I was just going about my business, monkeying around in the local results. Then something caught my eye:
Given that Google just started testing green review stars, I could only draw 2 conclusions:
1. Google must think it’s St. Patrick’s Day, OR
2. I just stumbled across a crafty business owner.
Looks like it’s the latter. Here’s what I saw when I clicked on the green-bordered photo in the knowledge graph:
Kind of stands out in that local carousel, doesn’t it?
I finally check out the business’s Google Places page. Doesn’t even have a profile photo. Our lucky green photo was simply the first and only one uploaded under the “Photos” tab.
Yup, it’s just a photo with a border around it. Not a layout change or pay-to-play scheme that Google’s testing.
As I’ve written, I’m convinced that user-engagement factors – especially how many people click on your listing – affect your rankings. What if people search for one business by name and immediately search for another by name (which is what a click on a “People also search for” image does)?
If I’m Big Brother Google and I’m looking at who clicks where so that I can figure out which search results are relevant, I might give an edge to the 2nd business.
Should you go as far as a fat, lime-green border on your photo(s)? Probably not. Just consider dolling up your photos a little, so they look good in that “People also search for” section.
This is such an interesting find Phil… I wonder what this may lead to 😉
Thanks, Andy. I hope this doesn’t lead to much 🙂
How long before they put the kibosh on that?
Imagine a carousel where all the profile pics have bright annoying color borders on them. I’m sure the big G ain’t gonna take too kindly to that.
In the meantime, excuse me while I fire up Photoshop. GTG!
It’s a gray area. Could Google declare that photos can’t have borders? They could never enforce it, given their current toothless state.
I give them props for that move, if intentional!
As do I!
Nice find. I think its a low cost way to gain attention. I am sure that we will see more of it. 🙂
I just hope we don’t see too much more of it.
I think now that you have highlighted it, we absolutely will. It offers great short term advantages to the right customers and they are absolutely going to do it until the filters kick in.
Now I kind of wish I didn’t open Pandora’s box 🙂
It’s sad that Google’s more likely to crack down on certain photos than on bogus addresses, but what can you do.
Is it bad that I find this pure genius? lol
Yes, that’s terrible 🙂