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As you know, Google is now sometimes showing no search results on the search results page - instead, Google is just showing answers for queries related to time, conversions and calculations. Then, if you want to see search results on the search results page (I keep saying that because it sounds like an oxymoron to not show search results on a search results page - sorry), you need to click "show all results."
Anyway, Danny Sullivan promised two things: (1) That he is compiling the feedback to bring back to the search team at Google and (2) this does not kill SEO.
Here are those tweets from the Danny Sullivan of Google:
BTW, as this has turned into one of the main places for discussion, I wanted to add I'm not just sharing outward what the thinking & reasonings are here. I'm also compiling the feedback and bringing that back in internally. It is appreciated & being heard.
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) March 14, 2018
That'll calm things down. SEO isn't dead. Feel free to quote me. I've been saying it every year it feels like for the past 20 years.
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) March 14, 2018
So let's share some examples of when this can go bad.
Poor Time Magazine:
Google have updated what they show when you search for anything 'time' related. I bet Time Magazine love this. pic.twitter.com/Zheu0yWdPc
— dan barker (@danbarker) March 14, 2018
Hope you are not looking for a date in London:
If you're looking for a 'date in london', Google now shows ads for dating agencies but zero non-paid results. pic.twitter.com/NmUPW80xGj
— dan barker (@danbarker) March 14, 2018
The poor Five Edmonds brand:
works even if you want something completely different...looking for a restaurant called five located in Edmonds pic.twitter.com/iXZfzzACsG
— Shawn Huber (@ShawnLHuber) March 15, 2018
I believe Google fixed the Time Magazine issue already but you can see how this can cause issue. Don't name your brand anything to do with a math equation or conversion or time, because it can get scary for you in Google.
Careful What You Name Things
I joked yesterday on Twitter that Google should have named the Google core update 3-9 so that if you Google that, all you get is a calculator and it can suppress the SEO related content around this algorithm update.
It is a joke but brands or new products might need to consider this going forward.
Slippery Slope
The other issue is that SEOs, webmasters and marketers are worried that this is a slippery slope. Where will Google draw the line. If they do zero results for time, calculations and conversions - why not do it for direct questions, city look ups, health questions, travel, etc etc. Where does Google draw the line and say they won't cross it?
Danny responded to the slippery slope issue:
We're not doing this for weather. I totally get the slippery slope concern around this issue. I get it freaks SEOs out. I also would stress again it's being tested for these specific cases where most people do not go past what's shown. Weather needs can be deeper than that.
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) March 15, 2018
Welcome to the land of zero results - forget position zero, welcome to zero results.
Forum discussion at Twitter.
