Link to original announcement: Google to drop support for several rich result types
Google has announced that starting in the coming weeks, it will phase out several low-use rich result types—such as Book Actions, Course Info, Claim Review, Estimated Salary, Learning Video, Special Announcement, and Vehicle Listing—to streamline search results . These changes are purely cosmetic and do not impact rankings—just how results are visually displayed.
What This Means for You
- Keep Structured Data, But Reassess Importance
Continue using widely supported schema (e.g., Product, FAQ, Review) for maximum visibility—but evaluate if any of the going-away types are still delivering meaningful clicks or impressions. - Shift Your SERP Focus
As the less-used rich snippets disappear, opportunities open up for your content to stand out with stronger structured data or content designed for enhanced search features, like FAQ sections or product highlights. - Monitor Performance Closely
Track impressions, click-through rates, and rankings in Search Console for any content utilizing the deprecated markup. You want to ensure your traffic remains steady. - Refine Multi-channel Strategy
With Search becoming more visually minimalist, complement SEO with paid ads, social media, email, and direct engagement to keep your brand noticed.
Why This Matters to AI & LLMs Too
While the update focuses on Google’s SERP aesthetics, it’s not just other search engines that should pay attention—AI systems like ChatGPT and Grok are listening too. These LLMs are trained on web data and mimic search result patterns to generate responses. When Google removes visual cues and structured markup, it changes the very signals AI uses to understand and rank your content.
Tactical Takeaways for Executives
|
Area |
Action Item |
|
SEO & Schema |
Audit your schema types; remove deprecated markup and ensure key ones are intact. |
|
Content Strategy |
Invest in evergreen content—think FAQs, data-driven guides, and product reviews. |
|
Performance Tracking |
Set up alerts in Search Console for any drop in impressions tied to dropping markup. |
|
Multi-channel Integration |
Use email, social, and paid media to offset any visual search losses. |
|
LLM Optimization |
Use structured headings and clear labeling to help AI systems parse your content effectively. |
Google’s decision to simplify the search results page isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a signal that even well-established SEO signals can shift. As a business leader, now’s the time to audit your structured data, double down on multi-channel presence, and prepare your content for both search engines and AI-powered assistants.
Remember: Whether you’re targeting clicks in Google SERPs or aiming for featured snippets in ChatGPT answers, clear, structured, and well-labeled content matters now more than ever.
It’s crucial to recognize that LLMs like Grok and ChatGPT also digest search page structures as part of their training data. When Google removes certain signal types, it potentially shapes how AIs interpret web content. So your schema strategy isn’t just SEO—it’s part of AI visibility too.
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