Google’s “Search Plus Your World” Promo Returns

I was surprised to see a promotion for Google’s “Search Plus Your World” feature turn up in my search results today. I was even more surprised that even after I dismissed it, the promo returned at least twice more. It’s Not Your Imagination Apparently, I’m not the only one. I can see others on Twitter complaining about […]

Chat with SearchBot

I was surprised to see a promotion for Google’s “Search Plus Your World” feature turn up in my search results today. I was even more surprised that even after I dismissed it, the promo returned at least twice more.

It’s Not Your Imagination

Apparently, I’m not the only one. I can see others on Twitter complaining about it:

Twitter Search Plus Your WorldHere’s Andrew Chen:

When I google, the “Welcome to Search plus your World” shows up over and over. Can’t be dismissed. wtf

Jonathan Dugan:

Google, if you keep spamming me with “Welcome to Search plus Your World” every time I run a search, I’m going to stop using your service

Stryder Crown:

“Welcome to Search plus Your World” I get it, I get I get I GET IT I GET IT! NOW PLEASE GO AWAY!!! When did you become like this??

The Promos

When Search Plus Your World launched in January, Google showed these messages to help alert people about the new service. The promo then looked like this:

Search Plus Your World Notice

We’re now three months into the launch, but for some reason, Google’s apparently decided everyone need a reminder about it. At least two slightly different promos are now running. There’s this one that I initially saw and which Chen posted:

Welcome To Search Plus Your World

There’s also this, which I saw when doing further searches. I’ve also shown how it appeared just above my first search result:

Search Plus Your World Also

Dismissed, Yet It Returns

The promos all have a little X button to the right to dismiss them. That’s the surprising thing. I clicked on this when I saw the first promo. Then when I searched again, the second version appeared despite having been dismissed. Curious, I searched again, and the promo still appeared. But then after another search, it finally was gone.

My guess is that Google has decided to show the promotion to everyone signed-in to Google, perhaps even if they’ve dismissed it the first time, for a maximum of three views. I’m checking on this and will post more, if I hear back.

Postscript (11:00 PM ET): Google tells me this was a bug that’s now fixed. Once dismissed, the message shouldn’t return.


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


About the author

Danny Sullivan
Contributor
Danny Sullivan was a journalist and analyst who covered the digital and search marketing space from 1996 through 2017. He was also a cofounder of Third Door Media, which publishes Search Engine Land and MarTech, and produces the SMX: Search Marketing Expo and MarTech events. He retired from journalism and Third Door Media in June 2017. You can learn more about him on his personal site & blog He can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

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