Google has quietly eliminated embedded podcasts from search outcomes, which suggests customers will now not be capable of hearken to podcast episodes immediately from the SERPs.
This variation was first noticed by Podnews, who acquired affirmation from a Google spokesperson that the removing was intentional.
This variation will have an effect on the flexibility to hearken to particular person podcast episodes with out leaving Google, a function that was launched in 2019.
Google will nonetheless embody hyperlinks to podcast episodes in search outcomes, however customers can’t hearken to them immediately from the search web page.
As an alternative, customers will probably 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 offer a greater consumer expertise, in line 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 seemingly be met with some disappointment from searchers who routinely use the function.
However, this alteration might lead to extra people subscribing to podcasts as they may now not be capable of hearken to them by means of a fast search.
Google’s choice to take away embedded podcasts from search outcomes is likely to be half of a bigger technique to section out the Google Podcasts product.
The truth that the app hasn’t been up to date for over a 12 months signifies that it could be headed for the Google graveyard.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t suggest that Google is abandoning the podcast trade altogether.
In 2021, a report from Bloomberg revealed that YouTube sought to rent somebody to supervise its podcasting enterprise.
This means that Google is dedicated to enhancing the podcast expertise on YouTube, and the corporate might not need to compete towards itself in that space.
Per a 2022 research carried out by Edison Analysis, YouTube is the main platform for podcast listening, adopted intently by Spotify.
That stated, it is sensible why YouTube is the precedence for Google for podcasts.
It’s price noting that YouTube achieved this stage 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 seemingly shift its focus to YouTube. This might imply {that a} YouTube Podcasts app is on the horizon.
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