I just recently noticed Google starting to turn back the clock a little on multiple pages listed in search engine results. In the recent past if a domain had two URL’s showing in the top 10 or 20 results for a particular search query Google would typically merge these results(creating what Google calls sitelinks) pairing the weaker URL with the stronger URL. I have recently noticed that Google has begun to separate these domains within the results, offering the opportunity for websites to have 2 positions within the search engine results (for instance being number 2 and number 8).

I am not sure how this will change users behaviors yet, but in some instances it could benefit the website owner, offering a perceived very dominant position within the results moving the user to possibly after clicking on the initial result an bouncing revisiting the same website using the second listing, based upon the apparent authority Google places on a website or domain.

I think that having listings paired as Google has done in the past offered the opportunity for a user to look past the second listing (the merged one) and move on to the next result. I believe with these different results, it will offer a website a second opportunity to grab the user. I believe this is good for both users and webmasters.

I am not exactly sure why Google would tweak this, but apparently Google has their reasons.