What Google's Enhanced Autocomplete Box Means For SEO
- SEO |
A new article on Search Engine Journal asks what does Google's beta testing of a new enhanced autocomplete box mean for your SEO strategy? See examples of new SERPs here.
Sometime in December 2021, SEO experts started noticing that Google was low-key testing out a new feature inside its search box. It's an expanded version of the box that we're calling the enhanced autocomplete box. Over in the box's right column, Google pulls the top three People also ask questions, and a People also search for section presenting numerous related terms and entities.
While there's a wealth of information out there, most news outlets and blogs just rehash what the box is and how they accessed it. But this isn't the fault of those publishers. That's all the intelligence there is on that right now, since this is clearly just a beta test that Google isn't ready to comment on just yet. At the same time, the information that the new autocomplete feature presents is evident to industry experts.
Many SEO professionals probably noticed the new feature and believe they know what Google is up to. Maybe we don't have the full story yet, but I have an idea about where Google might be taking this. There's a way that SEO experts can leverage the enhanced autocomplete to perform keyword research and topic research. First, let's cover what the new enhanced autocomplete box actually is.
At a glance, the new expanded box appears to be just a new way for the search engine to organize some of what it thinks are the most important search features for your query. Down the left column, in their usual place, are the suggested autocompletes for your term. In the new right column are three People also ask Questions, and below those are a few items in the People also search for section. Note that the box does not contain organic search results, and I wouldn't expect Google to start cherry-picking results to put up there.
Overall, the enhanced autocomplete seems to be a way to make your search a bit easier if you happen to be looking for any of those three PAA question topics, or to buy that digital marketing book, or to do business with GoDaddy. If you're wondering why Google would feature elements in its expanded search box that it already features right on the SERP, just chalk it up to further optimization of user experience. What the enhanced autocomplete box does is simply relocate the most relevant pieces of that extra content to a more prime piece of real estate so you don't even have to scroll to find it.
Sometime in December 2021, SEO experts started noticing that Google was low-key testing out a new feature inside its search box. It's an expanded version of the box that we're calling the enhanced autocomplete box. Over in the box's right column, Google pulls the top three People also ask questions, and a People also search for section presenting numerous related terms and entities.
While there's a wealth of information out there, most news outlets and blogs just rehash what the box is and how they accessed it. But this isn't the fault of those publishers. That's all the intelligence there is on that right now, since this is clearly just a beta test that Google isn't ready to comment on just yet. At the same time, the information that the new autocomplete feature presents is evident to industry experts.
Many SEO professionals probably noticed the new feature and believe they know what Google is up to. Maybe we don't have the full story yet, but I have an idea about where Google might be taking this. There's a way that SEO experts can leverage the enhanced autocomplete to perform keyword research and topic research. First, let's cover what the new enhanced autocomplete box actually is.
At a glance, the new expanded box appears to be just a new way for the search engine to organize some of what it thinks are the most important search features for your query. Down the left column, in their usual place, are the suggested autocompletes for your term. In the new right column are three People also ask Questions, and below those are a few items in the People also search for section. Note that the box does not contain organic search results, and I wouldn't expect Google to start cherry-picking results to put up there.
Overall, the enhanced autocomplete seems to be a way to make your search a bit easier if you happen to be looking for any of those three PAA question topics, or to buy that digital marketing book, or to do business with GoDaddy. If you're wondering why Google would feature elements in its expanded search box that it already features right on the SERP, just chalk it up to further optimization of user experience. What the enhanced autocomplete box does is simply relocate the most relevant pieces of that extra content to a more prime piece of real estate so you don't even have to scroll to find it.
