Although initially perceived as a potential bug, it appears the recent change to Google’s search engine results page was intentional – and it’s here to stay, according to the Google Webmaster Central blog. Going forward, Google will now allow multiple listings per single domain to rank for branded keywords. Take a look at the screenshot below:

Previously, Google only allowed two listings per single domain, but as the above image dictates (courtesy of The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania), there’s now the potential for a single domain to hold multiple (or all of the) first page listings when conducting branded searches.

By delivering focused brand-centric results for direct searches, Google has decided that variety of domains is no longer necessary. Similarly, this user interface change will benefit users aiming to gather information from a very credible source: the brand itself.

This tweak could end up being experimental. However, in the meantime, search engine marketers should watch their organic traffic closely to spot any changes in branded traffic and conversion trends to see how this change directly affects each website.