{"id":13824,"date":"2022-06-07T14:00:38","date_gmt":"2022-06-07T14:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/what-is-a-serp\/429074\/"},"modified":"2022-06-07T14:00:38","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T14:00:38","slug":"whats-in-a-serp-google-search-results-features-you-need-to-know-via-sejournal-lorenbaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketingnewsbox.com\/?p=13824","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s In A SERP? Google Search Results & Features You Need To Know via @sejournal, @lorenbaker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google Search<\/a> is constantly evolving to serve more useful results to searchers.<\/p>\n

One of the more recent figures we have states that Google conducted 4,887<\/a> launches, 17,523 live traffic experiments, 383,605 search quality tests, and 62,937 side-by-side experiments to improve the results search engine users received in a single year<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The results of rigorous testing allow Google to determine the best search features to deliver search results in a format that is most useful to your query.<\/p>\n

This leads to changes in the way that search results are delivered.<\/p>\n

In this article, you\u2019ll learn what a SERP is and the various search features that could affect the way your business appears to your target audience.<\/p>\n

What Is A SERP?<\/h2>\n

SERP stands for search engine results page. This is the page that gives search engine users the best results for their queries.<\/p>\n

Search engine results pages can vary from one search engine user to another based on a variety of factors including whether you are logged into your Google account, your location settings, your language preferences, and your search history.<\/p>\n

The following is the SERP for SEO.<\/p>\n

\"TheScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"The<\/div>\n

At the start of the search results, Google displays the approximate number of search results for the query and the time it takes to deliver the SERP.<\/p>\n

In this case, there are approximately 828,000,000 webpages indexed for the keyword SEO, and results were delivered in 0.59 seconds.<\/p>\n

The first four results starting with an Ad label are pay-per-click Google Ads that target the keyword SEO.<\/p>\n

Following the four Google Ads, you see the first organic listing that appears in this SERP for Google\u2019s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide.<\/p>\n

After this organic listing, Google includes a People Also Ask section.<\/p>\n

When search users click on a question, additional related questions appear. The answers typically link to a webpage for further information.<\/p>\n

To the right of the Google Ads, organic listing, and People Also Ask section is Google\u2019s knowledge panel for search engine optimization. Knowledge panels can vary based on the entity they describe.<\/p>\n

In this case, the knowledge panel pulls the definition for SEO from Wikipedia, followed by related terms, SEO podcasts, and related terms people also search for.<\/p>\n

The next portion of the SERP for SEO contains two more organic listings, followed by the local pack featuring SEO companies.<\/p>\n

\"TheScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"The<\/div>\n

To the right, you can also see a continuation of the knowledge panel, which searches for the dictionary definition of SEO.<\/p>\n

Following the local pack, Google displays the top news stories about SEO from the past 24 hours.<\/p>\n

\"TheScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"The<\/div>\n

After another organic listing, Google places three videos from YouTube about SEO into the SERP, followed by another four organic listings.<\/p>\n

Finally, Google has more organic results and related searches.<\/p>\n

\"TheScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"The<\/div>\n

If you are on a mobile device, Google doesn\u2019t make you click through to the second page of results.<\/p>\n

Instead, after a listing of related searches, the next page of search results will automatically appear as you scroll down.<\/p>\n

\"TheScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"The<\/div>\n

In this case, the second SERP begins with a Google Ad.<\/p>\n

SERP Features<\/h2>\n

In the first example of a SERP from Google.com for SEO, there are multiple search features beyond organic search results including Google Ads, People Also Ask, knowledge panels, top stories, and videos.<\/p>\n

According to Semrush Sensor, most SERPs have at least one feature.<\/p>\n

In the U.S., only 2.34%<\/a> of desktop SERPs do not have a feature. In other words, 2.34% of SERPs only list the top 10 organic search results on the page without ads, knowledge panels, local packs, etc.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the SERP features most often seen on Google.<\/p>\n

Sitelinks<\/h3>\n

One of the top search features \u2013 found in over 66% of SERPs in the U.S. \u2013 is sitelinks.<\/p>\n

Sitelinks are simply links that will allow search users to find specific content beyond the homepage.<\/p>\n

In the following SERP for REI, you can see that REI has the first position in organic search.<\/p>\n

Beneath their listing, Google displays a sitelink search box followed by four sitelinks to popular pages on their website.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Learn more about how to optimize your website for sitelinks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

People Also Ask<\/h3>\n

Another top search feature is the People Also Ask section. This feature can appear anywhere on a SERP.<\/p>\n

It typically begins by displaying five of the top questions asked about a search query.<\/p>\n

In the following SERP for [search engine], Google adds a People Also Ask section after the first organic search result.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

When someone clicks on a question under the people also ask section, it will display the answer to the question, along with a link to the source for the answer. It will also automatically generate additional questions related to the one the user just clicked.<\/p>\n

