Google starts showing full page previews in search results

Definitely not a plugin. Other people are seeing it too so it’s not just me.

Very interesting.

Are you signed in?

And is the blue rollover shading on your part? or is it visible on rollover?

wierd – works in chrome, not FF or IE for me.

Whats this started? SEO to STO – Search Thumbnail Optimisation ;-)

Is it a “live” preview or cached ?

Simon the blue shading is when you hover over the search results. I’m not signed in.

Rob not sure if it’s live – stopped working for me now so I can’t check.

adding ‘&results=bing’ to the end of the domain doesn’t work either :(

@Hunter do you not think that by what you have just said, the best looking websites at a glance will then gain the clicks?

I’ve tested with a few browsers, signed in, signed out, Instant on, Instant off.. can’t get the same results but I’ll keep testing over the next few days.

One thing springs to mind if Google change the SERPs like this.. Adwords CTR would surely drop, which makes me wonder if it’s a serious addition.

Proves that the meaningful content is the key to successful search engine optimization. Definately a step in the right direction.

Hey Patrick – I also saw the non-indented multiple listing thing yesterday, and thought I was seeing things. I saw one site with 4 results on page one in a money long-tail phrase. Have not seen the previews yet, though. I’m over in Atlanta, BTW.

This is interesting but even I don’t see this when I tried Google… If it’s true..Its a great news..Hope it’s not a plugin… Can you try again on other browser as well?

Oh, you should have viewed and copied the source of the page. So we could have enough proof that Google is doing such stuff. Anyway, it’s a great thing. Google’s doing the best it can… not being too much icandy – simple and functional.

Looking at the image file example, if the sample content image blows out that wide, it will cannibalize the PPC area. However, using the “Page Previews” option with Google Chrome, the image stays within the organic boundary line.

Sounds and looks really promising but I cannot see it when in Google out here. Maybe Google just tested it for a small timeframe…and wanted to see people reaction or results…maybe some kind of testing or so

We were working in the same direction http://www.tweeshot.com google will take all the cake :)

I suspect Google will be seeing a large number of lawsuits. If a class action lawsuit is in the works let me know so I can get involved.

This is a TV oriented feature…for sure.
On my opinion, this will be implemented on Google Tv when you want to have a quick preview of a program / channel.
We would have to focus on why they are testing all these new features: mobile and Tv. PC will be just a Tv integration…and I think this is awesome…

Thanks Christian – I delete haters on here :)

Gary I don’t use a mac and since the preview thing has stopped working I assume it wasn’t a browser feature.

Not seeing this at all. Is it in US?

Definitley not on IE & FF.
Tried being logged in to see this but still no joy.

Bing did it, Bing did it!! that’s all I can say, Shame Google is coping someone else’s idea and only expanding on it, rather than coming up with something fab themselves

This is a controversial feature as can be seen from the comments. Personally I think it’s fantastic if it will ever come to life (again). It will certainly change the SEO focus from pure ‘text’ optimization to something more visually pleasing.

This makes it even more important for a web page to be easy to scan; easy to understand what the heck is being sold; content/design that can be understood in a SPLIT SECOND. After all, when the full page preview is displayed the

Patrick which browser are you using? Bing also done this but its limited that means a summary not the entire page as Google. Google best!

Is this a U.S. only test at the moment? I can’t see it in my local Google.

I am surprised that Google are (if they are) going to implement this. surly from a business perspective they are going to lose out all round. Their CTR on Google text ads will fall off and they will also lose out from the spammy sites created just for Adsense revenue, because people won’t visit them. If this does go live I don’t expect it to last when Google see if affecting turnover!!

Great post btw Patrick!

Google trailing in Bing’s wake again I see. Nice going Google ;-)

I’m seeing the previews here on Safari.

@Princess dress – great point. The preview obscures PPC ads on the right!

Google seem to be bringing out a series of changes to their results layouts recently, most notably the instant results as you search. Whilst this isn’t quite as revolutionary it still is a departure from the standard layout that we all know.

