February 9, 2025

Google’s Search Engine Outcomes Web page (SERP) provides greater than only a listing of hyperlinks. Its format can change primarily based on what you’re looking for, presenting varied SERP options tailor-made to your wants. You may see completely different components like featured snippets, buying choices, or native listings and likewise AI Overviews. Understanding these will help you navigate the outcomes extra successfully. This information will enable you to determine and differentiate between the paid and natural outcomes you encounter.

What are SERP options?

Search options are components on a search engine outcomes web page (SERP) that present info past the usual listing of hyperlinks. They embody issues like featured snippets, picture packs, and data panels. These options make it simpler for customers to shortly discover solutions and related info in search outcomes.

an example of how rich google search is based on a search for footballer cody gakpo
Google Search is admittedly wealthy with info today

A brand new SERP characteristic: Google AI Overviews

AI Overviews are a brand new characteristic in Google’s search outcomes. They use synthetic intelligence to create concise summaries that reply person queries shortly. These summaries seem on the prime of search pages, offering instant info with out the person needing to click on by hyperlinks, though hyperlinks are offered. This characteristic helps customers discover the knowledge they want sooner and will increase the visibility of numerous web sites.

google ai overviews are a new type of feature, here showing results for yoast seo
Google AI Overview present a brand new means of accessing info from search

It will depend on what you’re looking for

What the end result web page appears to be like like largely will depend on what you’re looking for. Should you’re looking for a product you should buy, Google will present store outcomes on the SERP. For instance, once we looked for hockey tools for an eight-year-old, Google confirmed us this:

an example of a product search on Google, showing listing for hockey equipment
An instance of a product search on Google

This outcomes web page begins with buying outcomes, with pictures on prime. On the left-hand aspect, you will notice every kind of filters to fine-tune your product search as effectively. To enter the Sponsored part, you could pay Google – observe the phrase ‘sponsored’ within the higher left nook. After these outcomes, the primary is an advert, which is one other paid end result. After which the natural outcomes begin.

Nonetheless, when you’re looking for details about the planet Neptune – as a result of your son is writing an essay about that – you’ll encounter a different-looking SERP:

an example the serp features for the search term neptune planet
Totally different searches present completely different SERP options on Google

These search outcomes don’t present any paid or sponsored outcomes. On the prime, you’ll see an AI Overview for the subject, and on the proper, you’ll discover a data graph with a lot of details about the planet Neptune. There’s even an interactive diagram to study extra about what Neptune appears to be like like.

Learn extra: What’s search intent? »

Looking by the end result web page

The default web page of Google’s search result’s a web page on which completely different outcomes seem. Google decides which ends up suit your search question finest. That might be ‘regular’ outcomes, but in addition information outcomes, buying outcomes or pictures. Should you’re looking for info, a data graph might flip up. While you’re looking out to purchase one thing on-line, you’ll in all probability get a lot of buying outcomes on the default end result web page.

the google bar serp feature gives you quick access to images, news, videos, shopping, maps, forums and more
Google Search has many choices than simply common search

You’ll be able to apply some filters on the search outcomes your self if you wish to. You’ll be able to, as an illustration, click on on ‘pictures’ when you’re looking for a picture. This lets you flick thru pictures solely. You too can select ‘buying’, ‘maps’, ‘boards’, ‘movies’, ‘information’ and ‘extra’.

Maintain studying: Find out how to get your Shopify retailer on Google »

Google reveals each paid outcomes and natural outcomes. It may be fairly laborious to note the distinction between the 2. The advertisements normally seem on prime of the search outcomes. Generally it’s just one advert, however Google can present extra advertisements as effectively. This will depend on how many individuals seek for a sure search time period and who needs to pay for it.

an example of a sponsored ad on google for the term holiday home south of france
There are lots of sponsored listings in Google

You’ll acknowledge the paid end result by the phrase Sponsored proven in entrance of the hyperlink to the web site. The buying leads to Google are additionally paid outcomes: an organization pays Google to seem within the buying outcomes. If you wish to promote on Google, it is best to try Google Adwords.

