Strange Google SERP Layout: Anyone?
-
I haven't been able to repeat this, but I just saw a strange Google SERP layout. The screenshot is attached below. Has anyone else seen something like this?
I kind of rubbed my eyes and wondered 'if it was kicking in'.
-
My response was pretty delayed on this one. No, I don't sync my phone with anything. Granted, I have my email accounts connected - but I'm too paranoid to sync it my machines. Anything with that many certificates, out of the box, isn't getting that kind of access.
It's been months and it hasn't happened again. The Googles just probably crossed my internet tubes for a second.
-
That is strange, looks like a mobile result for sure. Best guess is you fooled google with a mobile emulator and they served a mobile results page too you.
the screenshot is also showing your location history, do you sync your chrome browser across your phone/table/desktop? I do this and sometimes run into a situation where my phone will pull a recent search I did on my desktop computer. Maybe your desktop chrome browser was pulling a recent search you did on your phone and displaying the mobile results..... regardless this looks to just be a random fluke.
-
I can't tether unless I pay my current cell provider more money.
I'm hoping this was a glitch. I don't want The Googles to Mobile All The Things.
I haven't been able to repeat it with user agent spoofing via dev console.
-
Did you leave tethering on by accident perhaps? I haven't seen that before when I've tethered, but you never know.
I do think we've at least determined that Google, for whatever reason, thinks you're mobile and that's why your SERP looks that way.
-
It was really strange. This was definitely on a desktop with Chrome browser. I thought the Googles had lost their collective mind for a moment.
I checked my user agent emulation, and it was set to spoof Nexus. Apparently I left it on for doing some light/quick/possibly-not-the-best device testing. Though I had never saw results like that on a desktop, even with the accidental spoof.
One thing is for sure, a collective 10-12 hours of sleep up to this point is probably not helping.
Edit: I just realized I'm charging my phone over USB, but I don't sync it.
-
I'm seeing the location is mentioned as from your phone (down at the very bottom).
-
Hello,
Not certain, but it looks like a mobile SERP. Looks identical to that on my phone. Maybe your browser just had a hiccup?
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Google inaccurate results: Common or error?
Hi all, While searching for our primary keyword, I can see 2 websites on second page results which are non-related to the keyword or industry but their company name is this keyword. Like if I want to rank and searching for "SEO", there are 2 websites which called "seo trucks" and "seo paints". I wonder how Google is ranking these websites for high competition keyword with 1 million searches per month. So the keyword in URL and this keyword mentioned across the website being their brand name taking over the other potential ranking factors like backlinks, relevant content, user clicks, etc..... Thanks
Algorithm Updates | | vtmoz0 -
404s in Google Search Console and javascript
The end of April, we made the switch from http to https and I was prepared for a surge in crawl errors while Google sorted out our site. However, I wasn't prepared for the surge in impossibly incorrect URLs and partial URLs that I've seen since then. I have learned that as Googlebot grows up, he'she's now attempting to read more javascript and will occasionally try to parse out and "read" a URL in a string of javascript code where no URL is actually present. So, I've "marked as fixed" hundreds of bits like /TRo39,
Algorithm Updates | | LizMicik
category/cig
etc., etc.... But they are also returning hundreds of otherwise correct URLs with a .html extension when our CMS system generates URLs with a .uts extension like this: https://www.thompsoncigar.com/thumbnail/CIGARS/90-RATED-CIGARS/FULL-CIGARS/9012/c/9007/pc/8335.html
when it should be:
https://www.thompsoncigar.com/thumbnail/CIGARS/90-RATED-CIGARS/FULL-CIGARS/9012/c/9007/pc/8335.uts Worst of all, when I look at them in GSC and check the "linked from" tab it shows they are linked from themselves, so I can't backtrack and find a common source of the error. Is anyone else experiencing this? Got any suggestions on how to stop it from happening in the future? Last month it was 50 URLs, this month 150, so I can't keep creating redirects and hoping it goes away. Thanks for any and all suggestions!
Liz Micik0 -
Google Mobile Algorithm update
Hi there, On April the 21st Google seems to going to update their Mobile algorithm. I have a few questions about this one. Our current mobile website is very mobile friendly. We block all mobile pages with a noindex, so the desktop pages have been indexed on mobile devices. We use a redirect from desktop page to mobile page when someone hits a result on a mobile device. My gut tells me this is not April 21st-proof so I'm thinking about an update to make this whole thing adaptive. By making the thing adaptive, our mobile pages will be indexed instead of the desktop pages. Two questions: Will Google treat the mobile page as a 100% different page than the desktop page? Or will it match those two because everything will tell Google those belong together. In other words: will the mobile page start with a zero authority and will pages lose good organic positions because of authority or not? Which ranking factor will be stronger after April 21st for mobile pages: page authority or mobile friendliness? In other words: is it worth ignoring the 21 April update because the authority of the desktop pages is more important than making every page super mobile friendly? Hope to get some good advice! Marcel
Algorithm Updates | | MarcelMoz0 -
How do I control the "link-tree" part of the SERP results?
Hey Mozanarians 🙂 Is there a way to change the pages that are shown on the "link tree"? (e.g. see bellow picture)
Algorithm Updates | | DanielBernhardt
Lets say that I dont want the "career" page to show on the "link tree" can I do that? Thanks and lots of love!
Daniel Bernhardt BLo9KSr.jpg0 -
Wrong Google pin locations
Did something happen recently that would affect pin locations on Google Maps? I've been updating Google Places pages, but not touching the address or pins - but I received a phone call from one of my locations that their pin location changed in the past month and now it is wrong. Meanwhile, another department recently had MomentFeed update the pins for accuracy. Thoughts?
Algorithm Updates | | SSFCU0 -
Has anyone experienced a dramatic decrease in Google rankings followed by a dramatic increase in the past few days?
I don't want to be one of those whiny people always asking about rankings, but for the first time in a while, I've seen some crazy fluctuations in Google rankings. I was wondering if anyone had any similar experiences lately.
Algorithm Updates | | innovationsimple0 -
Google Algorithm Update .. Author-rank finally kicking in ?
These few days I've been seeing great movement of my sites growing by 70-100% in traffic spikes. Some how I think this has something to do with AuthorRank maybe kicking in now as more of a factor in rankings? Anyone have an idea whats going on ?
Algorithm Updates | | NikolasNikolaou0 -
Could EMD (Exact Match Domain) have cause SERP drops?
Hi all, Another suggestion was given for our fall in SERPS. Recently Matt Cutts announced that EMDs would be hit by new algoritms. http://www.seroundtable.com/google-panda-20-15789.html Only our site with exacts matches... cours-telephone-anglais, curso-ingles-telefono, kurse-englisch-telefon, and corso-inglese-telefono were hit. Does anyone else have experience of this? Would a solution be to create new URLS and redirect? Or would a redirect carry the penalty over? Is there anyway to fix that sort of penalty? Many thanks for your help.
Algorithm Updates | | Quime0