While Search Generative Experience (SGE) has been the most radical change in how Google Search works, the company doesn’t stop there. On November 15, 2023, Google announced three new features to make your experience more personalized than ever.
The first one is the “Follow” button integrated across searches, so you would see new topics and articles right in your Discover feed. This comes after Google integrated Discover into its homepage, making it more visually appealing and, well, useful.
“Tap the “Follow” button in search results, and you’ll automatically see articles and videos about marathon training on Discover, the homepage of the Google app,” said Cathy Edwards, Google’s Vice President and General Manager for Search.
From there, you can proceed to Search and find fresher content based on the topic/s you follow. Search will also notify you if new, “helpful, relevant and reliable information,” content goes up.
Previously only available on Google’s mobile app, Perspectives will also make its debut in the Desktop Search experience as Google pivots further into connecting you with “someone with firsthand experience.”
Now, as you search the web, you’ll also find an expert’s relevant information, such as:
- Social handles
- Follower count
- Content popularity
Google also claims that some of its previous algorithm updates were meant to prepare Google Search for this change. Here’s what Edwards said:
“As part of this work, we’ve also rolled out a series of ranking improvements to show more first-person perspectives in results, so it’s easier to find this content across Search.”
Perspectives on Desktop could be a boon for content creators and companies that already have a foothold in their industry, exhibiting E-E-A-T across their content.
(Read more: What is E-E-A-T and How Does It Impact SEO?)
The last announced feature is Notes, which can be found on Google’s Search Labs program, a hub for experimental features for the search engine:
“Notes gives people a helpful layer of human insights on each Search result, working hand in hand with existing content on the web and making it more useful,” Edwards said.
With Notes, users can share tips and advice on web content directly from Google search engine results pages (SERPs). That’s a great way of adding a social layer to an otherwise dull experience.
Read Google’s full announcement here.
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