Bye-Bye Google Authorship Photo

In an effort to simplify the way authorship is shown in mobile and desktop search results, Google announced yesterday that photos of authors will no longer be displayed in the search engine results.

However, authorship can still be set up and established. Instead of an author photo, a byline will be shown next to the article. The importance of staying active on social media and contributing new content has not changed. You should still be posting relevant content on a regular basis.

Google’s Webmaster Trends Analyst, John Mueller, shared the news on Google+.

Screenshot of a social media post by John Mueller about improvements to the visual design of search results, including better mobile experience and a simplified Google authorship display.

Google authorship photos were an instant way for users to understand that the information was coming from a credible source. Mueller is betting that the less-cluttered look will increase clicks. Only time will tell.