Last month, there were several sightings of Google testing “infinite scroll” in its main search results. If you’re not familiar with infinite scroll, it would all but eliminate the need to click through to page 2, 3, and beyond of the search engine results pages (SERPs). Instead, you could simply click a button at the bottom of the search results to “show more results”. Then via AJAX, Google would load additional sets of search results. Yes, that means we would all achieve page 1 rankings. Not exactly, but you get the point. :)
Note, Google Images already uses infinite scroll, and Yandex just rolled it out on yandex.ru last week. You can check out both properties to see how it works. You can also check out the YouTube video below to see one of Google’s tests in action.
Google Testing Infinite Scroll (Credit: Waebo):
Google has also been testing a locked search bar (the header), which makes sense. Google will still want users to be able to refine their searches, even when viewing additional sets of results via infinite scroll. By implementing a locked header, the search bar would remain at the top of the page as you scroll down. It’s similar to freezing a row in Excel. The search box would always be accessible.
The Potential Impact of Infinite Scroll
It’s widely known in Search that many people won’t click through to page 2 or beyond. This has been highlighted in various studies, and I also documented this when analyzing the long tail of SEO. Instead of clicking through to page 2, many users would scan the top listings on page 1 and then refine their queries if they didn’t find what they needed. This obviously made ranking on page 1 extremely important, but also made targeting the long tail extremely important (as you would want to rank for long tail keywords that followed searches for head and torso terms).
So, now that Google is testing infinite scroll, there are many questions about how this could impact organic search, paid search, local search, etc. Therefore, I spent some time taking a look at infinite scroll, with the goal of trying to determine its potential impact. Below, I’ll cover several ways that the Search results could be impacted by infinite scroll and what this means for companies trying to gain more exposure, clicks, and sales. Note, I did not cover every possible way that infinite scroll could affect the Search results. Instead, I focused on some core elements within each category of Search.
Multiple Number 1 Rankings
Prior to infinite scroll, if you didn’t rank on page 1, you would need to rely on users clicking through to page 2 and beyond to see your listings. With infinite scroll, users might be more apt to simply click a “show more results” button to reveal another set of listings on the same page. If that’s the case, then rankings 11, 21, 31, etc. will become more important real estate-wise. Sure, they won’t be as strong as a true #1 ranking, but the first listing in a new set of results will give that listing more exposure than it gets now.
In addition, this doesn’t just apply to rankings 21, 31, etc. The first few listings in each new set will increase in importance. We know via eye tracking studies that users tend to focus on the first few listings in the search results and then their focus fades as they scan down the listings. If you have content ranking high on page 2, those listings could very well gain more exposure when infinite scroll kicks in.
Standing Out Via Universal Search
When infinite scroll kicks in, users might be viewing many more listings per search session (versus just 10). For example, if someone clicks the “show more results” button twice after searching, they will see 30 listings. This leads me to think that Universal Search will become even more important than it is now. If you’re not familiar with the concept of Universal Search, it’s the blending of various types of content in the SERPs. For example, video, images, news, blog posts, shopping, etc.
An example of universal search in action (Shopping Results):
Universal Search can help you stand out, since it often includes image thumbnails, whether that’s a video thumbnail, news thumbnail, product thumbnail, etc. With infinite scroll, users might be scanning 30 or 40 listings to find what they need. If you make sure that you target various types of content with a strong content generation strategy, you can have a greater chance at showing up within the blended results. And that can very well lead to more exposure and click-through.
Rich Snippets Will Become Richer
Similar to what I explained about Universal Search, rich snippets could become more important too. If you’re not familiar with rich snippets, you should start researching the topic today. The core engines have come together to support schema.org markup , which can provide more information about content across the web. For example, you can use markup on your site for articles, events, ratings, reviews, people, etc. Rich snippets enhance listings in the SERPs, and each snippet can look different based on the data at hand.
When you break it down, the engines advocate using this additional markup, the snippets can help your listings stand out, and the markup is relatively easy to implement. Again, I recommend understanding how rich snippets work and then determine how your content can benefit from adding the necessary markup. You can see an example of a recipe rich snippet below.
