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Google+ Author photos dropped

elbranch

Top Contributor
Thanks for the info.

I always thought the google profile photos made a link more clickable and did not like to see them competing against our listings even if they were a few spots lower.

I also thought it was a subtle way to pressure people/entities to create and maintain a google+ profile so they could have their profile pictures displayed with the listings (a bit difficult for a multi-person entity).

So the change is good news here.
 

Shane

Top Contributor
Seems like a stupid change. I was using it with a few of my sites. No idea if it really helped CTRs, but it couldn't have hurt.

Maybe too many people were abusing it?
 

findtim

Top Contributor
Seems like a stupid change. I was using it with a few of my sites. No idea if it really helped CTRs, but it couldn't have hurt.

Maybe too many people were abusing it?

no, google weren't making money from it.

tim
 

helloworld

Top Contributor
IMO Author pics did help with CTR. But yea, as others said, they're not making any $ from it.

They're basically forcing anyone with a Google account to use G+ anyway i.e. Youtube. I've seen a few people delete their accounts since that has ahappened interestingly.

I really wish Bing would lift their game. A good competitor is really needed.
 

James

Top Contributor
Google probably were loosing money from paid search CTR so they shifted away from using Author images, well that is my guess.

Google Author will still be used in a small way on Google News listings by the look of it for any one doing Google News work.
 

findtim

Top Contributor
Google probably were loosing money from paid search CTR so they shifted away from using Author images, well that is my guess.

Google Author will still be used in a small way on Google News listings by the look of it for any one doing Google News work.

:D YEH, don't won't those organic results actually WORKING !

G+ SUCKSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, i was trying the other day to do what use to be a simple thing..... setup GA and GWT for a new client, well it was just a mine field of redirects, sign ups, trying to find the link to do what i want.

funny that the word analytics starts with anal and thats not a word you won't search google images for :eek:

tim
 

Shane

Top Contributor
Google Author will still be used in a small way on Google News listings by the look of it for any one doing Google News work.

My search results still include my name and a link to my G+ profile. I wonder if that will stay or eventually disappear too...?
 

James

Top Contributor
My search results still include my name and a link to my G+ profile. I wonder if that will stay or eventually disappear too...?

If it affects paid search income for Google I would say yet. It is hard to know what will stay and what will go until more details are released by Google. Overall I think another big issue with Authorship which assisted with it been taken off was up-take by users only a small percentage of sites bothered to implement it.
 

petermeadit

Top Contributor
If it affects paid search income for Google I would say yet. It is hard to know what will stay and what will go until more details are released by Google. Overall I think another big issue with Authorship which assisted with it been taken off was up-take by users only a small percentage of sites bothered to implement it.

Google does a lot of A/B testing, you may notice things randomly change then change back sometimes? A profitable company will take these kinds of discussions even if unpopular.

Personalized results, location based results, maps, products, etc.
Ranking in Google SERPs does not mean what it used to mean.

G+ is an identity platform, not a social network. If you have a login on any Google product, then you have a G+ profile, you just might not know it.

Looks like Author names under the listings will stay, for now.
 

helloworld

Top Contributor
I have just noticed that Google plus pages appear to be ranking today. And the photo image is showing. Interesting...
 

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