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Google has quietly eliminated embedded podcasts from search outcomes, which suggests customers will not have the ability to take heed to podcast episodes straight from the SERPs.
This modification was first noticed by Podnews, who obtained affirmation from a Google spokesperson that the removing was intentional.
This modification will have an effect on the flexibility to take heed to particular person podcast episodes with out leaving Google, a function that was launched in 2019.
Google will nonetheless embrace hyperlinks to podcast episodes in search outcomes, however customers can not take heed to them straight from the search web page.
As a substitute, customers can 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 person expertise, in response to a Google spokesperson.
“We’re continually experimenting with methods to enhance the expertise for our customers,” the spokesperson says in an announcement to Podnews.
It’s unclear how this improves the person expertise apart from making a leaner SERP.
Though Google didn’t give any prior discover, eradicating embedded podcasts from search outcomes isn’t surprising because the 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.
Then again, this alteration might end in extra people subscribing to podcasts as they’ll not have the ability to take heed to them by a fast search.
Google’s resolution to take away embedded podcasts from search outcomes is perhaps 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 might be headed for the Google graveyard.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t suggest 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 smart why YouTube is the precedence for Google for podcasts.
It’s value noting that YouTube achieved this degree of recognition with out having a selected podcast class.
Earlier than August, YouTube didn’t have a selected 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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