SERP Features and How They Benefits Your Business
These are certain elements that show up on Google every time you run a search. These things didn’t end up there randomly – they are meant to boost your visibility in the online world. When searching, “web designer,” for instance, your screen will give you a number of ads, the local pack, a Wikipedia knowledge panel, and the choice to look into more results in relation to the keyword that you have entered.
SERP Features
Free
Featured Snippets – a summary of answers to the query
Local Pack – a map with business listings
Reviews – shown as star ratings in search results every time a website is marked up appropriately
Sitelinks – links from the same website (usually comes with branded searches)
Top Stories – news bits appearing in a carousel of trending news topics
Images – part of an embedded gallery that shows up for queries related to imagery
Instant Answers – like featured snippets except they provide more direct answers pulled from Google’s knowledge graph
People Also Ask Box – contains questions pertaining to the initial search and shows up midway through the SERP
)Knowledge Panel – gives a background on a topic and shows up to the top right side of the search results
Video Carousel – a video selection, usually turns up with search terms with “video” in them or on related searches frequently made on YouTube.
Paid
Paid media are not technically considered a SERP feature, but their presence has a significant influence on search dynamics. For example, Google Search Ads, which are placed on top and below the SERP, look no different from organic results. They can be acquired by opening an account with Google Ads and bidding on particular queries. ) before going to a website.
Optimizing for SERP Features
There are three popular options for anyone seeking to make their website SERP-friendly. One is through the use of a universal language that most, if not all, search engines work with. This language must obviously be used by Google for all their SERP features. Google My Business is another option you have, and this ensures that your business will land in Google maps, the local pack and other local search features. Yet another is Google Ads, which can be an effective way to land at the top of Google.
At the end of the day, you’ll want to use SERP features to make a positive change in your bottom line. The surest route to this is using a professional digital marketing company that is experienced and proven in the industry.