Once used as a means for content producers to add instant recognition to their articles and blog posts, Google Author photos are now being removed from search. Until recently, content writers who chose to verify their authorship through Google+ would have their photos displayed when a searcher queried their name or content. Now, Google is dropping author photos altogether in a move they’ve said is designed to clean-up the visual aspect of their search results. Despite the change, it’s important to note that the basics of Google authorship are not changing. Here are three factors that won’t be changing as a result of this new development:
1. Authorship Guidelines Remain in Place
Authorship will still a great way of bringing relevance and credibility to content as Google is not changing the basics of authorship qualification. To become authors, content producers must still go through the email verification process and add a link to their website through their Google+ profile contributor section.
2. Rankings will Not Change
Most authors will be concerned that a loss of picture verification might affect their rankings within Google search. But according to Google, content rankings will not change as a direct result of the removal of author photos.
3. Authors Names Still Appear in Search
Authors retain the same level of credibility within search when their name is attached to a piece. Despite the lack of a picture next to the content, the author’s name will appear. This means that authors will still see clicks through to their Google+ profile and will still achieve an increased reputation based on the quality of their content.
Despite seeing their pictures drop from view in search, authors can still bring strong value to their brand by going through the Google Authorship process and producing consistently strong content that generates clicks from their target audience. While the aesthetics of the search environment might be changing, credibility and strong, relevant content remain critical components for content producers.
