Google’s Top Places List feature has officially graduated from its beta phase. Google has updated the Top Places developer page to reveal that this feature is now powered by a machine learning algorithm.
What is Google Top Places List?
The Top Places List is a feature by Google that showcases relevant information about a particular place, such as a restaurant, that appears on multiple top-ten lists. This helps users discover more about notable businesses.
Google Top Places List is Out of Beta
The developer page for Google’s Top Places List was updated on August 5, 2019, to reflect the change. It now states that machine learning is utilized to compile these top places lists. Previously, there was no mention of using algorithms for this purpose, and the page included a link for signing up to have your list featured in the program when it was in beta.
Top Places List Uses Machine Learning
The key change is that Google now leverages a machine learning algorithm to generate the Top Places List.
Previous description of the feature:
"The Google Top Places List displays themed lists from authoritative publishers so that users can browse through selections from a trusted source as they decide where to go."
Updated description:
"The Top Places List uses machine learning to display themed lists from authoritative publishers so that users can browse through selections from a trusted source as they decide where to go."
Google Offers an Opt-out
The developer page now allows small businesses to opt out of the Top Places List feature. However, exercising this option might result in your business no longer appearing in Google’s local searches entirely.
Opt-out page excerpt:
"You can opt out of having content that Google has crawled from your site displayed on various Google properties:
- Google Shopping
- Google Flights
- Google Hotels
- Google Local (specialized search results pages that trigger in response to a local query)"
Google’s Opt-out Page is Vague
The opt-out page does not specify anything about opting out of the Top Places List. If you click the "View or change" link, it takes you to the search console, showing a dropdown of verified domains and an "Opt Out" button.
It’s worth noting that clicking this button may have significant consequences, like removing your site from Google entirely, which can feel like a risky move.
You can find an archived version of the original Top Places List beta page through web archives, and review the updated developer page for the Top Places List on Google’s website.
