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5 Min
03 / 10 / 2024
If you've ever used Google to search for information and clicked on a result, only to return to the search page, you may have noticed a box titled ‘People Also Search For’ under some of the search results. This feature is Google's way of offering related searches that users often look for after entering their initial query.
The ‘People Also Search For’ feature plays a crucial role in helping users refine their search and find more accurate information. But what does this feature mean for your SEO strategy, and how can you use it to your advantage?
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how ‘People Also Search For’ works, why it’s important for SEO, and how to leverage it to optimize your content and rank higher in search engine results.
Google's ‘People Also Search For’ is a feature that suggests alternative or related search queries after a user interacts with a search result and then returns to the search page. This feature aims to improve the user’s search experience by offering more refined or related options based on their original query.
For instance, if you search for “best laptops for gaming,” click on a result, and then hit the back button to return to the search engine results page (SERP), you might see a ‘People Also Search For’ box under the result you initially clicked on. This box could contain related searches such as "best budget gaming laptops," "top gaming laptops 2024," or "gaming laptops under $1000."
The ‘People Also Search For’ feature helps users discover alternative or additional topics that could be relevant to their original search. This feature is designed to improve the overall search experience by offering refined options based on common user behavior.
The ‘People Also Search For’ feature is powered by Google’s algorithms and user behavior data. It essentially functions by analyzing how users interact with search results and what additional queries they frequently input after their initial search. When a user returns to the search results from a specific page, Google suggests related searches based on patterns of user behavior for that query.
Here’s how it typically works:
This feature is especially helpful when users are refining their search and need more specific or alternative options. By analyzing common search behaviors, Google provides suggestions that reflect what other users typically search for when refining their query.
The ‘People Also Search For’ feature is not only beneficial for users but also holds significant value for SEO professionals and content creators. Here are some key reasons why this feature is important for SEO:
Understanding search intent is one of the most critical aspects of SEO. The queries shown in the ‘People Also Search For’ box provide insights into the different variations of user intent around a particular topic. By analyzing these queries, you can better understand what users are truly looking for and adjust your content to meet those needs.
For example, if the primary keyword is “digital marketing strategies,” and you notice that ‘People Also Search For’ suggests queries like “SEO strategies,” “social media marketing tactics,” and “email marketing best practices,” this gives you a better understanding of the different facets of digital marketing that users are interested in. You can then create or optimize your content to address these related queries.
The ‘People Also Search For’ box is an excellent resource for expanding your keyword research. The related search queries it offers are often long-tail keywords or variations of the primary keyword, making them valuable for targeting more specific search terms. Including these related queries in your content can help you rank for multiple search terms and increase your organic traffic.
For example, if you’re optimizing content for the keyword “best CRM software,” and ‘People Also Search For’ suggests terms like “best CRM for small business” or “CRM software comparison,” you can integrate these keywords into your content to expand your reach and rank for multiple terms.
Many of the suggestions in ‘People Also Search For’ are long-tail keywords, which typically have lower competition and are easier to rank for. Long-tail keywords also tend to be more specific, indicating a higher level of user intent. By optimizing your content to target these long-tail keywords, you can drive more relevant traffic to your website and potentially rank higher in search results.
By integrating ‘People Also Search For’ suggestions into your content, you can create more comprehensive and relevant articles that cover a wider range of user queries. This not only increases the likelihood of your content being ranked but also improves user engagement and dwell time on your page.
Now that we understand the importance of the ‘People Also Search For’ feature, let’s explore how to use it effectively to enhance your SEO strategy:
One of the best ways to optimize your content is by incorporating the suggestions from ‘People Also Search For’ into your keyword research. These related queries can provide new keyword opportunities that you might not have considered, and they are often more specific, making them valuable for targeting niche search terms.
For instance, if your primary keyword is “content marketing,” and ‘People Also Search For’ suggests queries like “content marketing for small businesses” or “content marketing trends 2024,” you can incorporate these terms into your content or create additional blog posts that target these specific queries.
Use ‘People Also Search For’ queries to expand and refresh your existing content. By addressing these related searches in your blog posts or pages, you can make your content more comprehensive and relevant to what users are searching for. For example, if you already have a blog on “SEO best practices,” you can update it with information related to the queries suggested by ‘People Also Search For,’ such as “on-page SEO tips” or “technical SEO guide.”
Google’s ‘People Also Search For’ feature helps you understand user search intent. If users are frequently searching for specific comparisons, guides, or lists, you can create detailed content that aligns with that intent. For example, if ‘People Also Search For’ includes queries like “best laptops for students” after an initial search for “best laptops 2024,” you can create a comparison guide targeting students, focusing on the features that matter most to them.
Many of the queries found in ‘People Also Search For’ are long-tail keywords, which tend to have lower competition and are easier to rank for. Long-tail keywords also reflect more specific search intent, meaning the traffic they bring is often more targeted. Incorporate these long-tail keywords naturally into your content to increase your chances of ranking for them.
For example, if your primary keyword is “best CRM software,” and ‘People Also Search For’ includes “best CRM for small business” or “affordable CRM software,” you can target these specific queries by creating content that answers these exact needs.
Here are a few examples of how ‘People Also Search For’ results can provide valuable insights for content creation and SEO optimization:
In this case, you can expand your content on digital marketing trends by addressing related queries like SEO strategies, social media marketing, or email automation. This makes your content more comprehensive and relevant to a wider audience.
If you’re writing about the best smartphones, incorporating these related queries into your article will help you target a wider range of users, such as those looking for budget options or phones with specific features like long battery life or 5G connectivity.
Here, you can use the suggested searches to create subtopics within your article on email marketing tips, ensuring that your content covers a broader range of related user queries.
Using Google’s ‘People Also Search For’ feature offers several key benefits for your SEO strategy, helping you capture more traffic, improve relevance, and enhance user satisfaction:
By optimizing your content to target the related queries in ‘People Also Search For,’ you can rank for additional keywords, which increases your organic traffic. Targeting multiple related search terms helps you cast a wider net and capture more search intent.
When your content addresses related queries and provides additional information, it improves the overall user experience. Users are more likely to stay on your site longer, engage with your content, and view you as a credible source of information.
Understanding the search intent behind different queries is critical for SEO success. By using ‘People Also Search For’ suggestions to inform your content strategy, you can create content that directly aligns with what users are looking for, increasing your chances of ranking higher in search results.
Many competitors may overlook the importance of optimizing for related queries in ‘People Also Search For.’ By targeting these queries, you can gain a competitive edge and capture traffic that might otherwise go to your competitors.
Google’s ‘People Also Search For’ feature is a valuable tool for both users and SEOs. For users, it provides helpful search refinements that can lead them to more relevant results. For SEOs, it offers critical insights into related queries that users are searching for, allowing you to optimize your content for a broader range of keywords and search intents.
By integrating ‘People Also Search For’ queries into your content strategy, you can increase your organic reach, improve user experience, and stay ahead of the competition. Use this feature to guide your keyword research, optimize for long-tail keywords, and ensure your content meets the search intent of your audience.