Natural outcomes

Google’s natural outcomes are all non-paid outcomes. In accordance with Google’s algorithm, the natural outcomes proven first are the very best match for the person’s search question. Search Engine Optimization (website positioning) improves the possibilities of rating in natural search outcomes.

Snippets

The search end result web page consists of a variety of snippets. A snippet is a end result Google reveals to the person within the search outcomes.  A ‘regular’ snippet normally appears to be like like this:

an example of a regular snippet in google
A daily Google snippet

Google reveals the title in blue, the URL in gray, and an outline of the web page. You’ll additionally encounter wealthy snippets on the SERP. A wealthy snippet reveals additional info between the URL and the outline. A wealthy snippet appears to be like like this:

an example of a rich snippet in google showing a recipe with image and star rating
A wealthy end result as proven in Google search

On this snippet, an image of the ice cream is added. You’ll be able to see the recipe’s ranking and the time it takes to organize one of these ice cream. A wealthy snippet accommodates rather more info than a standard snippet does.

Learn on: What are wealthy snippets? »

Different components on the SERPs

In addition to snippets, pictures, movies, information outcomes, buying outcomes and maps, Google additionally reveals another components on the SERPs.

Information Graph panel

The Information Graph Panel seems on the proper aspect of the search outcomes. In accordance with Google, this info is retrieved from many sources, together with the CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia. Data from the Information Graph is used to reply spoken questions in Google Assistant and Google Residence voice queries.

an example of a serp feature known as a knowledge graph panel, this case about minecraft
An instance of a data graph panel Google search characteristic

Individuals additionally ask

This field seems someplace between the natural search outcomes. It’ll recommend questions associated to the search question you typed in. You’ll encounter these associated questions within the natural search outcomes when you’re looking for Minecraft. Clicking on one of many options will instantly reply the particular query.

an example of a feature on the google search results pages known as people also ask
Google’s Individuals additionally ask search characteristic

A featured snippet, aka reply field, is a highlighted search field that solutions the query you sort within the Google search bar. This featured snippet field is located above the common natural search outcomes. Featured snippets usually seem as a paragraph or a bulleted listing, accompanied by a picture.

an example of a serp feature known as a featured snippet
Featured spotlight solutions instantly on the prime of the Google search outcomes

Carry on studying: Find out how to get featured snippets »

Native 3-pack

While you search from one thing regionally, the Native 3-pack can present as much as spotlight three associated native companies. It’s a Google search characteristic that gives info similar to enterprise names, addresses, cellphone numbers, and buyer critiques. This characteristic is commonly built-in with Google Maps. It helps customers discover instructions and study extra about native companies.

a serp feature called a local three-pack after searching for best spaghetti seattle
This search characteristic reveals three native end result primarily based on the question

Picture pack

The picture pack search characteristic reveals a set of pictures associated to a search. Usually proven in a grid or carousel format, they permit customers to shortly browse visible content material with out leaving the search web page. For some searches, pictures are a greater match than simply common hyperlinks or different SERP options.

an example of a google search results page showing an image pack for the search space needle photos
An instance of a picture pack in Google’s search outcomes

Prime tales

Prime tales is a search characteristic on Google that shows the latest and related information articles. This part sometimes seems close to the highest of the search outcomes, highlighting breaking information and well timed updates. It contains headlines, publication names, and infrequently pictures to shortly inform customers about present occasions.

a serp feature called top stories in google
Google’re Prime tales characteristic reveals a very powerful information

Conclusion about SERP options

Google’s search engine outcomes pages can present varied components: the search outcomes (so-called snippets), AI Overviews, a data graph, a featured snippet, a solution field, pictures, buying outcomes, and extra. A few of these components will present up relying on the kind of question and the information Google finds. You’ll be able to add structured knowledge to your web page so Google can present a ‘wealthy’ snippet, offering extra details about your product or recipe, as an illustration.

You’ll be able to pay Google to make the snippet of your web page find yourself excessive on the search outcomes web page as an advert. Or, you may optimize your pages for the major search engines – and customers! – so it can rank excessive organically. That’s website positioning, and that’s what we write about!

Learn extra: Yoast website positioning: tips on how to make your website stand out within the search outcomes »