Why What “People Also Search For” Should Be a Concern of Yours
Think back to the last time you Googled something. In all likelihood, it wasn’t very long ago! It’s estimated that Google processes roughly 8.5 billion searches per day and more than 100,000 searches per second!
More than 90% of survey respondents said they were likely to click on a search result from the first page. What does that mean for you? You want to be there! With so many searches every second, it’s clear users aren’t sticking around on a search page for long.
Don’t be discouraged if you’re competing for the top 10 results in specific keywords–there’s a little bit of a loophole. It’s called ‘People Also Search For,’ and it’s Google’s way of helping searchers find what they’re looking for faster.
What is the ‘People Also Ask’ PAA box?
The ‘People Also Ask’ (PAA) or ‘People Also Search For’ (PASF) box was introduced to the search engine results page (SERP) by Google in 2015. This dynamic dropdown box, shown at various positions on the results page, recommends additional search queries related to the original search term.
The PAA box is not an ad type, nor should it be confused with Featured Snippets. Your page can display in the ‘People Also Search For’ box with good ol’ fashioned SEO efforts and on-page keyword optimization.
What is the Purpose of the ‘People Also Search For’ box?
The People Also Search For Google feature broadens a search and expands the results to help searchers dive deeper into their query by providing related results.
Think of the PAA box results as follow-up questions once the first question has been answered or secondary searches when the first search didn’t display the exact results you were looking for.
From a searcher's perspective, Google is really helping out. They are one step ahead of you and know what the following search will be before leaving the page.
What does the ‘People Also Search For’ box look like?
‘People Also Search For’ displays as a dropdown, toggled menu widget among search results on the first page. It’s positioned randomly, meaning the PAA box could appear anywhere between the 1st and 10th positions.
People Also Search For Google results can display in many different formats: text, video, lists, numbered lists, bullets, tables, etc. Often when a query involves action and begins with “how,” “why,” and “where,” a video result will display rather than text.
Can you disable ‘People Also Search For’?
If you find the PAA box annoying when it interrupts your search flow, you may just have to ignore it. Currently, there’s no option to disable the ‘People Also Ask’ box in Google settings. However, a non-Google app developer has offered a Chrome plug-in that will disable ‘People Also Search For’ in your search. (Keep in mind that you should download unofficial plug-ins and apps at your own risk.)
Is it worth trying to rank in the PAA box?
It certainly won’t hurt to try to be ranked in the ‘People Also Ask’ box, but very few studies have evaluated consumer usage and the impact of the PAA box. What we do know about SEO is that landing in the top search result or Featured Snippet is more effective.
Still, using the ‘People Also Search For’ box is a helpful tool for SEO marketers because it provides insight into new, related keywords to target and which competitors are ranking for the same or similar keywords.
How do you show up in the People Also Search For Google box?
Now that you know what it is and how it works, how to feature in People Also Ask is usually the next question. The easy answer? Hire our team to optimize your pages for search. But if you want to do it yourself, start with the following tips.
Step 1: Browse the ‘People Also Ask’ box on the SERP for your target keywords.
Step 2: If you’re already ranking inside the PAA box, you’re on a roll!
Step 3: If your site isn’t ranking in the ‘People Also Search For’ box, optimize your pages to become the source for the PAA box’s related questions.
Step 4: Start creating new content around the People Also Search For Google results.
What is the most common search in the world?
In 2021, the top 5 most common searches in the world were:
- youtube
- whatsapp web
- netflix
- roblox
But people also search for queries in mass related to specific categories. For example, Pete Davidson had a spectacular 2021, and not just because he found a new girlfriend. Pete Davidson was the 2nd most-searched-for actor in 2021 (behind Alec Baldwin). On second thought, maybe it was because of his girlfriend…
Are you still feeling as lost as Kanye West wondering how Petey snuck into his spot in the Kardashian crew? Don’t freak out. Get in touch with our expert SEO team to help get you positioned at the top of the ranks.
