Recently, Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst, John Mueller, announced the global discontinuation of authorship photos from the search results.
So, what exactly does this mean?
Up to this point, individuals who verified their authorship through Google+ often had their photo displayed next to their publications in the SERPs. But moving forward, this will no longer be the case. Instead, Google has opted to simply post the author’s name next to their work omitting their photograph completely.
Why doesn’t Google want to see your face?
While the decision to remove photos isn’t personal, Mueller explains that the search engine leader is looking to tidy up the visual design of their SERPs and provide a “better mobile experience and a more consistent design across devices”.
Does this mean Authorship is gone?
Even though your pretty and/or handsome face will no longer be displayed, Google authorship is still going strong and should continue to be utilized. After all, this feature allows you to be fully connected with your content and build upon Author Rank, a known part of the algorithm.
How Do I Setup Authorship?
If you have not yet configured your authorship account, all you will need is a Google+ profile and then you can make the connection by simply following the steps outlined on Google’s Authorship Sign up page. Click on the following to choose among the best seo link building services.
All in all, we are sad to see author photos fall by the wayside since they offered such a humanistic touch to the search results but we’re sure Google will wow us with another new feature, just like always!