Reviews<\/h3>\n

In addition to the stars you see in the local pack for local business reviews and the stars you see in shopping ads, Google may also display star ratings and review counts within organic search results.<\/p>\n

In the following SERP for a current bestselling book, you can see the reviews feature in action on two of the top three organic listings.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Learn more about how you can optimize relevant pages on your website for reviews with the review snippet<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Images<\/h3>\n

When Google anticipates that a search query would best be answered visually, they use the images feature. This feature can appear anywhere throughout the SERP.<\/p>\n

In the following search for a [pumpkin plant], Google serves up a dozen photos of pumpkin plants.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

When clicked upon, the link goes to Google image search results for the query, plus additional details about the image clicked.<\/p>\n

To optimize your images for Google image search and the potential to appear in the images section of related SERPs, check out these 12 essential image optimization tips<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Videos<\/h3>\n

Similar to the image feature, the video feature of SERPs can appear anywhere throughout the page.<\/p>\n

In the following search for [1st party data activation], Google displays a section of videos from YouTube after four ads, a featured snippet, People Also Ask, and five organic search results.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

To appear in the videos section of SERPs, learn how to optimize your YouTube videos<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Knowledge Panels<\/h3>\n

Knowledge panels are automatically generated boxes of useful information, compiled from various sources around the internet by the Knowledge Graph<\/a>. They generally appear on the right side of search results.<\/p>\n

In the following SERP for [tennis], Google displays a knowledge panel with a summary of what tennis is and the most popular searches related to it.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Google offers specific directions<\/a> on how to update the information contained in the Knowledge Graph.<\/p>\n

Local Packs<\/h3>\n

When there are local results that match your search query, you may see them appear in a local pack.<\/p>\n

Listings in a local pack typically appear with reviews, an address, and hours of operation.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

According to the Local Pack-O-Meter<\/a>, 35.7%<\/a> of approximately 60 million search queries in the U.S. contained a local pack in March of 2022.<\/p>\n

Over the past year, it has fluctuated from 33% to 33.9%.<\/p>\n

If you have a local business, learn more about local SEO<\/a> and why it matters for your SMB.<\/p>\n

Featured Snippets<\/h3>\n

Featured snippets<\/a> generally appear at the top of SERPs, offering a portion of content from one of the top organic search results for a particular query.<\/p>\n

For example, a search for [how to change app icons] may generate a featured snippet with a video from YouTube that answers the query.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Featured snippets are typically labeled as such in the lower right corner beneath the snippet content.<\/p>\n

Other formats of featured snippets include numbered or bulleted lists, like the results of [how to submit a book to a publisher].<\/i><\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

In the above example, you can see that featured snippets sometimes fall below Google Ads for certain search queries.<\/p>\n

In a search for [nft], the top result is a featured snippet in paragraph form.<\/p>\n

\"sampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"sample<\/div>\n

In this search for the best list of restaurants from a specific source, the result is a featured snippet in a table format.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

If you want your website to be the source of a featured snippet, follow this 12-step guide to optimizing your content for featured snippets<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Google Ads<\/h3>\n

Sponsored results from advertisers using Google Ads may appear at the top and bottom of SERPs.<\/p>\n

In this search for auto insurance, the SERP begins with three ads.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

After organic listings, a People Also Ask section, and top stories, Google displays an additional three ads, followed by related searches.<\/p>\n

Shopping Ads<\/h3>\n

In addition to standard text ads, Google also offers retailers the ability to create shopping ads for their products.<\/p>\n

Shopping ads typically display the name of the product, price, retailer, and product rating.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

If you want to feature your products in shopping ads, be sure to read this beginner\u2019s guide to shopping ads<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Carousels<\/h3>\n

Carousels generally appear at the top of SERPs, offering fast answers to the search query.<\/p>\n

For example, a search for [dog breeds] results in a carousel of images with the most popular dog breeds that other Google users search for.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Instant Answers<\/h3>\n

Want to get a quick answer to a question without having to click through to a website?<\/p>\n

Instant Answers is a search feature Google uses to display answers to a search user\u2019s query at the top of the SERP.<\/p>\n

For example, if you search for today\u2019s temperature, you may get the following for your location.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

If you are searching for showtimes for a specific movie, Google may display showtimes from the theaters closest to you.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

If you need to convert currency at the current exchange rate, Google may be able to provide the answer in the SERP.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Scheduling a meeting across time zones? Google may calculate the difference between two locations as well as show the current times in both.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Not sure what a word means? Google may give you the definition, along with the origin and overall use over time.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Need help solving a math problem? Google may display the answer along with a fully functional calculator.<\/p>\n

\"ExampleScreenshot from Google, March 2022<\/em><\/span>\"Example<\/div>\n

Google may also provide instant answers at the top of SERPs for the following types of queries.<\/p>\n