Google’s Quick Answers box is located above the first organic search results but below any paid listings. “Quick Answers” usually appears for queries that begin with “what is…” and “how to…”
Imagine my excitement when I did a search for “What is MLSP Sites” and my YouTube video content appeared in the Google Quick Answers box! The descriptive text, the title and the link, right there at the top of the page!
What are the Benefits of the Google Quick Answers Box?
When I do a “how to” type of search, I usually click the information in the answer box. Even if I don’t I take notice of where the information is sourced from.
Here are three benefits of the getting in the box:
Authority
As online content marketers, we strive to develop an authority site. When Google displays your content in the Answers Box, it considers your content to be the most useful information about a specific topic. That means authority and trust. It’s all good!
Better Google Rankings
Who doesn’t want better Google search rankings? Content ranks even better because of the Quick Answers box. In my example, previously the same video ranked number 2 on the page. But now, it’s in the 1st and 3rd position. That usually means more traffic.
Brand Recognition
If your website content gets featured in the Google Quick Answers box, a searcher will now be more aware of your brand or your website.
How to Optimize Content for the Google Answer Box
So how do you optimize your content to get into the Google Answer box?
If content is consistently in the number 1 position in organic search results, there’s a good chance that it will be in the Quick Answers.
In my example, my video was in the 2nd position in the SERPS for a few weeks. Google does place positions 2 to 4 in the Answer Box as well.
The challenge is getting one of the first four positions in the SERPS. Here’s a quick list of best practices to accomplish that:
- Create content with information that is relevant to “how do I….”, “how to…” and “what is…”
- Include your long-tail keyword phrase in the headline and the URL.
- Whichever query you choose, provide a concise answer in the first two sentences of your content.
- For blog content, include images that are also optimized for the query.
- Beyond the first paragraph, provide a comprehensive explanation of the answer to the query.
That’s a simple explanation of how to make your content the authority that is featured in the Google Quick Answers box.
If you aim for low search volume, long-tail keywords, you’ll have a better chance at ranking on page one of the SERPS due to the low competition.
Congrats Lisa, this is a BIG deal! I’m very happy for you!
Thanks for the great tips! We all seem to do “How To” “What Is” type articles but I’m pretty sure I don’t always offer a concise answer in the first two sentences.
I will definitely not be making that mistake in the future.
Richard
Thanks Richard! I appreciate you leaving a comment. SEO is so simple, yet so difficult at the same time!
That seems to be part of the key, those first two sentences. I see some changes in our blogging future!
That’s awesome, Lisa…congrats! Thanks so much for the tips on how to do that as well!
Thanks Adam! It was a fun discovery for sure!
I didn’t know this ….geez still so much to learn
Hi Lisa,
Wow, so excited for you to have your content to show up right in that Google quick answer box! I never knew what that was called lol 😉 Thank you for the awesome tips on the benefits of “getting” in that box!
Thanks Joan! I was pretty excited to see that. The experience really helped me to understand the “science” behind it.
Have a great day!
Lisa
Thanks for this post Lisa, I had no idea how those things got there. Glad to know we can do things to get ours in there. Definitely huge for authority as your said!