When Did The Update Roll Out?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Google has been testing video carousels on desktop for a while now. Previously, they were only a mobile feature. As of June, 2018, the update has been fully implemented with the video carousel update.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Video carousels are appearing at the top of search result pages, showing users video before pretty much anything else (usually). Take a look:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The arrows on each side of the carousel allow users to toggle through video results for the search phrase. This format allows Google to show users eight or nine videos as they spin through the carousel as opposed to just three thumbnails.<\/p>\n Clearly, the coveted spots in the carousel are the top three because they show up right away. A user then has to click the right arrow button to get the carousel spinning and view the remaining videos in the lineup. Still, making it to any of the slots in the carousel has its advantages because it puts you at the top of SERPs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Just as mobile has transformed search, video has transformed search results, and the trend is continuing. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerburg has said that video will take up the majority of content on the web in the future. Thus, this Google algorithm update is simply the search giant\u2019s attempt to stay ahead of this movement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The video carousel algorithm update has its benefits for both users and for webmasters. For users, search results are more presumably more relevant. They can find what they\u2019re looking for faster and digest the information through an easy-to-understand video. Win, win.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For website owners, the advantage of getting inside the carousel is increased exposure at the very top (or close to the very top) of SERPs. What more could you ask for, right? Eh, maybe. This algorithm update is working for some sites and is backfiring on others. More about that next.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some e-commerce sites have experienced issues with this particular Google algorithm update. Since urls are removed from organic search results when they appear in the video carousel, some sites are losing clicks. Why? Because many users are scrolling right on past these video results to get to the organic results when shopping online. That may not have been Google\u2019s intended result with this update, but it\u2019s happening to some e-commerce sites.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Another problem with this algorithm update is that some sites are appearing in the carousel when they don\u2019t even have video content on their pages (or just have it as a complementary component of their normal content\u2014an aside, if you will). The problem here is pretty obvious\u2014these sites aren\u2019t trying to feature their video content (or lack thereof), but Google has now made that decision for them!<\/p>\n These issues have prompted many ecommerce sites to tell Google: \u201cStop the carousel; I wanna get off!\u201d and understandably so. Fortunately, there are some ways around getting stuck in the carousel. This includes techniques like disallowing crawling of the video file or setting an expiration date in the past for video sitemaps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Above, Google\u2019s webmaster trends analyst John Mueller explains how to get out of the video carousels results, despite this algorithm update.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One potential problem we\u2019ve identified with the Video Carousels Algorithm Update is that it removes selected video content from organic search results. This can be problematic for some sites since\u2014as we mentioned\u2014 some users seem to be scrolling right past the carousels. Maybe they think it\u2019s spam or just not as high-quality as organic search results. Who knows? <\/b>As users get accustomed to the look of the new SERPs, though, we suspect this issue will work itself out.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n Google still prioritizes user intent above all when showing search results. That means, if the search engine determines the user doesn\u2019t want to see video (at least not right away), then the video carousel won\u2019t appear. Here\u2019s an example:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In the above example, Google interpreted the user\u2019s search for \u201cgarlic\u201d as a request to purchase garlic online or simply learn about garlic generally, not watch a video demonstration as in the previous example when the user search for \u201chow to mince garlic.\u201d Makes sense, right? It\u2019s all about the search terms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Note: searches that begin with the phrase \u201chow to\u201d do seem to trigger more video carousel results. Still, other search terms can trigger these results as well.\u00a0 <\/span>When the update was first implemented, even people\u2019s names were prompting carousel results! Thankfully, Google\u2019s dialed it back a bit since.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With this new update, the carousel isn\u2019t always shown first when it is triggered, either. A featured snippet, knowledge card, or other type of search result may precede the video carousel if Google deems these types of results more relevant. See below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The search terms \u201cslime recipe\u201d (seen above)\u00a0 <\/span>will trigger a featured snippet with step-by-step directions and a \u201cPeople Also Ask\u201d box including related queries structured in the form of questions. Both of these results appear before <\/i>the video carousel results.<\/p>\n Google\u2019s not done with video\u2014not by a long shot. You can expect more and more of the search giant\u2019s algorithm updates to reflect its growing love for video content. Don\u2019t be scared\u2014be prepared. Updating your website with high-quality, relevant video content for your users to consume is never a bad idea, carousel or no carousel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What Is The Video Carousel Algorithm Update? The Video Carousels Algorithm Update replaces video thumbnails in desktop search results with video carousels. The update has nearly [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4781,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhere Do They Show?<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
Why Did Google Roll Out This Algorithm Update?<\/b><\/h2>\n
What Are the Benefits of the Video Carousel Algorithm Update?<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Problem With E-Commerce and the Video Carousels Update<\/b><\/h1>\n
Video Carousel Removes You From Organic SERPs<\/b><\/h2>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in the Video Carousel, But I Got No Video\u201d Glitch<\/b><\/h2>\n
How to Jump Off Google\u2019s Video Carousel<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n
The Video Carousels vs. Organic SERPs<\/b><\/h1>\n
Users Are Scrolling Past the Carousel<\/b><\/h2>\n
Not All Searches Trigger the Carousel<\/b><\/h2>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Video Carousels Aren\u2019t Always First<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Expect More Video Algorithm Updates in the Near Future<\/b><\/h2>\n