Google SERPs horizontal black bar question

7 replies
  • SEO
  • |
Question about the "horizontal black bar" that appears at the top of *some* Google results pages. (It doesn't help things that I don't know an exact name for this "bar"). While it might seem good to be in this group, at the top of a SERPs page, to me, this seems like a *bad* thing to get listed in. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a local thing, so you'll need to type in a city name to see it. I don't do a lot of local keyword work. I'm hoping someone who does local ("[city name] [term]", like "houston plumber"), and is familiar with this, will chime in with some info.

Here's an example. Type in "detroit movies" in Google (without the quotes). You'll see the horizontal black bar at the top of results.

Click on the first image, and, instead of going to a website, you'll be at a new SERP page of Google. Your Google search box will have changed to display a slightly different search string. So, right off the bat, I don't like that. It's similar to what some people say (and I agree with) about ranking a YouTube video in the normal SERPs - that's not so great because in that case you're sending the searcher off to YouTube where he can get sidetracked and never make it to your site. So that seems like strike one.

Another thing. When you do click on an image in the "bar," and you end up on a new search page, to me it's not exactly clear if the first listing is for that site that was pictured in the bar. I suppose it is, but it's not obvious. It really seems like a case of totally sidetracking the searcher.

And still one more thing. I clicked on each image, and went to what I think is the site corresponding to the image, and noted the URL of the site. I then went back to the original search results page, and as far as I can tell, if a site is listed in the "bar," it won't be listed on the first page of the search.

I have a client that I have ranked #1 for a search term. He's not listed in the "bar," but thought it might be good to be in there. However, if it's a "one or the other but not both" situation, then, no, I think it's far better to be the #1 position in the "real" results that take the searcher directly to the client's site.

And finally, one more thing. Sometimes that bar has so many results that there's a scroll arrow - your image doesn't even appear in the bar unless the searcher clicks on the arrow and scrolls the bar. How many searchers do that?

So, to sum up:

Have you put a client in the "bar"?
If so, does the client's site also appear on page 1, beneath the bar, in the normal SERP results?
Do you see any advantage that I don't see to getting a client in that bar?
#bar #black #google #horizontal #question #serps
  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    The black bar is called "Google Carousel".

    If you search tampa pizza the same website (eddieandsamspizza) is listed #1 on the carousel & organic SERPs.

    I don't see any advantage of having a carousel SERP listing other than the competition might be listed & the images will draw attention (CTR). Really all it's doing is delaying traffic from leaving the SERPs.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9544141].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author danparks
    Thanks for that info. Nice to know the name of it, and nice to see a catch of a case where a site is both in the Carousel and ranks high as well.

    And I still agree that getting listed in the Carousel isn't a big deal.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9547972].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author nik0
      Banned
      I see this instead:

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9549159].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author danparks
        Originally Posted by nik0 View Post

        I see this instead:
        Interesting. I suppose it's some localization thing. Depending on your "Location" setting in Google?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9549183].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author yukon
          Banned
          Originally Posted by danparks View Post

          Interesting. I suppose it's some localization thing. Depending on your "Location" setting in Google?


          I don't think nik0 is searching from the US.

          I did the same detroit movies search (US east coast) & get the Google carousel.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9549364].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author nik0
            Banned
            Originally Posted by yukon View Post

            I don't think nik0 is searching from the US.

            I did the same detroit movies search (US east coast) & get the Google carousel.
            True, though I've seen this carousel thing quite a few times from Thai IP, even when I search stuff in the US so bit odd I get this now. I've seen this non carousel new format recently a couple of times.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9549378].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author yukon
              Banned
              Originally Posted by nik0 View Post

              True, though I've seen this carousel thing quite a few times from Thai IP, even when I search stuff in the US so bit odd I get this now. I've seen this non carousel new format recently a couple of times.
              The screenshot you posted with the text list of local movies/theaters is what I would have seen about a year ago. Now I get a carousel with an image for each individual local movie/theater.
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9549381].message }}

Trending Topics