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What is the "+" plus box on some Google search results?

I just noticed this week that sometimes when I search for information on Google that the top few results have a little plus sign next to them. I've seen the little shopping cart for Google Shopping, but what the heck does the plus sign denote?

Dave's Answer:

Do you have no curiosity, man? :-) Click on it!

What Google introduced at the end of March, 2007, is a "more info" feature, which they represent with a tiny plus symbol in a box, a "plus box". You can see it here in the results for Boeing Corporation (NYSE: BA):

Google search results for Boeing, with 'plus symbol' more info feature shown

Click on the plus symbol and you'll get a stock quote and even a nice little graph showing the performance of the stock over time:

Google search results for Boeing, with 'plus symbol' more info feature expanded

Other searches for corporations, like "Google" (Nasdaq: GOOG), show the same plus symbol, but in a more subtle way:

Google search results for GOOG, with 'plus symbol' more info feature shown

One thing you can conclude is that you don't need to be the so-called authoritative result for the plus symbol to be activated.

Google calls this the "Plus Box" and explains a bit about its functionality on the GoogleBlog. That's a must-read if you're at all interested in search and SEO, by the way!

They explain that "Right now, we're showing two types of Plus Box results: stock information and maps. You can find a plus box next to the home pages of companies listed on NYSE, NASDAQ, and AMEX. Clicking the plus box icon for any of these companies displays the latest stock price, chart, and company information."

My question is: what's next? What other interesting information could that little Google Plus Box be showing us on search results? Hmmm....

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Categorized: Search Engine Optimization (Article 7275)
Tagged: amex, boeing, google, nasdaq, nyse
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Comments

I think that's a really good idea for google and a really different approach to displaying information.

Possibly in the future we might see a type of search, something like Google search commercial and lists businesses with with that type of informaton. Maybe a Froogle addon.

Also it would be nice to see something for the general user in that box. Like if it was an e-commerce website, their cheapest product or if they have a sale on.

It could be fun if it happens.

Oh wait, maybe their could be a new META tag for search engines where for all search engines, if a site wanted they could have whatever they wanted there.

Now that would be cool!

Posted by: Oliver at April 12, 2007 3:37 AM

The plus box functionality is now in beta testing on PPC listings in the UK as well as SEO listings. It is to be used for product listings from an advertiser and also store locations. It is driven by Google base and so anybody with maps listings or Google product search has a chance of displaying in this way. This is going to make Google base accounts increasingly important and an integral part of search engine marketing in the future.

Posted by: Rob Weatherhead at November 16, 2008 11:44 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!