Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites

SalahStudios · 11-10-2010, 10:55 AM

Is it a game changer? If a user can see that legendary Xfactor style template from a mile away, will they still click-through?

I don't think users will take long to adapt their searching habits to it and become much more selective with their click-thorough. The impact on micro-niche sites and traditional IM sales pages could be substantial.

Seems like the image preview just rolled out to the masses this week, I didn't notice it until this morning when checking my SERPS and all of a sudden I saw a full page preview image ala the Greasemonkey FireFox plugin...by accident. You don't even have to click on the magnifier just click anywhere on/around the description and it pops up, once active it happens on rollover for each result.

I was shocked at first and immediately started thinking of the implications...but being the talented designer that I am

this is actually good news for me. As a designer I really had to force myself not to spend too much time on the design aspect of my micros, now I have a good reason to. I'm still gonna keep my lovely high CTR layout structure above the fold but my logos, headers, mid-text graphics, and sidebars are going to get some of that special design love I usually reserve for custom client sites.

I think pretty sites are making a comeback, what do you guys think?

yukon · 11-10-2010, 11:13 AM

I keep all of my Adsense sites clean & simple.

I've never used an xfaxtor template, no offense they just look ugly.

I also never use the same theme for more than one site.

terryd · 11-10-2010, 12:18 PM

Those templates sure do look ugly and I actually like the preview feature. For people who can create and enticing looking site it's only going to benefit them hugely I'd imagine.

JoshuaG · 11-10-2010, 01:22 PM

I agree, the xfactor type sites will look ugly in the preview and that may lower traffic. This is a good reason for adsense publishers to have clean, inviting websites.

Rob141 · 11-10-2010, 04:23 PM

I doubt many people will use this preview. Nothing to worry about in my opinion.

WealthWithin · 11-11-2010, 01:35 AM

Good. This was bound to happen someday.

Sure they make more money. But everyone knows they're ugly and created for search engines.

Think long-term. Build quality sites.

torentash · 11-11-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukon

I keep all of my Adsense sites clean & simple.

I've never used an xfaxtor template, no offense they just look ugly.

I also never use the same theme for more than one site.

Yes, one template for one site. It's so easy to change templates than there is no excuse for using one template. And btw xfactor's template is not ugly at all. just add some shadings and amazon-like background, and the template could be beautiful. even if there isn't any graphics involved.

Tom Goodwin · 11-11-2010, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob141

I doubt many people will use this preview. Nothing to worry about in my opinion.

Only time will tell...but to be honest, I don't think the average Google searcher will ever use the previews.

paulgl · 11-11-2010, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Goodwin

Only time will tell...but to be honest, I don't think the average Google searcher will ever use the previews.

And if they do...what are they going to see? Not much! Tried one of my
pages and you can't make out squat. What is hilarious, is the adsense
ads are taken off. So your site has a much different layout anyway.

If people want an instant search, they are not going to click on any
magnifying glass first.

Looks like just some novelty added to the search. No big deal either way.

Paul

zombiewarrior · 11-11-2010, 11:32 AM

The key is long-term building... build beautiful (even if they're simple/one-page) sites and it won't matter if there's a preview or not, people will still go

yukon · 11-11-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torentash

Yes, one template for one site. It's so easy to change templates than there is no excuse for using one template. And btw xfactor's template is not ugly at all. just add some shadings and amazon-like background, and the template could be beautiful. even if there isn't any graphics involved.

Well the MFA template I've seen was butt ugly, lol.

Again, no offense here, that template just isn't my style.

bgmacaw · 11-11-2010, 03:47 PM

It goes back to what I've been saying for a while now, design your sites to look unique and like they'll answer the visitors' questions. It can be as simple as adding a custom header and such.

cma01 · 11-11-2010, 05:02 PM

It will be interesting to see if people use it and if it does affect click through rate.

Quote:

Well the MFA template I've seen was butt ugly, lol.

I agree. It is obnoxiously ugly.

