10 Must-Know Google SERP Features for 2024 Success

Google is continually updating and adding new SERP features to provide searchers with relevant results. Depending on the search query, viewers may now see maps, photos, videos, questions and answers, SGE (Search Generative Experience), and other content. It's worth noting that the look and order of these SERP features are continually changing.

While these periodic updates and customization are advantageous to clients, they may be quite stressful for digital marketers, however, when used correctly, Google SERP features 2024 can result in a strong search visibility increase for SEO and SEM managers.

Additionally, insights into SERP features may assist search marketers optimize content to attract more traffic, improve above-the-fold exposure, and allocate marketing expenditures more efficiently to enhance search marketing ROAS (Return on Ad Spend).

Thus on that note, today’s blog discusses the 10 must-know Google SERP features available and the benefits they hold for success in 2024. 

10 Must-Know Google SERP Features

1. Featured Snippet     

The Featured Snippet is a large box you see at the top of Google search results. It contains a snippet of content from the top-ranking results below.

Introduced in 2014, this feature appears when you search for information. It offers quick answers to questions by displaying text or video directly from a website.

Featured snippets come in various formats like paragraphs, bulleted lists, and tables, making information easy to digest. 

2. People Also Ask (PAA)

The “People Also Ask” box displays a never-ending list of questions related to your search query, generated by algorithms.

Introduced by Google in 2015, this feature aims to offer users more information by addressing closely related questions based on their initial search query and intent. 

3. Google Popular Products (Google Merchant Listings)

Google Popular Products displays unpaid and organic Google shopping product listings. It presents a carousel of products relevant to your search term, all available for purchase. 

Positioned in the middle of the search result page, it's one of the most sought-after organic SERP features in Google Shopping. Users can filter by price or product category within this feature for a tailored shopping experience.

4. Sitelinks

Sitelinks are a set of links to different pages within a website, shown below the main URL and description in a Google search result. Google introduced Sitelinks in the early 2000s. 

These links are automatically generated by Google's web crawlers which makes it easier for users to navigate a website and find specific pages or content quickly. The number of Sitelinks you have affects how easily visitors can explore your site, improving their browsing experience. 

There are two types of Sitelinks: those that direct users to a page on a website and those that lead to a specific section of a page. Sitelinks typically appear for branded search terms, with Google determining which links to display.

For branded searches, Google provides an expanded search result with the option to add up to 10 additional links to the site. This allows users to find the page they need directly, leading to a higher click-through rate (CTR).

5. Image Packs

An image pack is a group of images shown by Google in search results for image-related queries. Google recognizes when users are seeking visual content and presents a carousel of relevant images. 

If Google's algorithm detects that visual information has relevance to a search, it will display a row of images on the search engine results page (SERP).

Clicking on any image takes you to Google's images tab. Introduced in the early 2010s, Image Packs have become an important feature of search results.

6. Video Carousels

Google introduced Video Carousels directly in the SERP in the mid-2010s, and they've grown in significance ever since.

Video carousels showcase video results or snippets with thumbnails in the organic search results. Each video has a title and description, typically linking back to YouTube. 

This organic SERP feature is Google's answer to a query that is identified as having visual or helpful intent. Also, video results only appear if a website includes relevant embedded video content.

7. Local Map Pack

Google presents a local map pack to users when it detects local intent in a search query. Local Map Packs have been part of Google's SERP since the early 2000s. They appear when a query includes a location name or when Google's algorithm identifies nearby options for a search item.

The local pack displays a map with pins showing relevant businesses. It features the top three physical locations deemed relevant by Google, along with reviews, hours, contact information, a website link, and directions via Google Maps.

8. Rich Snippets

Rich snippets are the SERP features that provide additional visuals, such as star ratings in product reviews or images in news results. They offer extra information beyond the title tag, description, and URL, aiding users in their decision-making process. 

Google started displaying Rich Snippets in its SERPs in the mid-to-late 2000s. FAQ snippets are a popular type of rich snippet. By including additional information in your listing, you increase the likelihood of users clicking on it. 

9. App Install

"App Install" organic results are a feature that enables users to discover and download mobile apps directly from the search engine results page (SERP), based on their search queries. These results appear when a user's search is related to a specific app or type of app. 

Google introduced "App Install" results in its SERP in 2013 to enhance the user experience for those seeking apps. They typically provide a description of the app, its rating, reviews, and other pertinent information to help users decide whether to install it. 

10. Knowledge Panel

A knowledge panel provides users with images, facts, social media links and other relevant information related to their search query. It appears on the right side of organic search results and is typically associated with businesses, brands, or organizations.

This feature is triggered by searches tailored for specific places, organizations, people, events, and more. Google often sources information for the Knowledge Panel from Wikipedia or the entity's own website

Introduced in the early 2010s, Knowledge Panels enhance a brand's authority and credibility when they appear in search results.

Final Thoughts

With the wealth of knowledge you have gained about Google SERP features 2024, you can effectively strategize your content and optimize your site to appear in more SERP features. However, it is vital to note that the impact of each SERP characteristic differs based on your specific niche.