In its latest update, Google is testing the integration of sitelink bubble carousels on the search engine results page (SERP) for desktop users.
This feature was spotted by search engine user Brodie Clarke, who later shared a GIF of the sitelink bubble carousel in action on X (formerly Twitter).
The GIF effectively demonstrates the interactive nature of the carousel, showing how users can scroll through the bubbles to quickly access specific pages within a website.
This feature first appeared in mobile search results in December 2023, but was initially explored as far back as 2017, but had not made it to desktop searches until now.
These sitelink bubble carousels appear as scrollable links beneath the traditional blue search results, linking users directly to specific pages within the website.
For example, if a user searches for “running shoes”, and the Nike website appears in the search results, the web listing could include a carousel of clickable bubbles, linking to specific product pages – providing the user with various running shoe options.
This provides search engine users with a more streamlined way of accessing content relevant to their search query, reducing the number of steps needed to find the information they’re looking for.
Instead of clicking through to the homepage, then finding the product page from the navigation bar, users can jump directly to the most relevant pages within a website.
This new feature is currently in the trial phase and has not yet been officially announced as an update by Google. However, it does represent an evolution in how search engine users interact with search results, prioritising speed and relevance.
This update could mean online businesses need to rethink their SEO (search engine optimisation) strategies, with a particular focus on optimising product pages.
To increase the chances of appearing in these sitelink carousels, a key area to focus on would be improving the internal linking structure of the site. By organising content in a way that makes it easy for both users and search engines to find related pages, businesses can increase the chances of their product pages appearing in these new carousels.
Looking for help on how to navigate Google updates and ensure that your website continues to perform? Reach out to the friendly team at Engage Web today.
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