SERP (Search Engine Results Page) is the page displayed by search engines like Google in response to a user's search query. Modern SERPs contain various elements beyond traditional blue links.
SERP features include:
- Organic results (traditional blue links)
- Paid ads (top and bottom of page)
- Featured snippets (answer boxes)
- Knowledge panels (entity information)
- People Also Ask (related questions)
- Local pack (map and local results)
- AI Overviews (AI-generated summaries)
Understanding SERPs matters for visibility because:
- SERP features change click behavior
- AI Overviews are transforming how users interact with results
- Different queries show different SERP layouts
- Optimizing for SERP features can increase visibility
For AI visibility, SERP position still matters:
- Top-ranking content is more likely to be cited by AI
- Featured snippets often become AI Overview sources
- Knowledge panel data influences AI responses
- SERP dominance correlates with AI visibility