Google launches event finder in mobile search
Google's mobile search makes it easier to find events and buy tickets.
Google has rolled out a new mobile feature that makes it easier for its US users to find events and buy tickets.
Google's app for iOS and Android now offers an orderly rundown of upcoming events in results for searches about local events accompanied by bold date, time, and location details. There's also a shortcut to the site where tickets can be bought for events like concerts, festivals, or a local salsa class. Users can adjust the focus of results with filters for today, tomorrow, this week, next week, or next weekend.
The mobile feature, which rolled out on Wednesday, taps into event services like Eventbrite and Meetup to produce listings for a range of targeted search terms, such as "jazz concerts in Austin", "art events this weekend", or broader searches for "events near me".
Clicking on the results will bring up a card displaying details about the event and options to track the event, say "I'm going", or buy tickets.
The events finder is also available on mobile browsers, but so far Google has only released it for the US.
In addition Google has provided a new guide for web developers to mark up their events so they can be found in search, including instructions for how to structure details for Google's event format. The feature is available for a range of events, from performances to neighborhood dance classes, but shouldn't be used to promote non-events or temporary discounts.
It's odd that it's taken so long for Google to offer an event finder in search given the popularity of Facebook's Events, which the company claims has 550 million monthly users and been used to promote 47 million events since 2015. The social network last year also launched its standalone Events app for iOS and Android, but again only for the US.