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A moderator at WebmasterWorld noticed Google stopped using standard URL redirects in the Google search results to track click events. If you hover over the link, it now appears that Google is just sending you directly to the destination URL, without using any click tracking.
But that is not the case. If you look at the source code, it looks like Google is using some type of JavaScript to track the click.
Here is a sample of the code used:
<a href="http://www.google.com/" class=l onmousedown="return rwt(this,'','','res','4', 'AFQjCNG5-9Jej-ukVeakTgwonqt2narbYg','&sig2=4Lwo00y104At7P9SCT7uXA')">
Moderator, jdMorgan, added that he noticed the JavaScript request going to Google but then it is resulting in a 204-No Content response. But then he noticed a request direct to his server with the same referrer (the same/original search results page).
This appears to be a new way of Google tracking click events in the search results.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
Comments:
No Name
05/25/2009 01:23 pm
It's still different when you look for the site: request. Maybe Google trys A/B ;)
Farhad
05/25/2009 01:36 pm
Strangely enough, the main URLs do show up with the new tagging and taskbar display URL settings, but sitelinks still show the old google.co.uk/url?q= link format
MalikBhai
05/25/2009 03:02 pm
Google don't know itself wat to do now.As it is continuously being targeted by spammers and jammers.They are just trying different tests and expecting any test to be success.Lets c wat will happen.