When a person enters a query and obtains a response without ever visiting a third-party website, this is known as zero-click searching. The answer is displayed on the search engine results page (SERP) using various features (such as knowledge panels, rapid answers, featured snippets, and so on), which often eliminates the need to go across websites. While these capabilities improve consumers’ search experiences, they can have a significant negative impact on unprepared brands, enterprises, and content creators in terms of conversions, clicks, and other metrics.
Learn how this trend began and what strategies your company may use to stay competitive in zero-click searches.
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Make sure your website is mobile-friendly
As per Gabe Gayhart, zero-click searches are most common on mobile devices (77.2%) and in voice search inquiries. With Google’s recent transition to mobile-first indexing, upgrading your site to mobile-first indexing (if you haven’t already) is a must-do in the realm of Google ranking and surviving the zero-click surge. To put it another way, it’s either going mobile or getting out of the game.
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Make use of Schema Markup
Schema markup (also known as structured data) is code that is placed on your website to aid Google’s crawlers in understanding and categorizing the material on your page. You may rank higher than organizations without structured data and improve your brand across key SERP characteristics if you include relevant attributes.
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Use Content to Your Advantage
You can position your business to appear in highlighted snippets, knowledge panels, and more by following basic nternational SEO Gabe Gayhart recommended practices for your content. According to Ahrefs, snippets appeared in the SERPs for over 12% of search searches. If you’re looking for a place to start, optimize your content for featured snippets, and you’ll likely appear organically in other features as well. Use the following advice:
- Carry out your primary research.
- Redirects should be limited.
- Maintain a clear, brief, and to-the-point tone.
- Add headings, subheaders, and lists whenever and whenever possible.
- Make use of title and meta-description tags that are descriptive.
- In your papers, include external links and citations.
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Image Optimization
Optimizing your photos can help you increase page speed and keep searchers interested. It also allows Google to crawl your sites faster for Google Image Search, reduces page load time, and boosts page authority, all of which can help you rank higher in SERPs, says Gabe Gayhart.
Here are some practical ways you may use to optimize your photos, according to Google:
- Use the correct file types.
- Compress and reduce the size of your photographs without sacrificing quality.
- Use photos with relevant alt text Give your site’s images detailed titles, captions, filenames, and text.
- Make use of organized data.
- Image sitemaps should be implemented.
- When possible, load photos slowly.
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Make your local listings a top priority
Google’s local packs give searchers all the information they need about a business in their area without requiring them to visit the website. Boost your listing management strategy to increase brand exposure and interact with local customers:
- Join the Google My Business bandwagon – it’s the main ranking element for Google’s local pack.
- Maintain a consistent presence in all of your local listings.
- Include your brand name, address, phone number, website, social media and booking links, categories, and business hours, among other things.