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Google loves showing video thumbnails in the search results, when the query seems to be answered with a video. You know, those how-to types of queries.
But Craig Gilhooly posted on Twitter that Google is testing a search result snippet that has video results without the video thumbnail.
Typically, the snippet would look like this:
But in the new test, the only graphic is this little washed out gray play icon button:
I'd honestly be surprised if Google went this route, they have always been about richening up the snippets. This steps that down a lot.
Forum discussion at Twitter.
Comments:
menachem rosenbaum
04/10/2014 02:26 pm
Not surprising they want more attention on there ads and the thumbnails are pulling the eyes away.
StevenLockey
04/10/2014 03:27 pm
I've seen both mixed in the same result. I think its just where they are having trouble pulling in the thumb graphic for whatever reason.
Craig Gilhooly
04/11/2014 09:51 am
These are listings that have had video snippets with the thumbnail for some months - it's not a reaction to a new video snippet. So not sure that's the answer.
StevenLockey
04/11/2014 01:21 pm
So where some of the results I've seen previously missing thumbnails. I just wondering if its a bug instead of a test. Maybe the videos thumb file reference is now invalid, maybe their computer just can't access the server the thumbnails are on or its temporarily not responding?
Simo02
04/12/2014 09:16 am
Google video search video its fantastic
Shashank Naithani
04/14/2014 11:57 am
after reading this i took a look on the result you have shown. And I search it with the words in the Title. I got it in the SERP just like yours but when i click on the thumbnail nothing play, neither take me to any page where i can see the video. So now what your comments