In a nutshell:
- Google has hidden the total number of results in search results—seemingly a cosmetic detail, but in practice a sign of Google’s changing strategy.
- We’ll show you what this move means for SEO strategies and what consequences it has for SME visibility.
Hey, everyone! Dennis here, your SEO wizard from Waterproof Web Wizard. Today I’ve got another huge SEO bombshell for you. Google has actually removed the number of search results from the results page. Crazy, right? Let’s check out what this means for us SEO geeks.
What the heck happened?
So, here’s the deal: Back in the day, you could see the total number of results for every Google search. It was really handy for getting a sense of how competitive a topic was. But now? Forget about it! Google just made the number disappear.
Okay, it hasn’t completely disappeared. If you click on “Tools,” you can still see it. But let’s be honest, who actually does that? It’s like your favorite bar only serving beer on request.
Why on earth is Google doing this?
Good question! Google’s been tinkering with this for a while. First they left it out of their AI search (Google Search Generative Experience), and now it’s completely gone. Why? Well, if I knew that, I’d probably be the next Google CEO.
But I have a theory: Google might want to prevent people from reading too much into that number. Do you know how many people have relied on it to check how “important” a topic is? As if the number of results says anything about quality. Spoiler: It doesn’t!
What does this mean for us SEO nerds?
Now it gets interesting, folks! This change really has a few implications for our SEO work:
- The site command is useless: A lot of people used the site command to see how many pages from a domain were indexed. It was never super accurate anyway, but now it’s completely useless.
- No quick glance at the competition: You used to be able to see at a glance how many pages there were on a given topic. Now you have to dig deeper to assess the competition.
- Fewer bullshit metrics: Okay, this is actually a good thing. Too many people have relied on this number as if it were the holy grail of SEO. Now we have to focus on the metrics that really matter.
- More focus on quality: Without that number, hopefully more people will check what’s actually in the search results instead of just looking at the quantity.
What now, man?
Don’t panic, friends! We at Waterproof Web Wizard have always said: SEO is more than just numbers. Here are a few tips on how you should proceed now:
- Focus on the user: Create content that actually benefits your readers. Google loves that stuff!
- Analyze the SERPs: Instead of just staring at a number, take a look at what’s actually in the search results. Who’s ranking? Why? That’s the real SEO stuff!
- Use better tools: There are awesome SEO tools out there that give you way more insights than just a simple ranking number. Invest in them!
- Build authority: Link building, branding, the whole shebang—that’s becoming even more important now. Be the voice in your niche that everyone wants to hear!
- Stay on top of things: SEO is constantly changing. What works today might be useless tomorrow. Stay up to date and adapt your strategy!
Bottom line: No reason to cry!
Guys, I’m telling you: This isn’t the end of the world. It’s an opportunity! A chance to get better, work smarter, and create truly awesome content. And let’s be honest, was that number ever really that important? Nope!
At Waterproof Web Wizard, we do SEO that rocks—with or without Google’s little number games. We focus on what really matters: your success online!
If you’re up for giving your SEO strategy a major overhaul, let’s chat. We’ll make your site so watertight that even Google will be amazed!
P.S.: And remember—in the world of SEO, the only constant is change. So stay flexible, stay curious, and above all: Have fun with it! ???