Have you ever typed something into Google and had to scroll through page after page of results? Page 1, page 2, page 3, and so on. It used to take a long time to get Google to display 100 results on a single page, so that you did not have to press the button repeatedly to do this. That proved convenient to those who liked in-depth research.
In early 2024, however, Google made the change. The possibility to view 20, 30, or 100 results on a single page was eliminated. Instead, Google introduced the same scroll feature (as on phones) to desktop computers. And now, as you scroll, the results automatically load more results as you get to the bottom of the results.
This can be in the form of a minor alteration. Still, its effects are enormous on our ability to locate information, particularly for those who struggle to make their websites popular on Google. We can consider some statistics that demonstrate the size of Google:
- Over 8.5 billion searches daily: Google gets queries for over 8.5 billion questions each day. The Google change can instantly affect a large number of people.
- Mobile searches are more than 60 percent: More Searchers use phones than computers. This is one of the reasons for the change. On a phone, scrolling is a natural experience, and Google is seeking a universal one.
- 75 percent of users do not scroll past page-one: Under the old system, which used pages, three in every four people had their answer on the first page of search results. They hardly ever pressed the Next button to proceed to the next page. This demonstrates the significance of being at the first page.
Thus, by deleting the pages and putting in just a single long scrolling feed, Google removes 100 Results per page: How it Affects Your SEO Strategies. And here is what transpired, why Google did it, and the implications to everyone using the internet.
What went wrong with Google SERP changes?
Finding the change is the simplest way to go. The page on which Google presents you with all the links after a search, is referred to as SERP, Search Engine Results Page.
The Old Way (Before April 2024)
Suppose you want to learn how to bake a chocolate cake. You would receive around 10 results at Google. At the bottom you would see figures, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5… Next. This is called pagination. It is as narrow as reading a book; you read two pages and go to a next one. For more information, you can visit Google Search Settings.
You can display 20,30, 40, 50 or even 100 results on a single page. It would be a longer page, and you wouldn’t need to scroll down to view the additional results. This feature was appreciated by the researchers and professionals who study the results of search queries, known as SEOs, as it allowed them to view a large amount of data within a short period.
The New Way (After April 2024)
Google removes 100 Results per page: How it Affects Your SEO Strategies. You no longer ask it to display 100 results simultaneously. The desktop search was designed to resemble the mobile one at Google. On a search for how to bake a chocolate cake, the first 10 results are provided. When you reach the end of the page, you can see that there are no page numbers; instead, there is a little loading icon, and then the rest of the results are loading under the previous one. This is referred to as continuous scroll or endless scroll. The page is endless, similar to the one on Instagram or TikTok. You continue scrolling, and more content comes up. It isn’t really infinite. Typically, when you have gone through 6 or 7 pages of results (approximately 60-70 links), a “See more” button will appear.
In a nutshell, Google has replaced the old page-by-page system with smooth scroll. There is a blurred concept of page one and page two. It is all one long page now.
Why did Google implement this Change?
Google does not make such changes to have fun. The reasons for this were particular, and the goal was to create a better search experience for the user. We shall consider the three reasons.
1. A More User-Friendly Experience.
Consider the way you use applications on your phone. You are going through Facebook, Twitter, or a news outlet. You do not press the next page button to get more posts. Paging is intuitive, easy to use, and uninterrupted. Clicking feels like a stop. You have to locate the button, move your mouse to it, click it and wait a whole new page to open.
Google here would like the process of searching to be as easy and comfortable. On a continuous scroll, the information that you have discovered is not interrupted. You only need to keep scrolling through the page, and you will have more information should you require it. It keeps you searching and in the search flow. It is quicker and more sophisticated, taking away the bulky sensation of clicking on new pages.
2. Making Things Faster
This may appear counterintuitive. But how can loading more results be quicker? It is about how Google loads them, well.
In the old system, when you typed in your results as 100 per page, your computer was required to request the Google servers to have all 100 results at once. Then Google was required to construct all of them and deliver that mega piece of data to your browser. It was then required that your browser load and display all 100 of them. This may require a few additional seconds in some cases, particularly when your internet is not particularly quick.
3. Specialisation in Mobile Phones (Mobile Optimisation).
This is likely the most significant reason. As we mentioned above, most Google search is done on phones. And with a phone, continuous scrolling has been the norm all along. Why? On a small touchscreen, nothing is easier to do than scrolling with your thumb. It is hard and irritating to tap small pages with a number on the bottom of the screen.
For years, Google has been pursuing a mobile-first strategy. This implies that Google will have the mobile phone as the first user in mind and then convert it to a desktop computer. As continuous scroll was already performing very well on mobile, it was only logical to do the same with desktop.
The Importance of Such a Change to SEOs.
Then, who is going to care about this change but us ordinary users? Many individuals, and in particular those in the sphere of SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation. The work of SEO involves improving a website’s ranking in Google’s search results. To these professionals, the erasing of the pages and the beginning of the continuous scroll are huge changes.
