What are Google SERP features in 2024? Understanding Google Results

Have you ever looked at the search engine result page closely and wondered how every element placed there works? In today’s blog, we will discuss Google SERP features and how they keep evolving.

Google keeps changing its features to make the search process more accessible for visitors. Therefore, as a marketer you need to keep a close eye on those changes. Although the changes prove quite beneficial for visitors, digital marketers often tend to get annoyed. They must plan new strategies to attract customers and quickly adapt to the modifications. Consequently, they get frustrated.

What are Google SERP features?

The Google SERP features are the components of search engine result pages (SERPs) that aren’t conventional organic search results. They offer more pertinent information about the search query.

The standard features of SERP encompass:

Knowledge panel: The results you get after searching for a specific thing are displayed in a “knowledge panel” on the right side of the SERPs.

Ads: You will find Google ads in two places: at the very top and the lowest part of the page. These ads usually appear when you search for a relevant keyword related to the ad. Your intention might not be to click the ad, but it will show up in SERPs. Read our blog ‘The essential guide to PPC‘ to learn more about ads.

GMB: GMB or Google My Business is the easiest way for customers to know more about your business. For example, whenever you search for a specific restaurant, you get the exact result of that restaurant, including its menu, address, contact number, photos, reviews, and opening and closing hours.

Top stories: You usually get top stories when you search for a news-orientated topic. For instance, try typing something related to today’s news, and the section of top stories appears.

Thumbnail: One characteristic that may show up for organic web page listings in Google Search is an image thumbnail. It is now a permanent feature in Google’s search results. However, the feature is more common in eCommerce searches.

Video carousels: A collection of videos that show up in the results are video carousels, and they are typically taken from YouTube.

People also ask: “People also ask” is a well-known Google SERP feature that takes your query further. It mainly shows the results related to your query.

Sitelinks: A bunch of links that show up under your search result are sitelinks. Moreover, these links help searchers identify a site’s most crucial content.

Advantages of Google SERP features

Features in Google search results make the process of searching and finding information simple for the users. However, creating top-quality content that lives up to the users’ intentions, marketers can also take advantage of these features. In this section, we will dive deep into the benefits of Google’s search result features and explore how these features can help your business grow.

Improves visibility and traffic
Increases click-through rate
Friendly user experience
Grow brand awareness

Improves visibility and traffic

Amid a vying landscape where every site and every digital marketer is struggling to improve its online presence, embracing Google’s features plays a key role. Getting a higher rank in SERP can be a daunting task, but with thorough keyword research and a clear understanding, you can drive organic traffic. Consequently, engaging customers and improving visibility.

Increases click-through rate

Placing ads and providing relevant information to the visitors increase click-through rate (CTR). The first thing that catches a visitor’s eye are meta description and title tags. So, if a visitor doesn’t find these two elements catchy or germane to their search, he would probably ignore your site. Therefore, you should always work on these two elements to get a better click-through rate.

Friendly user experience

User experience! Are you wondering why an exclamation mark with user experience? Because the primary goal of a search engine is to provide users with a seamless experience and up-to-date content. Irrelevant information and boring content frustrate the user, resulting in a poor user experience.

Therefore, Google always ranks a website on the top that provides up-to-date content, clear images and fascinating graphics, and authentic information. This allows friendly user experience and users will most likely visit your site again.

Grow brand awareness

It’s quite interesting that Google SERP features can help your business grow brand awareness. Visitors are more likely to get familiar with your brand if you persistently appear in top stories, ads, or video carousels. Optimizing search engine results pages (SERPs) is a terrific approach to show up in a trustworthy and helpful portion of Google SERPs if your goal is to improve brand recognition.

Summing up

Having a deep knowledge of Google SERP features is fundamental to ranking your website and augmenting your online presence. Features like top stories, GMB, and Ads can help your business thrive if targeted correctly.

Are you struggling to gain recognition or want to be eminent in SERPs? Search Marketing Services is here to assist you in increasing your online presence. Contact us today to kickstart your website improvements.