Google announced the removal of the sitelinks search box in November due to the declining feature use.
Key Takeaways
- Google is ready to remove the sitelinks search box due to decreased user engagement.
- This change will be implemented worldwide on Nov 21, 2024.
- No search engine (SEO) ranking and other sitelinks associated with a website will have effects.
- Websites do not need to remove any structured data related to the sitelinks search box
Source: Google
Google announced the end of the decade with the retirement of the sitelinks search box on November 21, 2024.
This feature came into life in 2014, intending to perform site-specific searches directly from the search results page by displaying a search box above a website’s sitelinks. Typically used when users searched for a company’s name, the sitelinks search box enhanced site navigation within Google Search.
It will be removed across all languages and regions, with no impact on search rankings or the display of regular sitelinks.
Users increasingly turn to alternative methods for site navigation or more advanced search functionalities, resulting in a decline in user engagement as the sitelinks search box no longer serves the same purpose it once did.
Google made it clear that declining usage made them take this decision with a statement,
“Over time, we’ve noticed that usage has dropped.”
Not just this, Google is also on the edge to simplify and streamline the user’s search experiences every day.
It is referred to as a visual change, as no search engine (SEO) ranking and other sitelinks associated with a website will have effects.
Google has clarified that websites do not need to remove any structured data related to the sitelinks search box, but the markup will no longer be used.
No more stress as unsupported structured data will not create problems in Search or generate errors in Search Console reports.
This move means that instead of relying entirely on the sitelinks search box feature, developers and organizations should consider other aspects of site navigation and SEO optimization.
To ensure the greatest possible user experiences in search results, Google advises webmasters to continue refining internal linking methods and creating content that is well-organized and easy to follow.
Google always updates its tools and features. With removing unnecessary features, Google is also launching new features. Recently, we witnessed Google launch a new feature of shared segments in GA4.
For more AI, cyber security, and digital marketing insights, visit Daily Digital Grind.
If you’re interested in contributing, check out our Write for Us page to submit your guest posts!