Hurricane Florence query shows Google delivering zero search results again in web search

After testing zero-search results back in March, Google may be testing showing no results again.

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Back in March, Google conducted a limited test where they didn’t display search results in the web search results and instead only showed answers around time, calculations and conversions. Google quickly ended the test after only a few weeks of testing.

But Google may be testing this again, according to Valentin Pletzer who tracks various Google tests in the search results. He shared this screenshot on Twitter:

Google Zero Result Back

Valentin shared the same version with search results as well:

Google Zero Result Other

When Google ended the test back in March, Google’s Danny Sullivan said, “We have enough data and feedback — which is appreciated — to conclude that the condensed view experiment should stop for now. The team will look at improving when and how it appears.”

We have emailed Google to learn more about them potentially testing zero search results again and will update this post when we hear back.

Postscript: Danny Sullivan from Google suspect this is some sort of bug or glitch and they are looking into this report:

https://twitter.com/dannysullivan/status/1039926506514829314


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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