Google Showing Only Top 10 Results, No Page 2 - Bug or New Feature?

[maximillianos]

I'm seeing something strange with my Google searching right now.

I am only getting one page of results, and no links to view additional pages of SERPs.

Very strange. Anyone else seeing this?

[freejung]

< moved from another location >

Is anyone else seeing this, or is it just me? I'm seeing SERPs on google.com with no pagination links at the bottom - i.e. there is no way to get to page 2.

If I search from the toolbar, I still get pagination, but searching directly on google.com gives me related searches but no further pages.

I only see this in IE, using Firefox the pagination links are just there.

Please tell me this is just an error in my browser...

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 4:18 pm (utc) on Sep 28, 2010]

[Robert Charlton]

I only see this in IE, using Firefox the pagination links are just there.

Not seeing it in the San Francisco Bay Area on IE8 or FF. Maybe they're testing a new bug. ;)

PS: Also reported by Spencer this morning in the Google Updates thread... [webmasterworld.com...]

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 4:27 pm (utc) on Sep 28, 2010]

[freejung]

Setting aside the horrendous SEO implications for a moment, as a user I find this horribly annoying. I _want_ to see what's on page 2, dang it!

[Robert Charlton]

...as a user I find this horribly annoying

Obviously a new feature, then.

[freejung]

I submitted an error report. I expect most users will regard this as a bug - I'm so used to clicking on the GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGLE links at the bottom that it's virtually reflex - I actually clicked once in the empty space where they used to be before realizing that they weren't there.

[tristanperry]

I'm not seeing it (Google.co.uk). Out of interest, does this happen with head searches, long tails, or both?

[kurzo]

I too am seeing this - what is most interesting is the pagination has been replaced by another search box. I guess they are testing to see if users will further refine their results. Perhaps the typical behavior is:
1. Search
2. Look at page one and not be satisfied
3. Look at page 2, 3 - still not satisfied
4. Re-query

G is simply taking out step 3 because they have seen this millions (billions?) of times with the same result.

What is also interesting is the premium ad block at the end of the results

[indyank]

But it makes sense to not show results beyond page 5 or so as i doubt whether searchers do go that far...rather they will refine their query...but just showing 10 results is a bit too much...

What is also interesting is the premium ad block at the end of the results

hmm...every change or innovation has reasons beyond the obvious ones :)

[freejung]

Out of interest, does this happen with head searches, long tails, or both?

Checked that. For me it's everything.

[indyank]

..as a user I find this horribly annoying

Obviously a new feature, then.

I just can't control my laughter on this great comment...

[freejung]

the pagination has been replaced by another search box.

I don't have another search box, I have a box of ads and then a list of related searches links.

[freejung]

1. Search
2. Look at page one and not be satisfied
3. Look at page 2, 3 - still not satisfied

OK, I'll buy that, but frequently my behavior is:

1. Search
2. Look at page 1, and find several sites I want to check out.
3. Check out those sites, like them, and want to see more like them.
4. Go back to search tab, and look at page 2. Find more sites I like, and visit them.

Am I the only one who does this?

[achshar]

...as a user I find this horribly annoying

Obviously a new feature, then.

WOW i find this horribly true.. and amazingly hilarious..

i haven't seen this by my self yet but i believe this forum.. i read about Google instant, months before it's official launch, here.

I do agree about the idea that it would greatly affect user experience but i cannot stop thinking that i really dont know when i saw the second page last time.. but it might have been for checking out my own site..

[backdraft7]

Google has made a complete and utter mess out of their search engine and our businesses. The economic backlash of all this experimentation is going to cost global economies trillion of dollars in losses. Nobody I've talked with is benefiting from these willy-nilly changes.

[UserFriendly]

I moved to Bing recently because Google now uses redirects instead of direct links. This causes my security plugins to ask me every time whether I want to allow the redirect, and I got bored with the extra button clicks.

Why they're still messing with what used to be the best search engine, I don't know.

[Lorel]

I'm not seeing this new feature yet. Pacific NW.

[SEOMike]

Still not seeing it here thankfully. It's very presumptuous of Google to think that if THEY didn't rank something on the first page, then it just doesn't matter. Ugh. I could see them asking for further refinement after 50, but after 10? Come on.

When I search for technology that was produced in the 80s (old stereo equipment, cameras, CBs, etc) I often have a VERY hard time finding results in the top 20 because there just isn't any content for it online. The sites that discuss the hardware and how to repair it are very low PR, poor design, and often have weak content. Heck, a lot of the "content" on the sites are scanned PDFs of original wiring diagrams, service manuals, and owner's manuals. No amount of search refinements help those get to the top 10 results. If I can't get past the first page, I won't be able to get the info and these great items I find will never work again.

