Google Letting Official Representatives Of Knowledge Graph Boxes Suggest Changes In Search Results

Google has begun allowing who they know to be the “official representative” of the information within the Knowledge Graph box in the search results to make edits or suggest changes to the information there.

If you search for something that brings up a Knowledge Graph box that is associated with your Google account, be it your biography information or maybe a company you represent, then Google will show you a box that lets you make changes. The box says “Is this info up-to-date?” It adds “only you can see this” and then explains, “As an official representative, you can suggest a change.” Then you have a “learn more” link that takes you to this help article and a “Suggest A Change” link that lets you make edits on the search results page.

Here is a screen shot:

When you click “edit,” you get this screen:

Google explained in the help document:

If you officially represent a topic that has a Knowledge Graph card in Google search results, you can request changes to that card. To be recognized by Google as an “official representative,” you need to be signed in as an owner of the topic’s official website, YouTube channel, or Google+ page.

How does Google know if you are associated to this information and are able to make a change? To be acknowledged by Google as an official representative for a topic, you need to meet these requirements:

• The Knowledge Graph card includes the topic’s official website, YouTube channel or Google+ page.
• You’re an owner of the online presence (the topic’s official website, YouTube channel or Google+ page) that appears in the card. In some cases, if you’re an owner of a topic’s online presence, you might also be an official representative for related topics, such as a parent company and its subsidiaries.
• You’re signed in to Google with the account you use as the owner of the topic’s online presence.
• Your Web & App Activity is turned on.

This doesn’t let you edit your local Google My Business information directly inline; you still need to go to the Google My Business area for that. This is only for requesting a change to a Knowledge Graph card in the Google search results.

About The Author

Barry Schwartz

Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and 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 social media at @rustybrick, +BarrySchwartz and Facebook. For more background information on Barry, see his full bio and disclosures, click over here.