Google Doodle

Google Doodle refers to the different representations of the Google logo on the Google Inc. search engine homepage. Since 1998, there have been more than 1,000 different Google Doodles. These designs are often made in remembrance of celebrities or for particular holidays and observances.

How it originated

The idea of ​​changing the Google logo was created by the two founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin when they wanted to represent their participation in the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert in 1998. They changed the individual elements of the logo. This surprised users and the idea of ​​changing the logo on special occasions, was born. Initially, the Google logo was altered only for some public holidays.

Google Doodle today

Since doodles were very well received by users, Google decided to change the logo on a regular basis. There is currently a Doodle team of illustrators (the “Doodlers”), who name out a wide range of events, anniversaries, and birthdays of famous people, create a corresponding logo, and present it on the Google homepage. Interactive content such as videos or playful components with JavaScript are often used and are very popular with Google users.

The respective event data is linked with the Google logo via hyperlink. If you click on the logo, you will get the search results on the respective Doodle event.

Doodles are different for different regions, for example national holidays. So far, more than 1,000 Doodles have been created. Which Doodle appears next on Google’s home page is decided by the Doodle team.

Development

Having originated from a fun idea, the Google Doodle has almost become a trademark, which has become so important that Google registered a separate patent for it, which regulates the change of the company logo. The Doodle has become an important branding tool of the company. In many cases, it becomes the subject of newspapers and technology portals. But Google uses Doodles sometimes to deliver their own statements and criticism about certain developments. For example, in January 2012, the Google Doodle consisted of a black censor bar to attack SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and the Internet censorship related to it.

During the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014, Google created a Doodle with the word Google set in rainbow colors. This is the symbol of international solidarity with homosexuals which was directed against the homophobic domestic policy of Russia.

Google Doodles are used to remind us about often forgotten artists or activists, as well as researchers and writers. In this wise, the search engine giant honors such persons.

The high affinity for technology of its developers plays a major role in the design of the Google Doodles. One of the highlights was certainly the Doodle in Pacman-style that invited users to play the legendary arcade game.

Benefits for SEO

For many websites and news portals that are listed for Google News, it is practically a race to be the first to report on the new Google Doodle because such a page has a good chance to get high traffic via the Google news search.

In addition, many sites use the popularity of Doodles to provide additional visits with “best lists” or voting. If you want to rank prominently short-term with your news page and create traffic with new doodles, you can make these varied design of the Google name subject of an article. However, there will likely be a lot of competition with wide-reaching online newspapers and web portals such as very large mail providers.