Google SERPS - subcategories with site links in the description

[jennashton]

If you do a search for Apple on google, you will see the search results for Apple computer inc. with subcategories listed as well. How does Google which pages to display in the subcategory links? Is it via keyword density or just random links. This seems to only happens to large corporation searchs.

Apple Computer Inc.
Official site of Apple Computer, Inc.
www.apple.com/ - 29k - Cached - Similar pages

iPod+iTunes - [apple.com...]
The Apple Store (US) - [apple.com...]
QuickTime - [apple.com...]
Support - [apple.com...]

More results from www.apple.com »

[tedster]

Wow, there's a lot of interest in this topic today - so I chose this particular thread to go live as a representative of all those that were submitted (thanks to all.)

We have discussed the topic a good bit in recent times -- here are some earlier threads about the "extended description" listings:

Extended site description - what makes the extra sections happen? [webmasterworld.com]
Extended description at #1 -- now PLUS a #2 result [webmasterworld.com]

I have one client who is a not-for-profit and they are far from a "large corporation". But they still enjoy these extended descriptions that include what Matt Cutts has named "Site Links". What is significant in their case, I think, is a unique, one word name that matches their domain. So they are linked to very clearly by many, many backlinks and they are obviously the "authority" for that keyword.

Matt has also been clear that this kind of SERP listing is algorithmic -- the best thing a webmaster can do is build a top quality and authoritative website. Check out a search on "webmasterword" and you can see how this particuar algorithm is treating us here.

[idolw]

just wondering if it it is for sites using Sitemaps or for any site?

[tedster]

Google Sitemaps are definitely not part of the algorithm here -- any domain can be blessed if it matches up to all the criteria in the algorithm (which of course includes a hefty dose of "secret sauce").

[jennashton]

Could it be based on how many referred traffic were generated from Google clicks? They obviously track every click that was from Google and perhaps it's based on most clicked pages from Google. Just a wild guess here...