What does Google say about SEO? /

Official statement

Google will remove the Sitelinks Search Box from search results starting November 21, 2024, as its usage has decreased over time. This change will be applied globally across all languages and countries, without impacting rankings or other sitelinks.
2:08
🎥 Source video

Extracted from a Google Search Central video

⏱ 23:34 💬 EN 📅 31/10/2024 ✂ 9 statements
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📅
Official statement from (1 year ago)
TL;DR

Google will remove the Sitelinks Search Box from search results due to declining usage. This change will not affect rankings or other sitelinks.

What you need to understand

What is this Sitelinks Search Box? <\/h3>

The Sitelinks Search Box allowed users to search directly within a website from Google results. Handy for large sites, indeed.<\/p>

  • Made obsolete by evolving search intents<\/li>
  • Sparingly used by users<\/li>
  • Removal without direct impact on SEO<\/li><\/ul>

    Why is Google removing it?<\/h3>

    Google has observed a significant reduction<\/strong> in its usage. The continuous improvement of the engine aims to simplify the user experience.<\/p>

    This type of removal isn't unprecedented; Google constantly evaluates the usefulness of current features.<\/p>

SEO Expert opinion

Is this decision in line with current trends?<\/h3>

Data suggests that users prefer simplified interfaces<\/strong>. In this sense, Google seems to be following this emerging trend to retain only the most favored tools.<\/p>

Are there any hidden impacts to watch out for?<\/h3>

Google claims that this will not affect rankings, but post-change monitoring could reveal unintentional adjustments in how users interact with the sites. [To verify]<\/strong><\/p>

The removal could alarm some webmasters who invested in this feature. Keep an eye on traffic flow.<\/div>

Practical impact and recommendations

What concrete actions should you take to adapt?<\/h3>

Redirect your efforts where they will have a tangible impact. Optimize the user experience directly on your site.<\/p>

  • Evaluate your user interaction data<\/li>
  • Invest in internal content and navigability<\/li>
  • Adjust your CTAs to compensate for the loss of this feature<\/li><\/ul>
    To optimize without the Sitelinks Search Box, it is crucial to work directly on site engagement. Specialized agency support can be valuable.<\/div>

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Quel impact cette suppression a-t-elle sur le SEO ?
Aucun impact direct sur les classements selon Google.
Pourquoi Google fait-il des changements comme celui-ci ?
Google vise à simplifier l'expérience et supprimer des fonctionnalités sous-utilisées.
Faut-il modifier mes stratégies SEO à cause de cette suppression ?
Pas de changement drastique, mais concentrez-vous sur l'UX et les interactions.
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