Google is testing another feature focused on retaining users on search results pages, specifically targeting the recipe blog industry.
The new feature being tested is called Quick View and is visible for certain cooking recipes. For instance, a search for “chocolate chip cookie recipe” displays a “quick view” button on a recipe from the blog Preppy Kitchen. Clicking on it reveals a complete recipe with ingredients, photos, and step-by-step instructions, all within Google Search.
Google spokesperson Brianna Duff mentioned to The Verge in an email that this feature is part of an early experiment in collaboration with a select group of creators to enhance the recipe viewing experience on Search. No official announcement has been made yet, and specific agreements are in place with participating recipe bloggers. Preppy Kitchen has not responded to requests for comment.
To observe Google’s impact on the web, recipe blogs are a clear example. Despite offering a simple service, these sites must implement extreme search engine optimization efforts to attract Google’s attention and subsequently, traffic. Lengthy text filled with personal anecdotes or reflections are not for readers’ benefit but rather to help Google’s algorithms comprehend the page content and potentially enhance its search ranking.
Although the recipe viewing option in search is still being tested, it aligns with the evolving nature of search. Google aims to retain users on its platforms by offering AI Overviews that extract information from webpages using artificial intelligence, eliminating the need for users to visit actual websites even if the AI responses are flawed. Similarly, the new recipe feature could discourage users from visiting external sites or comparing different recipes, as Google provides its own detailed answer.
