Google Answers Now Showing Blue Icons Linking To Publisher Sites Or More Google Answers

Google Answers now shows action links directing to publishers sites. This was done previous for easter eggs and Google's own content but now it works for third-party publishers.

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Google is now showing blue icons with hyperlinks to both third-party publishers, their own content and more quick answers within the Google Answer box in the search results.

Google began showing these blue icon based links in the Google Answers box back in November 2014 but only for queries that lead to Google’s help documentation. For example, a search for [adwords negative keywords] returns this answer with the blue arrow link and “show me how” anchor text:

google-answers-links-adwords

The link takes you into the AdWords console to use negative keywords.

But as of yesterday, Brent Nau noticed and posted on Twitter that they are now showing this for third-party sites. The example he gave was a search for [wordpress download], where the action link takes you to the WordPress home page:

google-answers-links-wordpress

I can replicate it for a search on [quickbooks install]:

google-answers-links-qb

But this also works for generating more queries, just like the roll a dice easter egg. You can trigger it for a search on [love quotes], as well:

google-answers-links-love-quotes

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We have reached out to Google to have them explain who qualifies for such action links, how does one get it to show on their site and if they are completely automated or controlled somehow.


About the author

Barry Schwartz
Staff
Barry Schwartz is a Contributing Editor to Search Engine Land and a member of the programming team for SMX events. He owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry can be followed on Twitter here.

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