Google changes up to July 2024
Most people will not have noticed that Google has made a number of changes in recent months. For example, the design of the results page was changed and Google no longer shows ten results per page, but a list that you can scroll through. Another change concerns the logarithm with which Google determines which results it shows. This change was perhaps less noticeable, but certainly no less important. In addition, we saw the cache option disappear. Literally disappear; it is still there, but can no longer be clicked via the 3 dots at the end of the displayed result.
Reason for us to take a closer look at Google again and report on this. Not only the latest changes, but also other interesting facts will be discussed. We have recorded a video to show some of this on screen. (the video is in Dutch so switch on subtitles)
Disclaimer: Sometimes you have to realize that you are too early or perhaps too late with your update. At least that is the case now. As it turns out, Google has undone some of the changes we described this week. Whether this is a temporary promotion remains to be seen, which is why we have decided to post the original article and also the accompanying video. We will indicate what the change is or perhaps was.
The design
Let's just start with the first change: the appearance of the results window. Google still shows 10 results and at the bottom you can use a button to see the next 10 results. However, the overview of the number of pages has disappeared, as has the option to show more than 10 results per page. For example, users who had set 100 results per page as their preference unfortunately have to make do with less. The “Infinite Scroll” option has been replaced. You can find this in the settings. Several people also search for the total number of results. If you would like to see this number, click on "Tools" and the total number will be visible again at the top right. This change has been undone at the time of writing regarding scrolling. At the bottom of the Google results you will see the old-fashioned choice for pages instead of the “More results” button.
The logarithm for results
Over the years, Google has made many changes to the model with which they determine whether or not results should be shown to us. Years ago there was a real difference between searching in singular and plural. An operator was even available for searching for synonyms. But Google decided to take care of this for us; first in English, later also in other languages. Plural, singular, uppercase, lowercase and even synonyms, Google takes care of it for us. If a keyword does not lead to enough results, Google automatically excludes that keyword. If you do not want this, a button will still give you the choice to include such an excluded keyword. If you pay close attention, you will notice that Google places double quotes around that specific keyword. But what exactly do those double quotes do and what are the other options? We will come back to that later.
In addition to adjusting the model to get more results, the model was also changed to exclude certain results. Google calls this the so-called Spam Policies. Changes have been introduced as of 5 March 2024. The "Scaled Content Abuse" policy has been tightened, and there are two new policies, namely "Expired Domain Abuse" and "Site Reputation Abuse". For those who want to read more about the Spam Policies, click here. To see the full list of updates, click here.
But you may be thinking, what does all that have to do with me? Isn't it just nice if Google excludes unwanted results for me? That is often the case, but sometimes you really want to decide for yourself. To a certain extent that is possible. It is an option in Google that has existed for some time but may never have been properly understood or not properly used. Twelve years ago, Google introduced Verbatim Search. You can find this under the Google toolbar under “All results” and then Verbatim. If you work with the Dutch language setting, it will be listed under “All results” as Word for Word. Google will then no longer automatically apply the following options: automatic spelling correction, personalization, synonyms, similar terms, word forms and optional search terms.
If you followed the link to Verbatim search above and read the post you may have come across Google operator+. This no longer works. Keep in mind that the message you read was already 12 years old and a lot has changed. That is why we will delve deeper into the use of Google operators in the next blog.
Unfortunately, you cannot disable Spam Policies this way. What remains then is to use other search engines.
We are looking for the golden tip!
If, while reading this piece, you think "I have a solution for that within the Google search engine on the web", please let us know and email marketing@dataexpert.nl. The first 10 people who email a solution or tip will receive a nice DataExpert goodie sent. We will of course mention the golden tips in a subsequent blog.
It is also not always clear whether the exclusion of results is the result of the Spam Policies or whether there are other causes. We recently reported on LinkedIn about the use of the site operator and the fact that results were omitted. Google responded immediately by indicating that this was an error in their software and shortly afterwards the site operator worked again as usual. Or not? Keep an eye out for our next newsletter for updates….
Google Cache:
At the beginning of this year, Google's cache: operator disappeared. In the past you could access it via the downward-pointing arrow behind a search result and until recently this was possible via the 3 dots also at the end of the search result. We couldn't find anything about this on their blog page and update page, but you can read a little more about it via Google SearchLaison on Twitter.
The cache was originally intended as an alternative in the days of slow connections and pages that did not always load. Those days are over, says Google, so say goodbye to the cache: operator.
Fortunately, it is not completely gone yet, but Google has announced that this is ultimately the intention. Until then, you can still use the cache: operator. To do this, type cache:philips.com in the Google search bar.
Please note: the cache: operator is not suitable for viewing websites unseen. Cookies, scripts and images, for example, are still loaded via the original website. Google still has the option to opt for a Text-only version. Unfortunately, you can only do this if you have already loaded the Full version and then you are too late. But by manipulating the URL you can access the Text-only version directly. We will come back to this in a next blog.
Google and web results:
While we were writing this piece, Google made even more announcements. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated results in Google Search. In other words, let Google do the searching for you, as they say here. In the last episode of this blog we will delve deeper into Gemini, Google's AI model.
At the same time, Google announced the webfilter, a filter that allows you to omit these AI results. We would now like to conclude with this. If you ask Google the question: “how can you create a script?”, the first result will recently no longer be a link to a website where this information can be found, but AI-generated content. Google explains how to go about this in 5 steps and then gives you some suggestions in a heading called “More to ask”. If you prefer to see the old-fashioned results of websites that have been indexed, select the "Web" option under the "More" button. Google will then show the results of websites, basically as we were used to until now. Google is still changing here too. Sometimes you will see “More to ask”, sometimes you will see that Google starts with “News”. You will also find the "Web" option under the "More" button. We wait patiently to see what it will ultimately be, AI or News or perhaps like now, that it will continue to alternate.
In the video below, DataExpert senior trainer Frank Kolenbrander shows the above changes.
If this topic interests you and you would like to follow training to further develop your skills in the field of OSINT research, view our trainings here.
Keep an eye on the next newsletter for Part 2 of this blog series about developments at Google.