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Google to Remove How-To Rich Results

Chris Grant (he/him)
Google homepage on the screen under a magnifying glass.

Paris, France - October 19, 2017 : Google.fr homepage on the screen under a magnifying glass. Google is world's most popular search engine

Google’s Decision to Remove How-To Rich Results: What It Means for Small Business SEO

In the ever-changing landscape of search engine optimization (SEO), Google’s recent announcement about the removal of How-To Rich Results has sent ripples across the digital marketing community. If you’re a small business owner relying on these rich results to drive traffic and engagement, you might be wondering what this change means for you. Let’s dive into the details and explore the possible implications.

The Change: A Brief Overview

Google has officially deprecated How-To Rich Results as of September 13, 2023. This feature, which relied on HowTo Schema structured data, allowed webpages to appear in a rich result format, enhancing their visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). However, Google has decided to simplify its SERPs, and as a result, this feature will no longer have any effect or benefit for publishers.

Why Did Google Make This Move?

Google’s primary reason for this change is to simplify its search results. While this may streamline the user experience, it also means that businesses will lose a valuable tool for standing out in SERPs.

Implications for Small Business SEO

  1. Reduced Visibility: Without the How-To Rich Results, your content may not stand out as much, potentially leading to decreased click-through rates.
  2. Need for New Strategies: Businesses will have to rethink their SEO strategies, focusing more on other aspects like meta descriptions, title tags, and quality content.
  3. Monitoring Metrics: Keep an eye on your performance metrics to understand how this change affects your website’s visibility and traffic.

What Can You Do?

  1. Optimize Existing Content: Revise your current How-To articles to make them more engaging and informative without relying on rich results.
  2. Focus on Quality: High-quality, relevant content will always be a key factor in SEO. Make sure your content provides value to the reader.
  3. Stay Updated: SEO is an ever-evolving field. Stay abreast of the latest changes and adapt your strategies accordingly.

Conclusion

While Google’s decision to remove How-To Rich Results may seem like a setback, it’s also an opportunity to revisit and refine your SEO strategies. By focusing on creating high-quality content and optimizing other elements of your web pages, you can still achieve excellent visibility and engagement.

Author’s Note

This blog post aims to provide a comprehensive yet accessible overview of Google’s recent changes and their impact on small business SEO. As always, staying updated and adapting to current trends is the key to digital marketing success.

Would you like to know more about how to adapt your SEO strategies considering these changes? Feel free to reach out to us for a consultation.

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