In the ever-evolving realm of digital marketing, Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) play a pivotal role in determining online visibility and success. But what are SERP features?
SERP features refer to unique results displayed on Google's search engine results pages (SERPs) that go beyond the conventional organic listings. These include various elements such as featured snippets, review stars, the People Also Ask section, and knowledge panels.
This post will dive into the SERP features, their types, and why are SERP features important, keep reading and find out more!
What Are SERP Features?
SERP features encompass a range of elements that augment the standard list of organic search results.
These features are designed to provide users with more targeted and immediate answers to their queries, enhancing the overall search experience.
Google, being the dominant search engine, has been at the forefront of introducing and refining SERP features over the years.
Keywords Niche is one of the best SERP Checking tools, where you can have a comprehensive understanding of top-ranking competitors.
With Keywords Niche Function by Niche Finder, you can dive into a deep SERP analysis easily. The following is the display of results when searching for the keyword "coffee", you can quickly find accurate data including website address, title, Similarweb rank, and visits, etc.
12 Types of SERP Features
Here are the most common 12 types of SERP features.
Featured Snippets
Featured snippets are concise, highlighted answers displayed at the top of the SERP, often in response to a user's question. They provide users with a quick summary of the information sought, extracted from a relevant webpage.
Knowledge Graph
The Knowledge Graph is a knowledge base that Google uses to enhance its search engine's understanding of the relationships between people, places, and things. It appears as a box on the right side of the SERP, offering a summary of key information related to the search query.
Local Packs
Local packs are displayed for location-based queries and showcase a map along with a selection of local businesses that match the search criteria. This feature is vital for businesses targeting local markets and has a significant impact on local search engine optimization (SEO).
Image Packs
Image packs display a collection of images related to a specific search query. Clicking on an image typically redirects the user to the webpage hosting the image, promoting visual content consumption.
Video Snippets
Video snippets showcase a video thumbnail alongside the standard organic results. When users click on the video snippet, they are directed to the video platform hosting the content, such as YouTube.
People Also Ask (PAA)
PAA boxes display a set of questions related to the search query, allowing users to explore additional information. Each question can be expanded to reveal a brief answer, and clicking on it takes the user to the source of the information.
FAQs
The drop-down FAQ lists become visible beneath organic search results when the queries involve questions or explicitly include the term "FAQs."
To have your page featured with this functionality, it is essential to apply FAQ schema markup to your content.
Sitelinks
Sitelinks refer to distinctive links showcased by Google beneath a website's main search result. These links serve the purpose of aiding users in swiftly navigating to specific sections of the website.
Typically, Google presents sitelinks for websites with easily comprehensible navigation systems.
Reviews
SERPs may include review snippets that provide a snapshot of user reviews for products, services, or businesses. These snippets often include star ratings and can significantly influence users' decisions.
Twitter Cards
Google incorporates Twitter into its indexing process, often presenting a Twitter card in search results for topics generating significant discussion on the platform.
Additionally, Google displays Twitter cards for specific entities such as individuals or brands.
Notably, this goes beyond a mere link to the Twitter account, evolving into an interactive SERP feature that showcases the user's recent tweets.
Hotel Pack
The Hotel Pack displays hotel listings directly on SERPs in a map pack similar to the Local Pack.
Distinguishing itself, this pack exclusively highlights hotels, with establishments and advertisers compensating for their placements through Google Hotel Ads.
Job Listings
Google compiles a table of job postings sourced from career platforms like Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, and the official websites of companies with open positions.
Why Are SERP Features Important?
SERP features analysis plays a crucial role by aiding searchers, ultimately benefiting Google in its primary objective. Google strives to offer the most pertinent results promptly, emphasizing the importance of these features in delivering swift and relevant answers.
From an SEO standpoint, the impact is two-fold. Firstly, a website's presence in SERP features contributes to increased traffic, heightened brand visibility, and improved recognition. This encompasses being featured in sections like People Also Ask, Top Stories, and Featured Snippets, among others.
Conversely, websites solely ranking in organic search results without representation in SERP features may experience a decline in clicks. Various SERP features, such as answer boxes, provide direct answers without featuring a website, eliminating the necessity to click on any links.
A study conducted in 2020 revealed that a substantial 65% of Google searches concluded on the search results page due to the prevalence of these features providing direct answers, thus reducing the need for users to click through to external sites.
Conclusion on What Are SERP Features
In conclusion, SERP features have transformed the landscape of online search, offering users a more dynamic and personalized experience.
Businesses that strategically adapt to these changes can enhance their online visibility, attract more targeted traffic, and ultimately achieve greater success in the digital marketplace.
As technology continues to advance, staying informed about emerging trends and aligning strategies with evolving search engine algorithms will be paramount for businesses aiming to navigate the complex terrain of SERP features.
FAQs About What Are SERP Features
What Are The Basic Elements of SERP?
Organic search results, queries, and advertisements are the three main components of the SERP.
What Is The Difference Between SERP And SEM?
SEM is the use of paid advertisements to increase search engine visibility. SERPs on Google and other search engines contain two types of content: organic results and paid advertisements.
