Google Removes Embedded Podcasts From Search Outcomes

Google has quietly eliminated embedded podcasts from search outcomes, which suggests customers will now not have the ability to take heed to podcast episodes immediately from the SERPs.

This transformation was first noticed by Podnews, who obtained affirmation from a Google spokesperson that the removing was intentional.

This transformation will have an effect on the power to take heed to particular person podcast episodes with out leaving Google, a characteristic that was launched in 2019.

Google will nonetheless embrace hyperlinks to podcast episodes in search outcomes, however customers can not take heed to them immediately from the search web page.

As a substitute, customers shall be directed to the web site the place the podcast is hosted.

The choice to take away embedded podcasts from search outcomes was made to supply a greater consumer expertise, in keeping with a Google spokesperson.

“We’re continually experimenting with methods to enhance the expertise for our customers,” the spokesperson says in a press release to Podnews.

It’s unclear how this improves the consumer expertise apart from making a leaner SERP.

Though Google didn’t give any prior discover, eradicating embedded podcasts from search outcomes isn’t sudden for the reason that Google Podcasts app hasn’t been up to date for 18 months.

The transfer will doubtless be met with some disappointment from searchers who routinely use the characteristic.

However, this alteration might lead to extra people subscribing to podcasts as they may now not have the ability to take heed to them by means of a fast search.

Google’s determination to take away embedded podcasts from search outcomes is perhaps half of a bigger technique to part out the Google Podcasts product.

The truth that the app hasn’t been up to date for over a 12 months signifies that it might be headed for the Google graveyard.

Nonetheless, this doesn’t indicate that Google is abandoning the podcast business altogether.

In 2021, a report from Bloomberg revealed that YouTube sought to rent somebody to supervise its podcasting enterprise.

This implies that Google is dedicated to enhancing the podcast expertise on YouTube, and the corporate could not need to compete in opposition to itself in that space.

Per a 2022 examine carried out by Edison Analysis, YouTube is the main platform for podcast listening, adopted carefully by Spotify.

That stated, it is sensible why YouTube is the precedence for Google for podcasts.

It’s price noting that YouTube achieved this degree of recognition with out having a particular podcast class.

Earlier than August, YouTube didn’t have a particular podcast class. Customers needed to seek for them manually.

If Google discontinues its Podcasts app, the corporate will doubtless shift its focus to YouTube. This might imply {that a} YouTube Podcasts app is on the horizon.

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