How does Google Search do "menu" results?

Does anyone out there know how the menu style search result that often accompanies the top hit on the results page happens? I'm referring to the way the top result often breaks out to hot links for "contact us" "about us" etc, beyond the basic link to the home page. I'm wondering if this happens automatically somehow, and how does one cause it to happen in web page design--- or is it something the companies pay google for?

thanks!

4 Bizniks have posted replies

Posted by Barry Hurd, Seattle, Washington | Sep 29, 2008

It is mostly controlled by submitting a proper sitemap to Google. You can do this by signing up for a Google account and using the webmaster tools (for free) to submit a sitemap.

If/when Google finds the number one result is "THE" result you are looking for (which is usually a company site or brand name) then it will supply the sitemap results for that keyword.
Posted by Steven Bradford, Seattle , Washington | Sep 29, 2008

Thanks! I'll check it out!
Posted by Andy Ciordia, Charlotte, North Carolina | Oct 02, 2008

From what I understand the "menu" like google results are generated when each of your sub/internal pages begin to rank on their own accord. After some magic "google" math they begin to glue together. A site map is needed to have the process begin, but then to get it through all the hurdles you need to gain rank everywhere.

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Posted by Jonathan Ng, Seattle, Washington | Oct 03, 2008
Barry, Sitemaps are rumored to help with the google sitelinks, but from what I've seen, they are not necessary.

Andy, I've seen some the sites I've worked on get sitelinks without having ranking on their internal pages.

Here are some factors that make sense (pulled from Vanessa Fox's blog)
- site ranks first for the keyword(s) that generate the Sitelinks listing
- easily spiderable, structured navigation
- naturally high, organic search traffic
- high click through rates from the search results page
- useful outbound links
- inbound links from high quality sites
- site age is several years or older