I have one base layout for mine and then create custom graphics for each site and just change the CSS. I don't want to work on a site that I hate looking at.

calfred · 11-14-2010, 12:05 PM

My AdSense sites don't seem to be affected by Google preview. Up and up.

Don't see what's the big fuss about this preview feature.

My hunch is users are looking for information that they want.
By using the preview, they can get a rough idea whether the site really contains what they want (their search keyword) in a faster way.

11-10-2010, 10:55 AM	#1
SalahStudios www.SalahStudios.com Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 58 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites Is it a game changer? If a user can see that legendary Xfactor style template from a mile away, will they still click-through? I don't think users will take long to adapt their searching habits to it and become much more selective with their click-thorough. The impact on micro-niche sites and traditional IM sales pages could be substantial. Seems like the image preview just rolled out to the masses this week, I didn't notice it until this morning when checking my SERPS and all of a sudden I saw a full page preview image ala the Greasemonkey FireFox plugin...by accident. You don't even have to click on the magnifier just click anywhere on/around the description and it pops up, once active it happens on rollover for each result. I was shocked at first and immediately started thinking of the implications...but being the talented designer that I am this is actually good news for me. As a designer I really had to force myself not to spend too much time on the design aspect of my micros, now I have a good reason to. I'm still gonna keep my lovely high CTR layout structure above the fold but my logos, headers, mid-text graphics, and sidebars are going to get some of that special design love I usually reserve for custom client sites. I think pretty sites are making a comeback, what do you guys think?
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11-10-2010, 11:13 AM	#2
yukon SEO Strategist War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,532 Thanks: 355 Thanked 1,992 Times in 1,273 Posts	Re: Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites I keep all of my Adsense sites clean & simple. I've never used an xfaxtor template, no offense they just look ugly. I also never use the same theme for more than one site.
	- SEO Strategist -

11-10-2010, 12:18 PM	#3
terryd Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New Zealand. Posts: 1,242 Thanks: 99 Thanked 75 Times in 66 Posts	Re: Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites Those templates sure do look ugly and I actually like the preview feature. For people who can create and enticing looking site it's only going to benefit them hugely I'd imagine.

11-10-2010, 01:22 PM	#4
JoshuaG AdSense Realist War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 751 Thanks: 93 Thanked 99 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites I agree, the xfactor type sites will look ugly in the preview and that may lower traffic. This is a good reason for adsense publishers to have clean, inviting websites.
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11-10-2010, 04:23 PM	#5
Rob141 Active Warrior Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 70 Thanks: 56 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites I doubt many people will use this preview. Nothing to worry about in my opinion.

11-11-2010, 01:35 AM	#6
WealthWithin HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 311 Thanks: 94 Thanked 27 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites Good. This was bound to happen someday. Sure they make more money. But everyone knows they're ugly and created for search engines. Think long-term. Build quality sites.
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11-11-2010, 11:32 AM	#10
zombiewarrior Viral Marketing Master War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 36 Thanks: 7 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites The key is long-term building... build beautiful (even if they're simple/one-page) sites and it won't matter if there's a preview or not, people will still go

11-11-2010, 03:47 PM	#12
bgmacaw Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Atlanta GA Metro Area, USA. Posts: 3,643 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 309 Thanked 922 Times in 642 Posts Social Networking	Re: Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites It goes back to what I've been saying for a while now, design your sites to look unique and like they'll answer the visitors' questions. It can be as simple as adding a custom header and such.
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11-14-2010, 12:05 PM	#14
calfred Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Malaysia Posts: 501 Thanks: 295 Thanked 50 Times in 42 Posts Contact Info	Re: Google's Site Image Preview's Affect on Micro-Niche Sites My AdSense sites don't seem to be affected by Google preview. Up and up. Don't see what's the big fuss about this preview feature. My hunch is users are looking for information that they want. By using the preview, they can get a rough idea whether the site really contains what they want (their search keyword) in a faster way.