Easter egg Google: 8 tricks to try, and what they teach a business owner

An easter egg Google hides in its search is a small joke or game that shows up when you type a certain phrase into the search box. Some still work, some have been retired. Below are eight to try, a word on Google Mirror and Google Gravity, and what it all means for your own business.

Which are the Google Easter eggs you can still try?

Google has no official list, and the tricks change over time. These eight have been around for a long while. Type each phrase into the Google search box, or follow the note, and see what happens.

If one does not work, it may have been retired, or your browser may be blocking it. Nothing is wrong with your computer. Easter eggs are not promises, and Google can change or remove them whenever it likes.

• do a barrel roll: the results page spins around once.
• askew: the results tilt slightly to one side.
• recursion: Google asks 'Did you mean: recursion', which sends you back to the same search. It is a programmer's joke.
• anagram: Google asks if you meant 'nag a ram', which is an anagram of the word.
• flip a coin or roll a die: Google shows a small tool that does exactly that.
• zerg rush: little Os appear and start eating your search results.
• atari breakout: search for it in Google Images and the pictures may turn into a brick-breaking game.
• The Chrome dinosaur: switch off your internet in the Chrome browser, then press the space bar on the error page to play.

What is Google Mirror and how does it work?

Google Mirror is a copy of the Google homepage shown back to front. The text is flipped and your mouse seems to move the wrong way, so typing and clicking feel odd. It is a joke, nothing more.

As far as I know, these pages are made by third parties, not by Google. So do not type passwords or personal details into any page that only looks like Google. A harmless search for fun is fine. Anything private is not.

Does Google Gravity still work?

Google Gravity is another well-known one. Open it and the parts of the Google homepage, such as the logo, the search box and the buttons, fall to the bottom of the screen. You can then drag them around. It was made by an independent developer, not by Google.

Whether it works for you depends on your browser and on whether the website hosting it is still online. The honest answer: it has worked for a long time, but I cannot promise it works today. Search for 'Google Gravity' and try it. If it fails, try another browser.

Why is Google removing Easter eggs?

I cannot point to one official reason from Google, so I will not pretend to know. What is true is that small features get retired in many products. Code gets old, browsers change, and a joke that took an afternoon to build still costs time to keep working. The ones on other websites also depend on someone keeping that site online.

The practical point: do not count on an Easter egg being there tomorrow. Treat it as a bonus, not as something to build on. The same goes for any trick that depends on one feature staying the way it is.

What can a small business learn from Google Easter eggs?

Two things. First, curious visitors are not customers. People who type 'easter egg google' want to play. If you run a plumbing company in Alicante or a car rental on Bonaire, those people will never book you. A page can collect plenty of visits and still bring no enquiries. So when you choose keywords (the words people type into Google), pick the ones that come with a need, like 'emergency plumber Alicante'. Our page on keyword research explains how to find them.

Second, Google changes things all the time. Easter eggs get retired, and so do features in the search results. Build on something steadier: a clear website, pages that answer real questions from your customers, and enquiries you can count. That slow, steady work is what SEO is about.

Google's playful side is not only hidden phrases. The logo on the homepage changes too. I wrote about that in Google and Doodle, including what it means for a business owner.

What can you do this week to get real customers from Google?

Try a few Easter eggs for fun, then spend an hour on the things that bring in work. Here is a short list. It needs no special tools.

None of this is a trick, and none of it works overnight. It is plain, useful work, and it keeps its value when Google changes a feature.

If you want to know where your own site stands, Request the free quickscan. It is free, even if you don't buy anything.

• Type the name of your business into Google and see what shows up.
• Type the three things a customer would search for when they need you, and see who appears.
• Write down the questions customers ask you by phone or email. Each one can become a short page on your website.
• Check that your phone number, opening hours and address are correct and easy to find.
• Look at your most visited pages. Ask yourself: does a visitor know what to do next, such as call, book or request a quote?

Frequently asked questions

What are 10 secrets that Google has?

Google does not publish a list of its secrets, and the tricks change over time. Good starting points are 'do a barrel roll', 'askew', 'recursion', 'anagram', 'flip a coin', 'roll a die', 'zerg rush', the Chrome dinosaur game, Google Gravity and Google Mirror. Some may no longer work for you.

Are Google Easter eggs safe to use?

The phrases you type into Google itself are harmless. Pages like Google Mirror and Google Gravity are usually made by other people, so be careful. Do not enter passwords, card details or personal information on a page that only looks like Google. If a site asks you to download something, close it.

Do Easter eggs help my website rank higher in Google?

No. I know of no reason to think Easter eggs affect your rankings, and a page about them would attract people who want to play, not people who want to hire you. If you want visitors who become customers, write about the problems your business solves and use the words your customers use.

Can I hide an Easter egg on my own website?

Yes, it is possible, for example a small joke on a 404 page (the page people see when a link is broken) or in the footer. It can make your brand feel friendly. Keep it small, make sure it does not slow the site down, and never hide important information behind it.

Dimitry founder of Growetic. He does SEO, Google Ads and websites for businesses in the Netherlands, on Bonaire and in Spain.