Anyone using Google's Answer Highlighting in their SEO?

garyv · 01-23-2010, 11:15 AM

This may be fun to experiment with. Google is now adding what they call Answer Highlighting to their search results. For example if you do a search for "empire state height"

empire state height - Google Search

You'll notice that the actual height (1250ft) is highlighted in the results.

If you could figure out the formula and some specific questions about your niche, you could dominate by providing the answer that google is looking for.

Something to think about.

InternetMarketingIQ · 01-23-2010, 06:33 PM

It actually looks more like they are just highlighting keywords.

Try it for any search.

red green banana monkey

highlights the keywords in this non sense phrase.

garyv · 01-23-2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InternetMarketingIQ

It actually looks more like they are just highlighting keywords.

Try it for any search.

red green banana monkey

highlights the keywords in this non sense phrase.

No they actually are highlighting answers, if you phrase the question right...

Official Google Blog: Understanding the web to make search more relevant

GeorgettaSterling · 01-23-2010, 11:39 PM

Just a thought, but if someone's question is answered right on Google's SERPs page (which it is, when the answer is highlighted in the snippet), what is the motivation for a searcher to click through to your site? I mean - it is nice of you to answer questions for Google users, but if you don't even have a chance of that person VISITING, will that be profitable?

It reminds me of how Google provides sports scores (scraped from reporting sites) directly on the SERPs pages, so that people don't have to leave Google to get the score, or the weather, or similar. Nice for Google. Less nice for you?

Obviously if you are simply contributing to the community (like editing Wikipedia entries or making link-free Yahoo Answers posts) then that is fine, but that isn't marketing.

Like I say, just a thought.

Regards, Georgetta

Fraggler · 01-24-2010, 01:10 AM

...and that is one of the things that Google is beginning to do that will turn people sour. They are using other peoples content to keep their users on their page without the need to visit the owner of the content.

This is what Murdoch has the ****s about. This is what many real estate sites got upset about.

It IS great for the user but if the large sites start seeing a downturn in traffic and they believe the reason is Google then I guess there is a chance that the webmasters will start trying to control what the GoogleBot can access or stop it all together. Once the content is gone for Google their search engine becomes redundant also.

Users will need to go elsewhere to search the sites that boycott Google. I know it is a long shot and might not happen, but if anything brings the downfall of Google it will be itself trying to control other peoples content.

In regards to the OP, it would be an interesting experiment. I don't get the highlighted answers when I search for it so location might play a part. I would say they are using a reference/authority site for the answers though and just highlighting them when they match a sites content.

01-23-2010, 11:15 AM	#1
garyv Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: , , . Posts: 1,719 Thanks: 399 Thanked 912 Times in 397 Posts	Anyone using Google's Answer Highlighting in their SEO? This may be fun to experiment with. Google is now adding what they call Answer Highlighting to their search results. For example if you do a search for "empire state height" empire state height - Google Search You'll notice that the actual height (1250ft) is highlighted in the results. If you could figure out the formula and some specific questions about your niche, you could dominate by providing the answer that google is looking for. Something to think about.
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01-23-2010, 06:33 PM	#2
InternetMarketingIQ Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US of A Posts: 2,190 Thanks: 47 Thanked 257 Times in 211 Posts	Re: Anyone using Google's Answer Highlighting in their SEO? It actually looks more like they are just highlighting keywords. Try it for any search. red green banana monkey highlights the keywords in this non sense phrase.
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01-23-2010, 11:39 PM	#4
GeorgettaSterling HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 189 Thanks: 49 Thanked 35 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Anyone using Google's Answer Highlighting in their SEO? Just a thought, but if someone's question is answered right on Google's SERPs page (which it is, when the answer is highlighted in the snippet), what is the motivation for a searcher to click through to your site? I mean - it is nice of you to answer questions for Google users, but if you don't even have a chance of that person VISITING, will that be profitable? It reminds me of how Google provides sports scores (scraped from reporting sites) directly on the SERPs pages, so that people don't have to leave Google to get the score, or the weather, or similar. Nice for Google. Less nice for you? Obviously if you are simply contributing to the community (like editing Wikipedia entries or making link-free Yahoo Answers posts) then that is fine, but that isn't marketing. Like I say, just a thought. Regards, Georgetta

01-24-2010, 01:10 AM	#5
Fraggler Troy Steele War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 1,699 Thanks: 702 Thanked 464 Times in 300 Posts Social Networking	Re: Anyone using Google's Answer Highlighting in their SEO? ...and that is one of the things that Google is beginning to do that will turn people sour. They are using other peoples content to keep their users on their page without the need to visit the owner of the content. This is what Murdoch has the ****s about. This is what many real estate sites got upset about. It IS great for the user but if the large sites start seeing a downturn in traffic and they believe the reason is Google then I guess there is a chance that the webmasters will start trying to control what the GoogleBot can access or stop it all together. Once the content is gone for Google their search engine becomes redundant also. Users will need to go elsewhere to search the sites that boycott Google. I know it is a long shot and might not happen, but if anything brings the downfall of Google it will be itself trying to control other peoples content. In regards to the OP, it would be an interesting experiment. I don't get the highlighted answers when I search for it so location might play a part. I would say they are using a reference/authority site for the answers though and just highlighting them when they match a sites content.
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