Google Rolling Out New Site Hierarchies Display in Search
November 17, 2009
Google plans on making improvements to their search results that will replace some page URLs by showing the exact location of a sites web page within a hierarchy. Typically, page URL’s are known to be too long, too short, or too obscure. So, the goal & intent behind this change will be to help provide more valuable context and information about a page as quickly as possible to the searcher.
For example,
Old hierarchy:
The URL above does not provide any additional information that may be of value.
New hierarchy:
With the new URL hierarchy it will provide additional & useful information about the specific page by organizing and categorizing the different sections a site may have related to the topic. Also, each phrase in the green line will be an actual link, allowing a searcher to jump directly to the broader category/topic from the search results page.
Google will be analyzing a site’s “breadcrumbs” to best represent the website in the results, so it is important that each page is properly organized & structured within its own sites’ hierarchy.
*UPDATE 11/18/09 – Seems as if the New site hierarchies is beginning to take effect on our site.
Image courtesy of Tomek – finds new url hierarchy on lawfirms.com .
Source: http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/091117-153015
