Another chapter…Another twist by Google in the surfing era.
Google announced that it would depreciate one of the most popular tools, ‘Sitelinks Search Box, ‘ and Google realised the drop in its usage.
For years, the Sitelinks Search Box served as a powerful tool in Google’s search results, valued by both users and content creators. Allowing users to search directly within a website’s content from the SERP enabled quick access to specific information without needing to navigate a site’s internal pages manually.
For content creators and businesses, this feature offered an opportunity to capture users’ attention directly, funnelling traffic to relevant pages and boosting visibility for key areas of their site. However, with Google’s recent announcement, the removal of the Sitelinks Search Box signalled another shift in how websites and content creators need to approach SEO and user engagement.
Here’s a look at why Google made this decision, what it means for site owners, and how to adapt to this change.
The Sitelinks Search Box was a feature that appeared below a website’s main link in Google’s search results, offering users the ability to search directly within a website’s content. For websites with extensive resources, the tool allowed users to bypass unnecessary steps, making navigation seamless.
Enabled by default on high-traffic or well-structured websites, it provided an efficient path for users to access specific pages quickly and helped drive traffic to key content areas.
Google recently announced the removal of the Sitelinks Search Box due to a noticeable drop in its usage. Here are the primary reasons Google cited for this decision:
Importantly, Google clarified that this update does not affect overall search rankings or other site links. “This doesn’t affect rankings or site links otherwise, and won’t be listed in the Search status dashboard,” Google wrote. Additionally, Google will remove the Search Console rich results report for the Sitelinks Search Box and will stop highlighting the markup in the Google Rich Results Test.
If you have implemented site links search box structured data on your site, you can choose to remove it, but Google notes, “there’s no need to do so.” Unsupported structured data will not cause issues in Search and won’t trigger errors in Search Console reports. It’s important to remember that variations of structured data for your site names will continue to be supported.
The Sitelinks Search Box has served as a quick way for searchers to conduct internal searches for your website directly from the Google search results page. While Google states this feature has not been utilised as much in recent times, those who relied heavily on it may experience some impact. If you’re concerned about losing this functionality, consider enhancing the visibility of your internal search box on your website. Making it more prominent could help guide users in finding relevant information directly from your site.
For example, have a look at how W3era created a menu to serve seamless navigation to its users.
Note: Schema markup is a structured data vocabulary that helps search engines understand the content of your website, enabling rich snippets in search results that enhance visibility and user engagement. It provides additional context for various content types, such as products, articles, and local businesses, improving how your site is indexed and displayed.
Q: Will all sites be equally affected by this change? Not necessarily. Larger websites with many internal pages may feel a greater impact as they previously relied on the Sitelinks feature for internal navigation. Smaller sites with simpler structures may experience less noticeable effects.
Q: Is Google replacing the Sitelinks Search Box with a new feature? Currently, no direct replacement has been announced. However, Google’s emphasis on structured data may indicate future features designed to showcase relevant content more interactively.
Q: Can websites create a similar feature on their own? Yes, websites can enhance their internal search functionality to offer users an easy way to find content directly on the site. Predictive text, filters, and quick results can improve on-site search experiences.
Q: How does this affect the use of Schema markup? Schema markup remains vital. Correct implementation of structured data allows a site to maintain strong visibility in search results, even in the absence of the Sitelinks Search Box.
With the upcoming update as Google remove the Sitelinks Search Box structured data, both businesses and SEO strategists need to focus on other avenues for enhancing user experience and search visibility. Streamlining on-site navigation, utilising schema markup, and maintaining well-organized content will ensure that users continue to find valuable information on your site. At W3era, we’re prepared to help clients drive this change, optimising their sites to adapt to Google’s evolving search terrain.
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