for video results that are part of universal search. Until now, Google promoted two videos in the first 10 results if the query was strongly associated with videos, but they looked like standard results. The new interface separates the two results from Google Video and this is more in line with other types of OneBoxes (images, local business, news) that evolved into universal search results.
Results for Barack Obama
Results for Tina Fey
Eric Lander noticed these changes last week.
Another change took place in terms of how Universal Search is displayed.
Another change is that the image results group has 4 images instead of only 3 and it can be displayed inside the list of search results, not just at the top or at the bottom.
Image Results for Tina Fey
These changes could mean big changes to how your results perform in the engine. The more Google tweaks the results the more the old concept of the “Golden Triangle” goes out the window. Image results appearing anywhere in the results is just another way the engine has further disrupted the way searchers utilize the listings.
On the plus side for marketers this could make it easier to get your media into the listings.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Vinay // Sep 30, 2008 at 5:14 am
Noticed this couple of days ago & tweeted it http://twitter.com/DreamTimes/statuses/938228374
Screenshot: http://twitpic.com/dnne
2 Eric Lander // Sep 30, 2008 at 7:00 am
Great observations here Dave and you’re right - this is an opportunity for search marketers to get more media listed in the Universal SERPs.
One of the often overlooked elements here too is that more visual media breaks up the user’s eye and traditional view of the SERPs.
Our user studies show that results like the video or images break up the users so much, that the first organic result below them receives a significant increase in clickthroughs…
3 Brent // Sep 30, 2008 at 7:22 am
This just emphasizes the point we have been making to all of our clients…create videos!
Follow me on Twitter @brentnau
4 Jade // Sep 30, 2008 at 7:36 am
This is great, especially since I always click on the video instead of the link to a website (not a big fan of reading ;p)
Here’s another awesome reason businesses need video! http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2008/09/22/newscolumn2-How-video-can-make-your-small-business-a-star.html
twitter.com/meatball1981
Aloha!
5 Bobby Kircher // Sep 30, 2008 at 8:35 am
Noticing this too for Google Base for searches related to products and brands. The Base results will sometimes appear within the organic results, below #3.
6 David Brown // Sep 30, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I’ve been seeing some very odd results as of late… been waiting for Universal to be silently released forever now! Woooooohahahaha Onebox opt will come in handy :D
7 Jason Anderson // Oct 1, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Your comment about Google disrupting the “golden triangle” is very important. Google clearly wants to modify the distinct patterns we’ve all seen in the eye-tracking heat maps. By modifying user behavior this way, the SERP real estate auction landscape becomes a much more dynamic (and complicated) marketplace. That’s probably very good for Google. Gaming strict ROI-goaled placements becomes more difficult and less lucrative as the triangles dissipate. Ultimately, this enhances the likelihood of greater brand advertising in search… something I suspect Google is striving for.
8 links for 2008-10-01 | Marc Baumann // Oct 1, 2008 at 7:00 pm
[…] Google Changes Universal Search Universal Search has changed the way we view search engines and even the act of searching. Now Google has changed the way video shows up in the Universal Search results. (tags: search searchengines google News) […]
9 Google Changes the Way SERP’s are Displayed :: Christopher Ross // Oct 14, 2008 at 4:18 pm
[…] The new changes include information on changes, how long it’s been since the page was updated, the number of people who have commented … pretty cool for the blogging world. […]
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