New marketers often ask: What does SERP Stand for?
SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page and refers to a page which contains a list of websites (search engine results) that is normally produced by a Search Engine website after a users enters a search.
This is an example of a search engine results page
This is an example of a SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
Search engine results page contain many common elements. A scientific paper published on Penn State University explains SERPs in more scientific detail. In this article we’ll cover the basics.
What are the different parts of a search engine result page (SERP)?
- Ads for websites which pay for the placement
- List of relevant websites produced by an ‘organic’ algorithm
- Featured Snippets
- Maps
- Videos
- Local business listings
- etc.
This Screenshot shows a Search Engine Results Page with all the different parts labelled
Where are the different Ads That You See in Search Results?
Google and other search engines place their paid ads at the top of the search results pages. Google’s advertising search engine advertising is known as Google AdWords.
Some Google searches show unique ad formats that don’t appear on other types of searches.
Businesses and Non-profits will often hire an Search Engine Advertising company in order to assist them in buying, and improving their advertising on Google
Local Business Ads on Google
Recently Google began showing a carousel of ads featuring local businesses. If a business wants to appear in this section, they must advertise on Google AdWords by targeting a local geographic area. There isn’t a particular setting or option to appear in this section. Google will place advertisers who are bidding on local keywords and link their Google Business page to their AdWords platform.
Google Local Business Maps Ads
Another ad format that is really popular with people selling products online is known as Google Shopping campaigns via Google AdWords.
Google eCommerce Ads – also known as Google Product Listings Ads or Google Shopping Campaigns
Google Ecommerce Ads “Shopping Campaigns”
Google Shopping Campaigns were formerly known as Google Product Listing Ads (Google PLAs). These are special advertisements that feature a product image, pricing information and product name in the same ‘spot’ as a normal Text ad.
These ads use the same keyword bidding auction system as Google AdWords, but the design of the ad unit is much more limited. Businesses provide a data feed or upload their products to Google Merchant Center, and from there Google AdWords consumers the GMC data to produce these ads.
To learn more about how this works, we recommend a podcast that Hayk Saakian spoke on: Getting Started With Google AdWords for eCommerce business owners; with by Bob Dunn, the owner of BobWP.com.
Traditional Google AdWords Text Ad Units
Traditional Ad Units (Left) with Shopping Ads on the right hand side
These Text Ad Units are the most commonly known ads that people see on Google.
Google’s Organic Search Results
Organic search results are the listings that are produced via Google’s patented Search Algorithm. Google scans the entire internet for new web pages, and shows results linking to those pages for keywords which are relevant and authoritative for whatever someone searches.
Some of the organic search results are maps listings from Google’s map database, while others are more traditional text and simple links.
What are “Traditional” Organic Search Results?
These results are simple links to websites which include a Title and Description to help users decide which results to click on.
Here is an example of Organic Search Results
The Title and Description that you see in Organic Search Results is often times written by the website owner. Website owners will specify a ‘title tag’ and a ‘meta description’ in their website code. Sometimes Google will show those two pieces exactly as they are specified. Other times, Google will replace the Title or Description that the website owner wrote with one of their own.
Google Search on mobile devices, and Google Voice Search draws from the same database as “traditional” organic search.
Aside from ‘normal’ search results, you can also see Organic maps listings in Google searches. These listings use the data that you would see in Google Maps by performing the same searches. To improve their rankings in search engines, local businesses will often hire an SEO company.
What Are Google Local Listings? Google Organic Local Listings Example:
Google Local Listings are Google Maps search results which are presented directly inside a normal Google.com search, often in the form of a ‘3 pack’. The 3 Pack usually includes an interactive map on top, along with information about the 3 most ‘relevant’ businesses for a particular search.
Businesses can provide their information to Google using the Google My Business platform. “Google My Business” is very similar to Yelp and other review websites, and competes with them directly.
Example of Google Local Business Maps Results
These maps listings will often times show up ahead of links to businesses’ websites. Yelp and other competitors have complained that by giving preferential treatment to Google My Business data, Google is behaving like a Monopoly.
What are Google Featured Snippets? [Updated 2017]
Google Featured Snippets are short answers that are shown directly within Google search results. The information in Featured Snippets is extracted from 3rd party web pages that Google crawls every day. Paragraphs, Lists and Tables are three of the most common types of snippets.
This is an example of a Featured SnippetFeatured snippets are highly coveted because they tend to attract the most attention and the most clicks compared to any other feature in a search engine results page.
If you found that this article was helpful, please tell us in the comments. I intend to expand it to explain every other type.
- Click to Call Ads on Google
- Videos in Google Search Results
- “People also Ask” box
- Recipes in Google Search
If you have any questions about search engine results pages, on Google, Yahoo, or Bing we’re happy to help. Ask in the comments section below, and one of our experts will answer.
If you have a question that you would like to ask privately, feel free to email us, contact us on Facebook, call us, or fill out our contact form on this website.
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Schema Creator
ReplyDeleteSchemas provide users with an enhanced experience where they are presented with specific details about a particular company or organization on search engine results pages (SERPs). With this tool, you can customize how your results, including your reviews, operating hours, events, etc., will appear on Google and other search engines.
You can also integrate the schema code easily – it’s as simple as copying and pasting. The tool also has a free WordPress plugin version.
If you like this tool, there’s also a Scheme app which you can try for free for 14 days. There are multiple price structures depending on your current needs / business size.
Schema Creator
ReplyDeleteSchemas provide users with an enhanced experience where they are presented with specific details about a particular company or organization on search engine results pages (SERPs). With this tool, you can customize how your results, including your reviews, operating hours, events, etc., will appear on Google and other search engines.
You can also integrate the schema code easily – it’s as simple as copying and pasting. The tool also has a free WordPress plugin version.
If you like this tool, there’s also a Scheme app which you can try for free for 14 days. There are multiple price structures depending on your current needs / business size.
Schema Creator
ReplyDeleteSchemas provide users with an enhanced experience where they are presented with specific details about a particular company or organization on search engine results pages (SERPs). With this tool, you can customize how your results, including your reviews, operating hours, events, etc., will appear on Google and other search engines.
You can also integrate the schema code easily – it’s as simple as copying and pasting. The tool also has a free WordPress plugin version.
If you like this tool, there’s also a Scheme app which you can try for free for 14 days. There are multiple price structures depending on your current needs / business size.
Schema Creator
ReplyDeleteSchemas provide users with an enhanced experience where they are presented with specific details about a particular company or organization on search engine results pages (SERPs). With this tool, you can customize how your results, including your reviews, operating hours, events, etc., will appear on Google and other search engines.
You can also integrate the schema code easily – it’s as simple as copying and pasting. The tool also has a free WordPress plugin version.
If you like this tool, there’s also a Scheme app which you can try for free for 14 days. There are multiple price structures depending on your current needs / business size.