SERP features are special elements on search engine results pages that go beyond traditional blue links to provide direct answers, visuals, or enhanced information.
These features often appear above regular search results, capturing user attention and sometimes answering questions without requiring clicks to websites.
Common SERP features include:
- Featured Snippets. Short answer boxes that directly answer questions, often pulled from web pages
- People Also Ask sections. Expandable questions related to your search that show additional information
- Knowledge Panels. Information boxes about businesses, people, or topics, typically on the right side of results
- Local Packs. Map listings showing nearby businesses for location-based searches
- AI Overviews. AI-generated summaries that synthesize information from multiple sources
For example, if you search "how to write a resume," you might see a featured snippet with step-by-step instructions, a People Also Ask section with related questions, and video results showing resume tutorials.
To earn SERP features, create clear content that directly answers common questions, use structured data markup, maintain fast mobile-friendly pages, and optimize specifically for local SEO if you want to appear in Local Packs.