1. Influence on the Visibility of Low-ranked pages.
Under the previous system, there was a massive disparity between being ranked as number 10 and 11. Position 10 is the lowest place in the holy grail: Page 1. The 11th position was at the top of Page 2, and it was a place where the majority of people never visited. There was a large psychological barrier between page 1 and page 2.
And that wall is gone, with a continuous scroll. The outcome at rank position number 11 is now only a scroll away when compared with position number 10. This is possibly an advantage to websites that would fall in the 11 to 20 ranking. They may be simply visible to more users since they do not require the user to press a Next button. They could simply scroll a little bit more.
2. Changes to Click-Through Rates (CTR)
Click-through Rate (CTR) is a straightforward concept. It is the proportion of individuals viewing your connection in the search results and tapping on it. An example is that when 100 people view your link and 10 of them are going to click on it, your CTR would be 10%.
This is certain to have an impact on CTRs. Here’s how:
- Best Results (1-5): This will probably remain the most popular. They are shown in the uppermost part of the screen, and the majority of people will find their answer there. Their CTR can even increase a bit, as there is no such obvious competition on page 2.
- Output (6-10): These may experience a slight increase in CTR. Why? It is now so simple that users can simply scroll past and access results that are at positions 11, 12, and 13. In the old days, a user could have been content with result number 8 due to the reason that he / she does not want to go to the next page in order to have to click.
- Results (11- 20): Old Page 2: This is where it becomes interesting. Their CTR may increase in these pages. They are now more exposed and accessible. They also may begin to receive a little more love on the part of the curious scrollers instead of a CTR of less than 1.
- Very Low Results (30 +): These will probably not change in reality. A person can hardly scroll down to page 3 or 4 before, and few will scroll down that much on an infinite page.
3. Bulk SERP Analysis and Monitoring Tools Problems.
This is a mammoth technical nightmare for the SEO experts. SEOs have special software tools that automatically look at the Google ranking of hundreds or thousands of keywords a day. To achieve this effectively, such tools would ask to provide the best 100 results for this keyword. They could retrieve all the information they required at a single request.
Now that is impossible. The tools are no longer able to request 100 results simultaneously. They should behave more like a human user. They will need to load the first 10 results, then scroll down to load the next 10, and so on. This renders the collection of ranking data extremely sluggish, complex, and costly to the organizations producing such instruments.
Also Read: Ahrefs Alternatives for SEO Success
Impact on Metrics and Analytics in SEO.
Google modifies the SERP, which in turn adjusts the figures that website owners and SEOs view on a daily basis. The reports and data to which they are dependent will begin to appear different.
1. Lower-ranking pages drop in terms of organic traffic and CTR.
The organic traffic refers to the people who access your website by clicking on a free search in Google. In case of the sites that once occupied the positions of page 2 or 3 (place 11-30), the future is unpredictable. We talked about how they will receive more impressions (views); however, will it be enough for more clicks?
It is feared that users will experience scroll fatigue. Having such a large number of results on a single interminable page makes each result seem less significant. Certainly, people may scroll through dozens of links without actually reading, just as you may scroll through dozens of posts on social media.
2. Restrictions on Keyword Tracking Tools.
This is a big one. SEOs keep track of the average position of keywords. As an illustration, a pizza store may be interested in how it comes out regarding the search query for the best pizza near me.
When the scroll is continuous, the definition of an average position is different. A position of 12 simply indicates that you are on page 2. It now means that you are right below the first set of results. This renders it highly challenging to compare pre-change and post-change data. Is a mean position of 15 better than it was last year? It’s hard to say.
3. Significance of Customizing Analytics and Reporting.
Due to these developments, SEOs must alter their methods of reporting their progress to their customers or superiors. The very fact that we had dropped in rankfrom 14 to 11 is not telling the whole story any longer.
They now have to concentrate on various measures. For example:
- Top 10 Rankings: The overall target is once more to make it to the top 10 or better, top 5. And there are the great majority of clicks.
- SERP Feature Ownership: Have we been brought into a people also ask box? Were we included in the results of our video? They are special features that are usually at the topmost and can generate a great amount of traffic.
- Clicks and Impressions: There is no need to focus on position; rather, it is more necessary to consider the real number of people who see your link (impressions) and those who click on it (clicks).
SEOs need to clarify to their clients that the search environment has evolved and a rank figure is no longer significant as before.
Impact on Content Strategy
This update by Google sends an extremely clear message to any person who produces content on a website: you must be the best. As the boundaries between pages dissolve, it is harder than ever before to be at the top in the fight.
1. Importance of High-Quality, High-Ranking Content
You should not expect to get page 2-3 clicks to get to your article. The endlessly scrolling will simply see individuals scrolling until they hit on what they are seeking. With only okay content, it would be lost in the feed of infinity.
This implies that your content must be:
- Very Helpful: It should provide a complete response to the inquiry of a user.
- Simple to Understand: Simple language, paragraphs, headings, and points.
- Reliable: Be able to demonstrate you are knowledgeable about the subject.
It sounds good to an extent that Google ranks it as one of the 10 best or better than the 5 best results.
2. SERP Feature Optimizing Strategies.
Not the only thing you can get is the blue links of a Google page. There are also special boxes. Placing your content in these makes you one of the few people who have a pass to the top of the page.
