September's Google Search Feature Tests with Gagan Ghotra SEO Consultant.

September Google Search Feature Tests

Map Directions in Google Business Profile

For Google Business Profiles in Search Results – Google is testing adding direct link to map directions, it shows an arrow in a square and a little car with driving time to business location from the user’s current location.

Here is how it looks 👇

Local Pack Button (minor change)

Loading “People Also Ask” UI

“From your notifications” Google App

I wrote a more detailed article about this.

A new UI for playback buttons for Youtube videos overlay in Search Results

Google has been testing this since August.

Top Stories like UI for videos in Search Results

“More like this” for some shopping features in Search Results

Google now for some shopping features is testing showing the “More like this” button.

Once clicked it tries to load more and show “Similar products”

This test before me was spotted by Khushal Bherwani as well and he posted about it on X.

Minor changed in Local Pack in Desktop Search Results

“Promoted Products/results” and “Featured results” labels in Search Results for Ads

Google is testing new label for ads. With ‘sponsored’ it also says ‘Promoted results’ plus the ads with grey background in between.

And after ads at the top of search results it says “All results” then organic results start!

Here is how it looks like 👇

Here is another screenshot of how “Featured results” label looks in Search Results

This was covered by Search Engine Land as well, they quotes my tweets. Which I posted on 10th September 2024.

“Related Videos”

Google is now testing adding “Related videos” in the YouTube video overlay in Search Result.

Current vs test here 👇

Query bubbles below “Popular Products”

Google is now testing showing query bubbles below “Popular Products” carosuel – these show up when user start to swipe through the products.

I’ve also posted two screen recordings of this on X. You can check those – first one shows the test and second one shows it multiple search queries.

Youtube Shorts Overlay in Search Results

Google is now testing YouTube Shorts videos overlay in Search Results NOT occupying the whole screen on mobile.

This is being tested for both “Short videos” carousel in Search Results and “Short videos” tab as well – expand button in top right corner of YouTube Shorts shown in these search surfaces now expand the video to full screen but Google is testing it showing on almost 60% of screen.

Below it shows the “Related topics” which already show up for longer YouTube videos overlay in Search Results.

I think that it’s better to show the Shorts on the whole screen because that’s what the creator of those videos had in mind while actually making the video – assumption that users will be watching it as it’s occupying the whole mobile screen.

New Pins in Maps

Google is rolling out new UI for pins in Maps – this was first reported by 9to5Google.
Here is a comparison of current vs test UI of pins for Shopping locations.

And here is another one for service businesses like SEO Agencies.

And here is another new variation.

And here is how the new pins for “Iconic places” looks like. All these locations are Melbourne that’s where I’m based.

New UI for Favicon & Site Name in Search Results

Google is now testing out a new display for mobile search results, featuring a light grey background for the favicon and site name.
Here is how it looks like 👇