Google Confirms Testing Favicons In Search Results

Jan 26, 2009 at 2:58pm ET by Matt McGee

Over at Search Engine Roundtable, Barry posted this weekend about Google showing favicons in search results, and updated the post with confirmation from Google that it’s a test, not a bug.

I can’t get this to show on my computer right now, but here’s the screenshot Barry posted (via Brian Ussery):

The favicon only appears when you do a site: command search, and of course, only if Google has chosen you to see the test in action.

Google confirmed the test in a Google Groups Help discussion, where they’re also inviting users to share other ideas for changes to Google’s search results page. (I don’t think “Put my site at the top of each one” will be accepted.)

Matt McGee is the Search Engine Land Assignment Editor, and offers search marketing consulting and training to businesses of all sizes. He blogs at Small Business Search Marketing and HyperlocalBlogger.com.

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ONE COMMENT ON Google Confirms Testing Favicons In Search Results

falkon303, March 4th, 2009 at 10:29 am ET:

This is VERY odd considering people can sue for usage of favicons….. I’d love to hear more on the legalities of this. Perhaps they have permission from the sites they are showing?

Favicons can be the subject of law suit if used within a web browser’s inner page instead of only the browser exe itself…

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