Google begins experimenting with featured snippets
in 2014, Google started answering complex questions at the top of its search results with detailed responses (or answers) taken from websites.
Does that sound like featured snippets? It should. Because it was.
We know from Google that featured snippets were introduced in January 2014. We don’t know the official date Google began testing it, but this was the day Search Engine Land first reported on the new search feature.
We didn’t yet know these answers were called “featured snippets,” but clearly that’s what we were seeing. All Google would say at the time was: “we’re always experimenting with different types of answers, but we don’t have more details to share at this point.”
Read our coverage of what was then an experimental feature: Google Search OneBox Answers Are Getting More Detailed
Also on this day
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2020: A look back at how Google had treated ads in search results, from blue shading to the latest version of today.
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2020: The changes included more search engine options and an introductory screen aimed at reducing bias.
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2019: This was a Google issue and would be resolved.
DuckDuckGo is growing fast but not enough to grab SEOs’ attention
2019: The search engine’s share was small but some of its metrics were better than Bing’s, according to a third-party analysis.
Google Updates The General Guidelines Section Of Their Webmaster Guidelines
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2016: You could check AdWords campaign performance, change bids and adjust budgets from your phone.
New US Presidential “Candidate Cards” Are A Disaster For Google’s Search Quality
2016: They added little value in return for Google giving up its valuable search results space.
Yahoo Redesigns Home Page & App To Deliver Consistent Experience With More Relevant News
2016: With its nearly infinite news stream, Yahoo users no longer needed to open news articles in multiple browser tabs.
Google Now Supports Crawling & Indexing Locale-Adaptive Web Pages
2015: Google added support for webpages that dynamically changed their content based on IP origin or language settings.
Bing Maps Shows Super Bowl Spirit With New Venue Map, Streetside & Hi-Res Venue Imagery
2015: The updates involved new satellite and ground-level imagery, and a detailed seat map of the stadium itself.
Google’s Matt Cutts Explains That Older Sites Won’t Always Keep Their Current Rankings
2014: Cutts answers the question, “How can an older site maintain its ranking over time?”
Google Issues Subtle Warning To Affiliates That Have “Thin-Content”
2014: The warning was mostly directed at affiliate sites in the “adult” industry.
Moz 2014 Industry Survey Results: Google Webmaster Tools Ranked Top SEO Tool
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The Search Agency: CPC Increases Across The Board, Weaker Bing Ads Spend In Q4 2013
2014: The report showed paid search spend rose 37.4% year-over-year.
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2014: “It’s not hard to imagine that machine learning and AI would have broad application across Google, from search and mobile … to advertising, robots, autonomous cars, security and the connected home.”
5 Tactics Super Bowl Advertisers Are Using To Boost Their Paid Search Campaigns
2014: Five trends from the Super Bowl advertiser ads that ran on Google and the Yahoo Bing Network.
Google Details How It Responds To Government Requests For User & Search Data
2013: Governments routinely ask search engines like Google for access to user data for various reasons. Google said they take each request incredibly seriously.
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Bing Travel Now Offers Destination Comparison Tool
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Google Updates Google Book Search After Apple iPad Launch
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New “Addressless” Search Feature On Google Maps
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Google Experimental Search Adds Info View & Map View
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Google A “Mystery Buyer” In Colorado?
2008: “It’s like dealing with the CIA.”
Today Is “Data Privacy Day;” Bush Admin Launches Internet Monitoring Initiative
2008: Google added a new video to its existing series of privacy videos, plus it developed a privacy booklet (PDF) to educate consumers and parents about online data privacy.
New UK-Based Real Estate Search Engine DotHomes Launches In US
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Google Lego Logo: Google Offers Lego 50th Birthday Wishes
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YouTube to Begin Revenue Sharing for Video Providers
2007: This would give original video creators the ability to earn revenue each time their videos were watched on YouTube.
Past contributions from Search Engine Land’s Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
These columns are a snapshot in time and have not been updated since publishing, unless noted. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.
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About the author
Danny Goodwin is Managing Editor of Search Engine Land & SMX. In addition to writing daily about SEO, PPC, and more for Search Engine Land, Goodwin also manages Search Engine Land’s roster of subject-matter experts. He also helps program our conference series, SMX – Search Marketing Expo.
Prior to joining Search Engine Land, Goodwin was Executive Editor at Search Engine Journal, where he led editorial initiatives for the brand. He also was an editor at Search Engine Watch. He has spoken at many major search conferences and virtual events, and has been sourced for his expertise by a wide range of publications and podcasts.
