Google is discontinuing the Sitelinks Search Box, the search box that appears beneath certain search result snippets for specific types of queries. This feature, introduced a decade ago, will be phased out globally across all languages and regions, starting November 21, 2024. But what exactly is the Sitelinks Search Box?
Why the Extra Search Box Existed
For years, Google has featured an additional search box in certain search results, allowing users to search within a specific website. However, this sitelinks search box is being discontinued due to a decline in usage.
Why Google Removed It
Google: It’s been more than ten years since we introduced the sitelinks search box in Google Search, but over time, we’ve observed a decline in its usage. To streamline the search experience, we’ll be removing this feature starting November 21, 2024.
Impact on User Experience
With Google Instant, the page updates in real-time to display results for the most likely completion of what the user is typing. This allows users to find and visit your website more quickly, often without needing to click the search button or press “enter.”
The Future of Google’s Search Interface
First, the incorporation of AI and machine learning will keep improving how search engines interpret and rank content, making frequent SEO strategy updates essential to stay in sync with these advanced algorithms. Second, we expect a stronger move toward hyper-local search.
Conclusion
If I hadn’t come across Google’s announcement, I likely wouldn’t have noticed the feature’s removal since I hardly ever used it. In the grand scheme, it’s a minor adjustment amid the broader changes to Google’s search engine as it embraces AI and restructures its Search team.
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