People Also Search For is a feature in search engines offering users suggestions of related search queries to their original input, facilitating a broader exploration of a particular topic, keyword, or concept.
“Utilizing ‘People Also Search For’ as an SEO strategy is paramount as we enter 2023 and beyond. Google’s continuous enhancement of its search engine results pages (SERPs) introduces numerous opportunities for businesses and SEO professionals, although it might initially seem overwhelming.
These modifications are not mere challenges but opportunities, prompting us to shift our attention towards the ‘People Also Search For‘ feature as a strategic tool to tap into new traffic based on related queries.
Due to the increasing diversity of SERPs, novel avenues to increase visibility and search have surfaced. Consequently, the ultimate objective of SEO has evolved beyond securing the top rank. Features such as Featured Snippets and ‘People Also Ask’ have redefined the value of top organic rankings, often reducing their returns.
Google’s relentless addition of elements to SERPs, including paid advertisements, has diluted the once-coveted number-one ranking. This necessitates a strategic adjustment from SEO professionals and business owners, one of which could involve targeting the ‘People Also Ask’ feature across a broader spectrum of keywords.”
People Also Search For, what does it mean?
People Also Search for feature is a unique tool activated when users immediately return to the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) after clicking on a result. This action signals to Google that the user may not have found the desired information, prompting the search engine to present alternative suggestions closely tied to the initial query. These recommendations, centered around the concept of User Intent, aim to provide a more precise match to the user’s original search intent, thereby facilitating a more satisfying and productive search experience.
Google’s People Also Ask (PAA)? Or People Also Search For Examples.
“People Also Ask” feature, along with “Google Autocomplete” or “Google Suggest” dropdowns, represent dynamic aspects of Google’s search functionality. These tools provide questions directly related to the original search query.
These features offer invaluable insights from an SEO perspective, emanating from Google’s vast data resources. Each SERP result is typically linked with at least six phrases or keywords from the “People Also Search For” category. By strategically leveraging these terms, one can significantly extend their visibility and reach within Google’s search landscape.
Featured Snippets Don’t Seem To Be Affected.
When replicating the click-through and back button tests to get the PASF boxes to display, we noticed the featured snippets did not show the PSAF boxes. The featured snippets did not change. This tells us it’s even more critical to aim to rank in Google Position Zero.
Suppose your analytics data shows many people bounce off your pages for specific keywords or queries. In that case, it indicates that you are not providing the value or the answers the users need. Pay close attention to the list of related questions on the SERPs, and make sure your content addresses those. This strategy should make the page more beneficial to your audience.
If you’re confused about the best way to format and add content or how to create more useful content to users, look at what sites rank higher than yours – or content from your direct competitors. How does it differ from yours in terms of style, length, topics covered, and language used?
Take notes on what you see in each competition’s content – and look for patterns. The aim here isn’t to copy what the competition is doing but to improve your content. Do this by focusing on the user first – the search engine second.
Create Content Around the Related Queries
Consider broadening the scope of information on your website by creating valuable content around topics related to your primary theme. This strategy accelerates your business growth and strengthens your authority as an expert in your specific industry.
Envision a scenario where potential customers discover you through organic search results but don’t find the information they seek. They might return to the SERP, navigate to a related query, and reencounter your page. Such omnipresence is a potent marketing tactic.
Does this sound familiar?
When a user selects one of the questions, the corresponding box expands to provide a concise answer and the source URL from where the text originated. Additionally, it offers a convenient link to conduct a new Google search for that specific question.
The “People Also Ask” (PAA) feature begins with four related questions. However, as users engage with these questions, two or three additional items are incorporated, resulting in an endlessly expanding list of queries.
There’s no established correlation between the number of PAA items and keyword patterns or verticals, but this might evolve. We might see specific keywords having a propensity to generate a fixed number of PAA results. Therefore, the number of questions available for unearthing SEO opportunities can vary, reinforcing the dynamic nature of SEO strategy.
Moreover, the constant expansion of PAA boxes provides an ongoing opportunity to understand user intent further and adapt your SEO strategy accordingly. By analyzing the type and nature of continually added questions, you can gain insights into what your target audience seeks. This allows you to tailor your content to meet these emerging needs and maintain relevance in an ever-changing digital landscape.
What You Need to Know About PAA
PAA SERP Positions Change
It’s natural to assume that PAA boxes appear in the exact location on a SERP if and when Google triggers them most of the time.
However, PAA is distinct from featured snippets – those always appear at the top of the SERP. PAA can also be found in various parts of the page.
It’s essential to understand the implications of the different positions of PAA in the SERPs because they impact organic results’ click-through rate, especially on mobile, where space is limited.
PAA Can Trigger Video Results
Given that many queries are based on “What is?” “How to…” and “Why is/are?” make sense that video results would be included.
It’s reasonable to believe Google will continue to test this to a point where most of the keywords that show video results in the SERPs will also trigger videos in the PAA listings.
This means you should take time to optimize your YouTube and video results to have a higher chance of appearing in the PAAs.
PAA Frequently Repeat and Trigger Featured Snippets
Most PAA questions trigger featured snippets. The same PAA question and answer can display for different keywords. The dame answers and listings for a particular inquiry in the PAA can also appear for other questions triggered by PAAs.
People Also Search For Vs. People Also Ask
“People Also Search For” and “People Also Ask” are two different features on Google’s Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs), each serving distinct purposes.
- People Also Search For This feature appears when a user clicks on a search result and then navigates back to the SERP. Google interprets this action as the user not finding their desired information and offers a list of alternative search queries closely tied to the initial search. The goal is to provide users with broader options that might better suit their intended search.
- People Also Ask: This feature presents a list of related questions to the user’s initial search query, which appears as expandable boxes within the SERP. When a user clicks on a question, the box expands to provide a brief answer and the source URL. This feature offers direct answers to related queries, enhancing the user’s overall search experience and helping them delve deeper into the topic.
While both features aim to improve the search experience by offering additional related content, “People Also Search For” provides alternative search query suggestions, whereas “People Also Ask” directly answers related questions.
