SEO8 Findings on Google’s 7-Result SERPs [Study]

8 Findings on Google’s 7-Result SERPs [Study]

In August, Google began showing three less results for certain searches. Was this due to branded searches? Or sitelinks? SEOMoz investigated Google’s search results, in an attempt to figure out why certain queries return only seven results.

sevenIn August, Google began showing seven search results, rather than 10, for certain queries. SEOMoz recently published a series of insights on Google’s new 7-result SERPs, gleaned from data collected since Google rolled out the new layout.

Among the more interesting conclusions:

  • 7-result SERPs can actually become 14-result SERPs when Google blends local search results (in a pack of 7) with organic search results (also in a pack of 7).
  • Rarely, images can comprise the first “result” which consume about as much vertical territory as four normal text-based results.
  • On average, about one-fifth of all tracked queries (10,000 keywords) by SEOMoz yield 7-result SERPs.
  • When the SERPs include a #1 listing with expanded sitelinks, it’s almost certain there will be 7 results on the first page.
  • About 80 percent of 7-result SERPs have a #1 listing with expanded sitelinks.
  • About 1 percent of tracked queries seem to “flip” back and forth on any given day from 7-result to 10-result SERPs, and there appears to be no solid way to predict why this happens.
  • It’s not known whether 7-result SERPs are simply 10-result SERPs with sitelinks added and results 8-10 removed. Testing this theory has been difficult and appears to be affected by domain diversity (i.e., the number of different domains occupying the SERPs).
  • It’s not known exactly what triggers a 7-result SERP. The ideas of brands, entities, and domain authority were tested and the evidence was inconclusive.

As 7-result SERPs continue to evolve, it will be interesting to learn what triggers them and what role they play in SEO. It seems clear that 7-result SERPs are especially good for the #1 position, considering that about 80 percent of them contain expanded sitelinks.

But will it soon be possible to have some sort of control over whether certain queries trigger 7-result SERPs? Will SEO professionals learn how to improve the likelihood of getting expanded sitelinks?

You can read Dr. Peter Meyers’ analysis on SEOmoz.

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