Last week, Google updated their image search design citing this is better for webmasters. Webmasters were not convinced, they didn't like that searchers can get the high resolution image directly on Google's web page and not be required to click through to the source of the image to see that high resolution image.
Discussion threads at WebmasterWorld and DigitalPoint Forums both have webmasters citing they have noticed a significant decrease in traffic from Google Images since the design update.
One webmaster said:
There is minimal traffic from image search on 4 websites i am tracking. The traffic remained is the actual search traffic, nothing from images.When people get the full resolution image, they have no reason to click to go to the URL.
Others shared some stats over the years showing the decline in traffic over the years from Google Image Search.
One webmaster is asking others to join in and block Google from indexing and ranking their images. Martin from WebmasterWorld, a big time image search guy said:
I think we shouldn't block Googlebot now. First we have to fight and discuss.
Should 'we' fight back? Would it make a difference? Would blocking GoogleBot from your images matter to Google?
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld and DigitalPoint Forums.
