Did you know? Google has been killed their Authorship since 8/29/2014 then it will no longer impact search results. Around three years ago Google introduce the Authorship project.
In the last, I published some article about Google Authorship and how to add it into your WordPress, but you just stay tuned and don’t change anythings.
Why did Google drop author photos in Authorship feature?
As the content of John Mueller’s post on his Google+. Google is removing the authorship picture and follower count from the search listings in the name of good UX, in particular creating a better mobile experience and a more consistent design across devices. In my opinion, I guess Google knows that mobile is going to surpass desktop soon, I don’t think Google would do anything to hurt the user experience, just to earn some extra revenue.
From now on, you’ll no longer see the author of an article appearing in the SERPs, and Google’s algorithm has also stopped tracking the authorship markup. It’s gone, and it isn’t coming back.
The good news is that if you never came around to implementing those guidelines, well, now you don’t have to worry anymore! :D
What you should do now?
Notes: The changes to Authorship should have no impact on your website’s position in the SERPs. The loss of photos does not mean Google authorship itself is going anywhere.
Keep in mind that Google is only killing the CTR boost authors receive by removing the photos and circle counts. The rest of the ranking factors that come from authorship are still there. Don’t quit using it or you could see a drop in ranking, and is that if Google Authorship was implemented on your website it will have no negative impact.
What’s next for replacing Google Authorship?
Stay tuned. Mueller even goes so far as to speculate that one day Authorship may return in another form and then goes on to say that maybe Google would even pull the plug on Google + itself.
Conclusion
Google giveth, and Google taketh away.
The audience is where everything good comes from. Google is just one way for that audience to find you.
Any time you use a tool from Google or from any third-party services. Don’t forget to prepare one or more backup plans.
If you’re using Google’s FeedBurner service, let’s facing with the end of it and choose the Alternative Services for your website before it dissolves overnight.