Google Search Adds More Featured Snippets

If you have ever searched for something on Google, which we’d guess is everyone reading this, then you’ll have seen Google’s featured snippets. These being the little snippets Google places front and center in an attempt to provide the best answer to your query.

In January, Google published “A reintroduction to Google’s featured snippets” in an effort to remind everyone what they’re for. And since then Google has made a number of improvements to the way Search, and featured snippets in particular, operates.

The latest update is now rolling out, and it adds more featured snippets to Google Search…

Featured Snippets Galore

Google’s new format for featured snippets adds more options based on context. So now, rather than one featured snippet that tries to answer your search query and fails, Google will provide multiple featured snippets based on the different connotations of your search.

I feel like whenever I google search something wildly random it takes just a little longer than usual to get results

As if it’s taken off guard

— Matt Will Post (@MattPostSaysHi) August 14, 2018

In The Keyword blog post, Google gives the example of “Quartz Vs Granite”. The main featured snippet offers a geologist’s perspective on the differences. However, if you’re looking to remodel your kitchen that might not be what you’re looking for.

So, now, underneath the main featured snippet, Google offer alternatives. In the “Quartz Vs Granite” example Google offers options for Cost, Benefits, Weight, and Durability. Click on one of these and you’ll get a new featured snippet with a link to the source.

This isn’t the biggest change in the world, but it’s Google trying to offer more options to make Search even more essential than it is already. The only problem being it pushes other sites, which haven’t nabbed the featured snippets, further down in the results.

Is Google Fallible?

Google’s featured snippets are a useful tool which most of us take for granted. Sure, they don’t always provide the best answer to our searches, but even Google is fallible on occasion. And perhaps this article will provide the featured snippet for “Is Google fallible?”

If you feel like you spend half your waking life Googling stuff, here are eight Google Search tips to keep handy at all times. But never forget that there are plenty of solid alternatives to Google Search, some of which are actually pretty good.

Image Credit: Frankieleon/Flickr

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