Small refinements such as this make a big difference to usability, of which Google is great at. The fact that multiple results are being shown for the same sites without indenting might make a small impact initially, and is an intriguing development as to why Google has chosen to take away this feature.

Yes very interesting i must say!

Too many comments to read, but is this feature coming back? I noticed it the other day too, but can’t seem to get it back now (quite liked it personally).

Can be blogengine greater than blogger in some way? Must be because it’s becoming more popluar lately.

yes this is a wonderful feature.. now can someone please tell me how to turn it off?

‘Un beau design’ indeed; looks like SEO will now include optimising for previews, such as huge page headings and an eye-catching design. And CTR will plummet!

Of course, I’m not sure people will actually use this feature, seeing as clicking on the link and seeing a full-size version takes just as long as squinting at the preview.

Anyone seeing difference caching speed for preview pictures? Specifically in the last week?

Excellent. Maybe web designers will start being appreciated once again instead of being left on the shelf in favour of ‘build your own’ sitebuilders etc.

Yes I agree with the above comment. Google was so strong because of its simple approach. Whether this will make things a bit too busy on the page is yet to be seen.

I’m not so sure about this. I agree with some of the comments that Google has been so great because of it’s simplicity, i wonder how much of an effect this has had on CTR for individual sites, assuming people use the preview that is.

Click the image below for a full size version This shows that they have the technology to know exactly where a piece of text is on every single web page The snippets highlighted are not always the same as the snippet in the search results You can click anywhere on the preview to take you directly to the site Click the image below for a full size version. This shows that they have the technology to know exactly where a piece of text is on every single web page. The snippets highlighted are not always the same as the snippet in the search results. You can click anywhere on the preview to take you directly to the site. This change follows a similar one they did in August Google to start showing more results from one particular site when users entered a brand related query. People will want to know how this affects them and what the best strategies are. Users will be able to get a glimpse of a site that is designed for them and not Google. This should hopefully even things out a bit. Definately a step in the right direction. Google had this over a year ago it just was not real time plus you could say bing stole it from addons. So we could have enough proof that Google is doing such stuff. It therefore seems as if there should be a button to allow users the opportunity to expand the results if desired or continue with the current results until they have honed in on something they might wantto see more of.com when logged in and using Chrome. Works on most searches at the moment. If a class action lawsuit is in the works let me know so I can get involved. Well timed as you tend to send them as I return from lunch making for some easy reading. Google must be testing it in limited data centers. Design of the site in the preview will have a direct effect on clickthrough. This is only taking the Idea from Bing and making it into something really interesting. I am sure webmasters will now have to look into a professional website design. surly from a business perspective they are going to lose out all round. The snippet of a website will incite a visitor to click on the listing in SERPs.com had this feature on their serp for several years. Google was so strong because of its simple approach. Whether this will make things a bit too busy on the page is yet to be seen. This change follows a similar one they did in August Google to start showing more results from one particular site when users entered a brand related query People will want to know how this affects them and what the best strategies are Users will be able to get a glimpse of a site that is designed for them and not Google This should hopefully even things out a bit Definately a step in the right direction Google had this over a year ago it just was not real time plus you could say bing stole it from addons So we could have enough proof that Google is doing such stuff It therefore seems as if there should be a button to allow users the opportunity to expand the results if desired or continue with the current results until they have honed in on something they might wantto see more ofcom when logged in and using Chrome Works on most searches at the moment If a class action lawsuit is in the works let me know so I can get involved Well timed as you tend to send them as I return from lunch making for some easy reading Google must be testing it in limited data centers Design of the site in the preview will have a direct effect on clickthrough This is only taking the Idea from Bing and making it into something really interesting I am sure webmasters will now have to look into a professional website design surly from a business perspective they are going to lose out all round The snippet of a website will incite a visitor to click on the listing in SERPscom had this feature on their serp for several years Google was so strong because of its simple approach Whether this will make things a bit too busy on the page is yet to be seen