Have you tried telling Google how many results you want with "Advanced search"? Do they still offer that option?

[hannamyluv]

They are testing it. I have seen it once in awhile (like maybe 2X) for the past month or two.

And yes, when it happened to me, I found it annoying.

[MrHard]

No search box at the bottom of the page either, have to scroll up to do another search.

In addition, I have been getting pages with only 3-4 listings after doing a search. Have to keep re-hitting the search button. Looks like a google instant glitch.

I'm liking the google instant less and less. It's just to confusing when you have to click normally on every other site. Then when you do click out of habit it makes you feel dumb (the people at google think that is funny). It needs to be all or nothing.

Also, webmaster tools has been offline for almost 3 days now when accessed through the google account. You can still log in directly to tools.

The email support form link in analytics support is a broken link and has been for the past week.

[edited by: MrHard at 6:16 pm (utc) on Sep 28, 2010]

[maximillianos]

Still happening for me here in the US. Every search, long or short. I even logged out. Doesn't matter. I only get 10 results with no links to see any further serps.

If it is a feature, I don't like it. I already feel limited by it.

If they are going to only show one page, maybe they should show more than 10 results on the one page.

what is most interesting is the pagination has been replaced by another search box

Not for me. The bottom of the results just has an ad unit. No links for next pages, no search box.

[freejung]

Have you tried telling Google how many results you want with "Advanced search"? Do they still offer that option?

The setting is there, and I can use it with Advanced Search, but the preferences setting is not working for me, either logged in or logged out.

[freejung]

Interesting - now I have the second search box. This looks like a multivariate split test.

[Reno]

The economic backlash of all this experimentation is going to cost global economies trillion of dollars in losses.

I hope this is a bad dream, or unforeseen glitch, or the result of some engineer going haywire and no one catching it yet. That said, there is one company that will see unheard of profits if this is implemented ~ can you even imagine how the bidding on AdWords will go, as freaked-out webmasters scramble to get onto page 1 (since there will be no page 2). We're talking $$$ through the stratosphere going into GooglePlex, and out of our pockets. And if you're not on page 1 and cannot afford the new AdWords page 1 bid levels, then bend over and kiss your @$$ goodbye ~ you're gone gone gone.

......................

[freejung]

/agree with Reno, this would suck.

Fairly obvious SEO implications:

-Increased traffic for pos. 6-10 -- I have nowhere else to go, so I may as well click something that's still on the screen.

-Increased traffic for long tail -- I'm not seeing what I want and I can't go to page 2, so I'll try a longer query.

-Total devastation of what I think of as "deep searches," searches where the user may very well want to actually browse more than 10 sites matching the query. This will hurt my niche a lot, many of my higher-traffic terms generate traffic even on page 3 or 4. I personally have enough page 1 rankings to survive, this might even help due to my first point, but I'd hate to be a new webmaster in my niche if this goes live universally.

[radix]

And if you're not on page 1 and cannot afford the new AdWords page 1 bid levels, then bend over and kiss your @$$ goodbye ~ you're gone gone gone.

Gone gone gone will be GoogleBot, too, after seeing my robots.txt sending it back where it came from.

[backdraft7]

@Reno - bad dream? it's a nightmare! Many of us live off the web because our previous jobs have been displaced, eliminated or otherwise. The web was the last bastion of free enterprise, now Google seems hell bent on breaking a system that was working just fine. Since September first, I've taken a 60% or worse pay cut due to "bad traffic". I know Google and the web doesn't owe us anything, but all these sudden changes are going to have a profound effect on the economy. You'd think world governments would have a say in what Google does because they will also be adversely affected in the long run. I sure hope I'm wrong.

[blend27]

Just in time for the holiday shopping season..

heartless and greedy.

[MrHard]

And if you're not on page 1 and cannot afford the new AdWords page 1 bid levels, then bend over and kiss your @$$ goodbye ~ you're gone gone gone

Nobody click on second page ads anyhow, would it make any difference?

[p5gal5]

I agree with the theory that this is a test, not a glitch/bug...personally, I believe they are testing what people will "search for next" if their first search fails to satisfy their needs. Particularly with Google Instant making recommendations, understanding the endusers intent will be more important than ever.

Endusers can/will change their query (and not go past the first page), but I'm sure there are a reasonable amount that wade through results until they find a title/desc that fits their intended search.

Or they're just messing ("testing") before the holidays. :P