Google to Return More 'In-Depth' Search Results

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By Kurt Wagner2013-08-07 20:23:04 UTC

When it comes to search, Google wants to provide users with more than just quick hits. The tech giant announced on Wednesday that search results will now return more "in-depth" articles on topics that may not be be sufficiently explained in shorter posts or news stories.

Google explained in a blog post that 10% of all users' daily information requests require longer, in-depth analysis, which was its catalyst for the change. The new search feature is only available in English for now, but Google plans to expand into other languages in the future.

See also: 20 Searches Made Ridiculous by Google Autocomplete

"I'm happy to see people continue to invest in thoughtful in-depth content that will remain relevant for months or even years after publication," wrote Pandu Nayak, a member of Google's technical staff. "This is exactly what you'll find in the new feature."

In-depth articles will appear in their own clearly labeled block of results, according to the blog post. (However, when Mashable did an initial test on Wednesday, we had trouble finding such a block.) While the new in-depth search results will be filtered using Google's algorithm, authors can increase the chances for their stories to show up in search queries.

Simple article elements like a clear headline and inclusion of an image, article description and publishing date help identify content for in-depth searches. Authors who want their personal info to show up alongside their work must have a Google+ account with a photo, according to the blog.

Do you think this is a smart move for Google? Tell us in the comments.

Image: Damien Meyer/AFP/Getty Images

Topics: Dev & Design, search, Social Media