- Featured Snippets: It is the box at the top-most part that provides the quick answer. In order to win a snippet, you must be very clear in your question in your heading, and then provide the answer just below.
- People Also Ask (PAA): These are drop-down boxes containing related questions. By answering these questions in your content, you will be able to appear in these boxes and receive more traffic.
- Video and Image Carousels: Some topics, such as cooking or repairing something, can be ranked in the carousels of covering videos or images of high quality that are positioned on the first page of the results and are in the category of eye-catching carousels.
Now, content that is specifically created to win these SERP features should be included in your content strategy.
3. Long-Tail Keyword Targeting is required.
The thing that people will type in Google is known as a keyword. The keywords may be short word,s such as shoes. A long-tail keyword is a longer, more specific query, such as the one below: best waterproof hiking shoes with wide feet.
The ranking in the case of a general word, such as shoe,s is complicated. However, one will find it simpler to be ranked as the top result of a particular long-tail keyword. The ranking of the number one position in a long tail keyword is as valuable as ever with the new changes.
Implications on the Off-page ranking and link building.
Off-page SEO is all those things that you do outside of your own site to make it rank higher. This is important mainly in link building.
The practice of having other reputable websites link to your website is known as link building. In the opinion of Google, the link to another site is a vote of confidence. When there is a reputable site, such as a leading news organization, that links to your article, Google considers this to be a very powerful signal that your content is of high quality and can be trusted.
Alteration of SERP Analysis Tools and Techniques.
As noted earlier, the tools utilized by SEOs have been forced to change. However, it is not only the tools, methods of analysis of the SERP that have evolved.
SEO would previously examine the top 10 blue links on page 1 and study them. Now, it’s more complex. An SEO analyst is now required to investigate the SERP and present new questions:
- What is the number of advertisements at the top pushing the actual results to the bottom?
- Is there a Featured Snippet?
- Are there video results? Is it possible to produce a video and compete?
- What are the queries in the people also ask boxes
SEOs no longer have the option of thinking in list of 1 to 100. They have to think visually. They must examine the page appearance of the search results and seek opportunities to be different, be it by a traditional blue link, a video, an image, or a PAA box.
Post-Change Practical SEO Strategies.
It is like, so, what should you do with this change, in case you have a site? These are some of the practical steps to follow.
- Redoubling on Quality Content: This is the most significant requirement. Your content should be the most useful and comprehensive response to a searcher’s query. It is not enough to write an article, but to make the best resource on that subject.
- Aim for “Position Zero” (Featured Snippets): Be organised in a way that it can elicit snap responses. Prepare some headings that appear as questions, including things like how long does it take to bake a cake. Respond to all questions immediately under the title in brief and concise paragraphs. Google prefers their use in lists.
- Answer all the questions: Enter your keyword at Google, including the main keyword, and check the box of people also asking. Ensure that your article addresses each of those questions and uses them as subheadings.
- Mark structured data (Schema markup): This markup aids Google in interpreting your page in a better way. Instruct Google on it being a recipe, a product review or an event. That allows Google to display rich snippets, e.g. star ratings or cooking time, in its search results.
Concentrate on the speed of websites (Core Web Vitals).
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): What is the speed of the main content loading? Try to make it under 2.5 seconds.
- INP (Interaction to Next Paint): How fast does the page respond to a click? It should feel immediate.
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Does the page shift as it loads? The goal should be to have a very low CLS score that borders zero.
Think in screens, not pages. You want to appear on the first page of search and nobody scrolls. Take a glance at the first screen where you have the most crucial keywords and intend to reach it.
Google eliminated the 100 result page and used continuous scroll in desktop search. It is not a mere change in the look, but in the way the outcomes are presented and desktop searching behaves like mobile search, the primary mode of search nowadays.
Conclusion
To common users, this change is useful in enabling them to search more quickly and easily. It removes the frustration of scrolling through pages and makes it easy for them to locate their requirements.
It is a greater challenge to the website owners, writers and Google removes 100 Results per page: How it Affects Your SEO Strategies. The separation between the first page and the second one may no longer be evident, but it is more challenging to capture attention on the first screen. The traditional rules of SEO are also more significant. You should have great content, connect it with search capabilities and make your site quick and technically sound. Now that is a necessity to survive.
The scroll without an end will remain. Successful websites are those that provide people with a reason to stop scrolling down.
FAQs
Did Google get rid of page 2?
Yes, to the majority of usual searching processes on desktops, the old-fashioned page number system has disappeared. Findings are now loaded in the process of scrolling.
What was the reason behind this move by Google?
The reason Google has done this is to make search more approximate, quicker, fluid, and current. It also maintains a desktop-like mobile where the majority of the search occurs.
Does it become more difficult to be visible on Google?
Once you are not among the top 10-15 results, it is more difficult to come into the limelight. Due to the ability to scroll endlessly, the results with a lower rank might be lost. It is now more significant to be on the first screen.
What should I do most now to do SEO?
Produce quality content that is the best answer to a question by a user. That will assist you in being at the top.