Starting November 21, 2024, Google will remove its sitelinks search box—a feature introduced over a decade ago to allow users to search within websites directly from Google’s search results page. With dwindling usage over the years, Google plans to simplify the user experience by phasing out this feature while maintaining the display of the rest of the site links. This update will apply globally and doesn’t impact website rankings, but it does bring changes for those using structured data and Search Console features.
What’s Changing?
In its official announcement, Google highlighted that removing the sitelinks search box is part of streamlining search result visuals. Key points include:
- Global Rollout: The change affects all languages and countries.
- Rankings Unaffected: Removal won’t impact page rankings.
- Structured Data Guidance: While you can remove sitelinks search box markup, unsupported data will not create errors.
Why Google Is Making This Change
Google has observed a steady drop in the use of the site links search box, suggesting users rely more on other search functionalities. By retiring this feature, Google aims to create a cleaner search experience, minimizing elements that add visual complexity without delivering strong user engagement.
What Site Owners Should Know
- Removal of Structured Data: Removing site links’ search box data is optional and will not cause issues in the Google Search Console.
- Impact on Rich Results Report: Google will stop highlighting sitelinks in the search box markup in the Rich Results Test.
- No Errors in Search Console: Unsupported structured data will not generate errors or warnings.
What Does This Mean for Your SEO Strategy?
SEO professionals don’t need to adjust rankings-based strategies. However, removing the sitelinks search box markup may be beneficial for those looking to declutter their sites. Google assures that this change will not impact other rich result features or the appearance of sitelinks within search results.
Conclusion
With this sitelinks search box phase-out, Google continues its mission to enhance and simplify the search experience. For webmasters and SEOs, it’s a reminder to keep up with changing features while focusing on creating valuable, user-centered content.