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Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

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Re: Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

#12
I think it's a little too early to come to a full conclusion here. Google is constantly testing layout changes in SERPs and it seems like OP ended up in a test. The thread is 4 weeks old and I haven't seen or read anything on these changes anywhere but on this thread.

I still think Google's general direction is clear with more webmaster incentives for structured data, amp and also Google just straight up answering questions (nutrition, sports etc.). But this example doesn't prove that Google is removing URLs from SERPs, it is one version of many that are tested constantly to improve CTR and other metrics.

Re: Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

#13

They also do open most links in their own google.com wrapper. Time to break them up

Which is extremely annoying when it’s a pdf or other document that’s set to immediately download; it’s rather tricky to get the actual URL if you want to share it as it won’t ever show up in the address bar.

Re: Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

#14
post #9

The title seems a bit misleading, Google do experiments like this all the time. Of course, should this change be permanent, we would have to be worried, but stating that it is already the case is not true. PS: here is one example: https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2018/03/23/google-zero-se...

Even as an experiment it is terribly misguided and that something like this would make it into the production environment as an experiment is a clear sign that they are actually considering rolling something like this out to the GP.

Re: Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

#15
post #13

They also do open most links in their own google.com wrapper. Time to break them up

Which is extremely annoying when it’s a pdf or other document that’s set to immediately download; it’s rather tricky to get the actual URL if you want to share it as it won’t ever show up in the address bar.

Pet peeve of mine, see comment above.

Re: Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

#17
post #9

The title seems a bit misleading, Google do experiments like this all the time. Of course, should this change be permanent, we would have to be worried, but stating that it is already the case is not true. PS: here is one example: https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2018/03/23/google-zero-se...

Even as an experiment it is terribly misguided and that something like this would make it into the production environment as an experiment is a clear sign that they are actually considering rolling something like this out to the GP.

I totally agree, I just think that "Google is currently experimenting removing URLs entirely from the search" would have been a more honest title.

Re: Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

#18
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even as an experiment it is terribly misguided and that something like this would make it into the production environment as an experiment is a clear sign that they are actually considering rolling something like this out to the GP.

I totally agree, I just think that "Google is currently experimenting removing URLs entirely from the search" would have been a more honest title.

It's probably that for that user that's what it looks like and then you combine that with HN's original title policy. It's not 100% perfect but it works most of the time.

Re: Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

#19
A year or two ago I noticed that Youtube links were messed up in the search result so maybe the writing has been on the wall for a real long time.

For instance, if you google https://www.google.com/search?q=jimmy+eat+world+555 you get a thumbnail with a Youtube URL linking to the actual video but as soon as you right or left click the link it's changed to a google.com link with a lot of parameters. Makes it super frustrating if you want to share a link to the youtube video from the SERP.

Re: Google are removing URLs entirely from search results?

#20

It's still regular for me but if true this will probably be the last straw for me. It's already absolutely impossible to send someone a link to a pdf you've found through google, this would make it impossible to send any link. That bloody wrapper is also a fine piece of shit. Search engines should link to content, not appropriate that content, hide who supplies it or mess with the links.

Google isn’t really a search engine anymore. They’re a data harvesting company who then try find ways to profit off sharing that data with you.

Google penalises other websites for stealing content or re-hosting stuff without adding value, then goes ahead and does exactly that all the time.

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