An example of rich snippets in action (recipe):
(Stronger) Paid Search Inventory
Although Google already provides additional paid search ads when users click through to page 2 and beyond, we know that many people don’t take the effort to actually venture beyond page 1. Since Google generates ~97% of its revenue from paid search, ad inventory is very important. With infinite scroll, I believe users will be more apt to load additional sets of search listings. If this is the case, then AdWords inventory will increase, which can help both paid search advertisers and Google. In addition, I believe the “new” ad space will be stronger for advertisers. The increased ad inventory can help both advertisers gain more exposure and clicks, while also helping Google increase revenue. It’s a win-win.
Similar to what I explained about the organic listings, there will now be multiple top paid search rankings. If your paid search ads did not reach page 1 due to a lower Ad Rank, you now may have a greater shot at a top ranking (as users load additional results). We’ll have to see what the final implementation looks like for infinite scroll, but Yandex manipulates the page to jump the new set of listings to the top of the page. If that’s the case, the top paid search listings on load 2 and beyond will look very similar to what it looks like on page 1. And again, infinite scroll could increase the amount of time these ads show up, which can obviously impact impressions, clicks, and sales.
Paid Search Ad Formats and Ad Extensions
Both ad formats and ad extensions in SEM will become even more important when infinite scroll rolls out. If a user is viewing additional sets of paid search listings, then having your ads stand out is very important. I see this already with my own clients when they effectively use ad sitelinks, location extensions, product listing ads, product extensions, etc. If you aren’t familiar with the various ad formats and ad extensions available to AdWords advertisers, then now is a good time to research them. For example, by using the range of ad extensions, your ads gain more real estate and provide additional visuals that can help your ads stand out, gain more credibility, and enhance click-through. And those are all good things in SEM.
An example product listing ads (AdWords):
Local Search, More Places To Choose From
Similar to organic search, rankings #11, 21, 31, etc. will be additional #1 spots for local businesses. Obviously the first set will be more important, but 11 won’t be so bad either (if infinite scroll is used more than clicking to page 2). Place Search is critically important for local businesses. With infinite scroll, more places can be dynamically displayed, which can help even more local businesses gain much-needed exposure.
In addition, if set up and managed correctly, the combination of paid search and place search could be extremely powerful for local businesses. As I explained earlier with paid search, there will be more ad inventory as users load more results using infinite scroll. Ensuring you have a solid local paid search strategy will be extremely important. Also, I mentioned ad extensions earlier in the post. Location extensions and call extensions can be a local business owner’s best friend. They enable advertisers to provide address information and a clickable phone number right in the search results.
Social and Google+
If more people use infinite scroll to view additional listings, Google could possibly add more Google+ related information in the right sidebar (along with ads and/or universal search elements). For example, if a user loads additional sets of listings via infinite scroll, Google could decide to provide social recommendations in the right sidebar that drive users to Google+ (to either sign up or to interact with other users and organizations).
Also, and it’s something I mentioned in my post about Google+ Advertising opportunities, advertisers might be able to run Google+ ads that leverage both Search and Social information. As I explained in my post, Google will be the first company to close the loop between Search and Social. This can enable Google to drive more advertising revenue, while also helping Google+ grow (which of course can lead to more users, more ad inventory, more revenue, etc.)
Infinite Summary
We’ve seen the tests, we’ve seen it in action on Google Images, and now Yandex has rolled it out. In my opinion, infinite scroll is coming soon to a SERP near you. I hope my post explained the potential impact that infinite scroll could have on organic, paid, local, and social search. Let’s face it, if Google can enhance usability, increase ad inventory, gain more clicks for advertisers, while also increasing revenue and profitability, why wouldn’t it implement infinite scroll? Now the ball is in your court. I recommend reviewing your digital marketing efforts to make sure you’re ready for infinite scroll.
And by the way, now is probably a good time to visit page 2 and beyond before they are gone forever. Go ahead and click past page 1, take some screenshots, and then say your goodbyes. It won’t be long now…
GG
I think a good place to start when assessing the probable impact of infinite scrolling on search behavior would be studies done on infinite scrolling compared to pagination from a usability perspective, particularly in ecommerce environments (at least I’d certainly be interested in knowing which approach resulted in visitors viewing more products). The degree to which this could have a major impact on search visibility largely depends on how deep visitors are willing to go in each model. If 90% of users have bailed by result 40 in both models there’s probably not a significant advantage in being result 41 in infinite scrolling.
Some preliminary poking around on the subject has so far yielded more opinion than data, but I did encounter this interesting quote from Robert Scoble in 2006, when he was still with Microsoft:
http://scobleizer.com/2006/05/10/radio-userland-developer-joins-microsofts-livecom-team/
I like the infinite scroll on Live.com, by the way. One thing we learned from our research with users is that most people don’t click on the “next page” link. So, we got rid of it. We’re now finding that people who use Live.com look at more search results than they used to.
