Search results replace domain name with site name.
Google is making sweeping changes to its search rankings on mobile devices next week, but the search giant just introduced another pretty big change.
Starting yesterday, Google began replacing the URL in search results with the site’s name and breadcrumb. The site-name-instead-of-domain is rolling out in the U.S. only for now. Breadcrumbs are rolling out worldwide.
Here’s an example:
In this example, domaining.com has been replaced by “Domaining” and DomainSherpa.com has been replaced with “DomainSherpa”. I’ve noticed that Google hasn’t picked up the site name, or sees the site name as a full domain, on some sites (see DomainIncite.com).
This move devalues domain names and puts more emphasis on whatever someone wants to call their site. I hope that Google has a good way to prevent people from spoofing names; I ultimately put a lot of trust in a search result based on the specific domain name it’s pointing to.
Yeah, I don’t like that. Not just because of the impact on domains but i like to know I am actually on the right site and not some dupe who named their site the same. How many sites all have the same name anyways? Tons I’d imagine.
Yeah, I don’t mind breadcrumbs instead of the full URL, but at least show me the second level and top level domain.
Oh god, can you imagine trying to find a good, local bank (like when you move to a new state or country)? Type in a bank you saw on your drive into town and you’ll have a hard time knowing if you’re about to go to the bank’s proper site or a phishing site…
Maybe it’s just me but I’m finding the “mobile friendly” experience on the web less and less friendly. I would say 80% of the time I am on a mobile friendly website it doesnt work right to the point that it prevents me from using it. I agree there is nothing wrong with the idea of a better mobile experience (though frankly I was happy with viewing desktop sites on my iPhone, I thought it worked fine) but we are still quite a ways off from that good mobile experience. Eliminating the trust factor in search results doesnt strike me as an improvment either. Good news is there is a browser app (and probably others) called Atomic Web Browser you can get for your phone and you can have it pretend your phone is a desktop so you can still get the properly functioning web.
*sigh*
That is against the rules of intellectual property. Where is WIPO?
They are helping commercial confusion and this is absolutely against the law.
Next time I will be forced to sue one of those fraudsters that are trying to steal my domains, I know who I have to sue too. Welcome Google guys.
Until now they stayed behind the scene, with this transparent move against the law they became TRASPARENT FRAUDSTERS.
WELCOME FRAUDSTERS. YOU KNOW YOU ARE FRAUDSTERS IF YOU HELP COMMERCIAL CONFUSION, MISAPPROPRIATION OF NAMES, ECC.
THIS WAS A VERY BAD MOVE GOOGLE GUYS.
Fraud just got easier.
I,m thinking this is just for organic search. The mobile calls or pay per call ads would show the website name. This is what I assume.
The reason is why would they want you to click an organic add that makes them no money. If your not in the top 3 or 4 for paid mobile ads then your not getting traffic to your site.
I don’t you will have to worry about people looking for DNW or domain name investing to get your site as the users intent is to find your site and not someone else’s. If they really want to bid on those keywords they will waste money because it comes down to users intent.
DonnyM
Brands will step back from UDRPs, they will sue Google instead.
Good move Google !
The domain and the extension used, gives users a trust factor that is often wanted prior to visiting a site.
It’s well noted that most have a bias swaying towards higher quality domain names that match our search. Microsoft’s study comes to mind:
http://research.microsoft.com/pubs/155941/domainbias.pdf
Lack of trust in the search results you are clicking on translates to a lack of trust in Google overall.
Time to drop new gTLDs Vs. .Com sillyness thread.. time to focus on a different front … it is “sweeping” news indeed, im afraid.
All reads a bit doom & gloom before knowing the technical detail. I will wait for the consultant to visit patient with the prognosis first. History repeating itself, nothing more or less, cats all pee in the same corner !!
if you have a generic domain it will show up in the results emd. in a mobile friendly world there are many problems screen size, downloading time through the satellite, etc.
this sets the stage for the .app 25 million dollar acqusition to take root. as I stated for the last 10 yrs google is a problem. I never use any other their products the drop down menu, chrome, android, nest , paid search, gmail for free I will not use i.
I think this will lead to fraud as well. It begs for people to abuse the system. Personally I also prefer to see the domain name in my search results. If I am googling a product, I want to know I am going to the real HomeDepot.com, not to someone that says “Home Depot” in their breadcrumbs! I predict this change will be reverted before too long. The domain gives a listing definitive trust that can’t be abused by SEO firms. And it gives Bing a huge advantage when it comes to mobile.
How else do they justify manipulating search results? The EU is already breathing down their backs.
After all they have a huge stake in newgtlds, this sets the stage for them to negate the lack of trust people have in unknown extensions.
Time for someone to take on Google Search and do it better.
When I get in a car to go somewhere, or pick up the phone to call someone, it’s important to me to not know where I am going or who I am dialing. Yup, I just don’t want to know and can’t imagine how anyone else would, either.
This is sick, disgusting.
I was just joining the folks unhappy about it earlier over at DomainIncite….com.
This is so bad ASIDE FROM any interest any of us has in domains that something has to be done. I would feel this way IF I HAD NEVER REGISTERED OR BOUGHT A SINGLE DOMAIN IN MY LIFE.
P.S. And as I said over at DomainCite.com, it’s not for nothing that I never use Chrome and probably never will.
Google just gave Bing something to nail them with if they know what they are doing. The possibilities in harm to users are endless. It’s scary.
Google is trying too hard to outsmart themselves. Can you say, Disruptors’ chance?