Google, known for its frequent and transformative tweaks, recently halted its testing of embedding direct links within its AI-powered Search Generative Experience snapshot answers. The cessation of this experimental feature, first spotted in the early months of 2023, has stirred up quite a debate, predominantly amongst SEO experts and digital marketers.
Developed by Google, the now-suspended test feature seamlessly embedded direct references or links in AI-generated answers, attributing the information to the source. The snapshot answer would crop a part of the source content, enabling users to delve into the details by clicking on the answer itself. After the change, these answers can still be seen in search results but without a link to the referenced source, marking a stark contrast between the previous user-friendly feature and the current standard model.
The change has exhausted considerable attention from prime SEO community figures. SEO expert Danny Goodwin noticed this modification while navigating Search Generative Experience. Expressing his thoughts via a blog post, Goodwin lamented the missing links and mentioned how useful they were, making the search experience more streamlined and user-friendly.
Similarly, Britney Muller and Lily Ray, renowned figures in the digital marketing sphere, chanced upon this noteworthy shift. Both expressed concerns about the longer process users have to go through to find the source of the SEO-generated answer.
Kenichi Suzuki, another esteemed SEO expert, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the interruption this change brings to the smooth flow of the user journey. He further speculated this might be a hint at Google’s shift towards prioritizing user time spent on Google’s platform by reducing quick exits through direct links.
Looking from a user perspective, the discontinued links can lead to a frustrating search experience. Users now have to go through an extra hurdle to find the source of the AI-generated answer—an inconvenience, to say the least.
While the SEO community and everyday users keenly await the restoration of this feature, the ball is in Google’s court. As of now, there’s no concrete indication from Google whether the links will make a return or are gone for good.
Reflecting on this significant move, it’s clear that the change may have intrinsic implications for the SEO community. On one hand, it could potentially increase the time a user spends searching for accurate information. On the flip side, if this feature is continued, it would make search results more intuitive and hassle-free, gearing Google one step closer to an enhanced user-focused approach.
AI-generated snapshot answers without direct links act as a double-edged sword. While they make Google’s deck for an enhanced and competitive search engine, they might also be holding the essence of source attribution hostage. The SEO community, digital marketers, and all those who stood to benefit from these links can only watch the events unfold while pondering on the future of Google and its impact on SEO.
The cessation raises questions about the functioning of the search engine and warrants consideration for future developments. Share with us what you think about this change and your experiences navigating the new Google Search Generative Experience. Stay tuned with us for more updates regarding the ever-evolving realm of SEO and Google’s innovative features.
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