If this is true, it would be interesting to know why Bing doesn’t employ infinite scrolling. It could be that depth of search results was ultimately not determined to be a singularly important measure of user satisfaction when it comes to search results (or even if you were optimizing, as Google, for pages per visit – for example, an infinite scroll user might dig deeper than a paginated user, but altogether abandon searching sooner).
All of this to say that your analysis of the potential impact of infinite scrolling on search visibility is compelling, but in any given realm just how much of an impact that amounts to will depend on how deep people will go, and how differently Google displays “next page” infinite scroll results (your point on local is especially interesting, but pivots on whether more local verticals are introduced after each click on “more”).
I think that you’re right about rich snippets, but one thing that mitigates against infinite scroll, at least in the way Google has employed it on Google+ (and from what I can see of the search test). The left-hand filtering options rapidly disappear as you scroll down in both models, but reappear only in paginated results. For rich data results (such as you see now with recipes) this may prove to be something of a disadvantage.
Wait – eureka moment! Usability is irrelevant to Google in this endeavor: infinite scrolling is only being introduced to acculturate us to the world of Google+.
Thanks for your thorough comment Aaron. I appreciate it. I agree you with regarding depth of search session. Based on my own studies, I’ve overwhelmingly seen that users aren’t moving to page 2 (you can see that in my long tail study that I listed above). But, if Google can get more people to click the “show more results” button (even a little), then it can have a significant impact on revenue (AdWords-wise). It can also open up more opportunity for businesses (ranking in organic, paid, local, and social search).
You make a great point about the filtering options disappearing. I think they almost have to keep that (just like they will keep a locked header). I’m eager to see the final version that gets rolled out.
Regarding Google+, you might be right! We know Search has to be incorporated into Google+ at some point, so it would make sense to have one consistent look and feel.
GG
I have to admit, infinite scrolling seems so radical to me still that I can’t help but react against it, but it’s just that – a reaction. I think your point about the #11, #21, etc. spots is an excellent one. Right now, the gulf between ranking #10 and #11 is artificially huge, and it’s not really fair to the #11 spot. In some ways, scrolling results could actually level the playing field. I don’t expect it’ll impact the Top 3 that much, but as you get deeper, you could really see the numbers shift.
Great points Pete. I agree that the difference between #10 and 11 is huge (and shouldn’t be). Infinite scroll can definitely help with that. Also, while testing out yandex.ru, I got used to the functionality pretty quickly. If others react the same way, this can be huge for Google revenue-wise.
GG
I’m not sure how I feel about it. On one hand I like the idea. It will make searching farther down the listings much easier. But still being towards the top will matter. I don’t think this threatens SEO one bit.
You bring up the Google Ad model and how it will be affected. That’s what I think is behind this whole change.
I’m excited to see what comes of this. Google is definitely not stagnant.
Thanks for your comment Seth. I agree, enhanced usability can increase ad inventory, which can increase clicks, and revenue. I think infinite scroll is coming sooner than most people think. :)
GG
Sounds good to me. This will most likelihood lead to higher CTR for everyone. If you think about it, only showing 10 results out of a million is a waste of time really.
Good point, more listings can lead to more impressions, more clicks, more sales, and more revenue for Google. And I agree, there should be more than 10 listings that users see per search. Pete brought up a great point above about the difference between #10 and #11 in the SERPs.
GG
Glenn,
Awesome post, I do see this as one of the biggest curve balls being pitched by Google for a while. The big issue is that I see results between 7-12 may actually get skipped as users may potentially over scroll but it’s going to mess with AdWords accounts as I would assume that impressions would typically fall as you no longer have the Ads reloading when you click to the next page.
The other issue on the ever expanding number of AdWords extensions available is making it almost impossible to manage the whole process and analysis is getting to be a headache as you have to report and analyse Click to Call, Sitelinks, Products, Local, Display Network… differently…
Thanks for your comment David. Regarding AdWords, I have a serious feeling Google will be including ads when displaying additional results. I’d be shocked if they didn’t! If that’s the case, then advertisers might see more impressions, clicks, etc. But your point is a good one regarding some of the other listings getting overlooked. I guess we won’t know until it rolls out.
GG