Search result decoration
Today we came across an interesting example of how to decorate search results to maximise CTR. This example is perhaps a bit extreme but it shows great innovation and will no doubt have a big impact on the number of people who click on the link.
The use of the word “recommended” is particularly clever.
If you have any other examples please post them in the comments.
Post category: Search Engine Optimisation Tweet
Patrick Altoft is Director of Search at Branded3, a Leeds SEO & Digital Agency specialising in SEO, Web Design, Development & Social Media.
Comments
Read the 16 comments below, or add your own!
Wow. I think I would automatically AVOID that link on account of all the crap in the description.
Really clever and as you say probably a booster to CTR, but the meta description looks a bit dodgy in formating. No doubt it attracts the eye, but looks like an old school nfo file.
Nice and creative. Have you ever done any testing on CTR in organic results with stuff like this?
Did a post about them trying all sort of combinations. The best is the 8 ball!
http://www.aukseo.co.uk/a-guide-to-special-character-use-in-title-tags-1180/
I agree with Rebecca. Looks a bit too spammy.
/Mikael
For me too. It’s spammy. I wouldn’t click on this kind of SERP.
I think this will be seen spammy.
Spammy was the first thought that popped into my head too.
Which actually might not be a problem for certain types of site, but surely not a good idea if you need to appear professional!
I think that looks absolutely hideous.
Obviously nobody in the previous comments got it.
You don´t do SEO for you. Or marketing. Or conversion optimization.
You do it for the prospect.
And guess what?
It works
Cool idea, but spammy, not recommended.
I personally would be concerned something is fishy on the site (ie virus or malware). Probably would click on it for curiosity sake though to see how/what is going on.
Looks spammy indeed, not recomended, i would not even try to get on one of those websites.
I see that the first bit of “decoration” is just characters inserted int Title & meta description in source code.
I don’t want to do it, but I’m curious how to insert something other than the URL on the URL line in Google (where this site has those checkerboards and “Recommended”)?
Thanks.
I think it could work if done in a less subtle way. Of course it may all depend on who your target market are. If you’re looking to get kids or teenagers to click through to your site then this kind of decoration might work well.
I don’t think it’s suitable or relevant in the example above though.
Yes its quite eye-catchy, but is within the Google guidelines? I mean “Recommended”.
Also the snippet Google uses is mostly on Google so how can we use a description like that?