A recent Google algorithm update caused a stir in the SEO community by replacing some Featured Snippets with direct answers. While the change seemed minor, it raised concerns about reduced visibility and traffic for websites. This paraphrase explores the differences between Featured Snippets and direct answers, examines a report on the increasing prevalence of direct answers, and delves into the implications of this trend for SEOs and users alike.

Featured Snippets vs. Direct Answers

Featured snippets and direct answers might appear similar at first glance, but there’s a key distinction. Let’s break it down:

A featured snippet pulls content from a webpage that best addresses the user’s query, placing it prominently at the top of the search results with a link to the source. In contrast, an “answer box” provides a direct answer:

Initially a feature of the Knowledge Graph, answer boxes provide concise answers to queries seeking specific information, such as ages, historical facts, or population figures. These boxes aim to provide a single definitive answer without requiring further exploration. The crucial difference lies in the presence or absence of a content link. Featured snippets include a link, acknowledging that users might want additional context or information from the source page. Direct answers, however, are self-contained, implying that no further information is needed. This seemingly minor distinction becomes significant when considering the intent behind user queries. We’ll delve into that later.

Direct Answers Now Prominent on 10% of SERPs

Rank Ranger’s recent report, who released a new report on mobile SERP features on April 16, highlights a noteworthy trend. Despite its subtle appearance, the shift from Featured Snippets to direct answers is significant.

Between April 9 and April 16, the percentage of Featured Snippets across all SERPs dropped by over 3%, while direct answers saw a 1.4% increase, surpassing 10% prevalence. While seemingly small, Search Engine Journal emphasizes that this is among the most substantial month-over-month increases for any top-of-page search feature. The report also revealed other notable observations about mobile SERPs:

• 23.06% of first-page SERPs included at least one Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) result.
• Among SERPs featuring AMP, 3.93% of organic results were AMP.
• Ads were present on 30.89% of first-page SERPs.
• Rich Cards appeared on 20.89% of SERPs, marking a 5.64% rise from the previous month.
• Sidelinks were included in 45.75% of SERPs, a 13.61% increase compared to the previous month.

The Growing Impact of More Direct Answers

The removal of links from search engine results pages (SERPs) always sparks concern among SEO professionals, who worry about the potential impact on their websites’ visibility.

If your site benefited from Featured Snippets that have been replaced with direct answers in recent weeks, a decrease in traffic is a real possibility. Furthermore, there’s growing apprehension, some justified and some not, that Google might be following in Facebook’s footsteps by increasingly controlling the online content we consume. As mentioned earlier, the crux of the issue lies in user intent. People value having choices, and direct answers, especially within this context, seem to limit those choices. Featured Snippets encourage users to explore external sources, while direct answers appear to come directly from Google. This raises the question: Is Google genuinely trying to improve its services by understanding and responding to human search behavior more effectively, or is it prioritizing its own interests? By potentially sidelining third-party sources, is Google positioning itself as the ultimate gatekeeper of online information? When does Google’s influence on our information consumption become excessive? At what point do we lose sight of alternative perspectives? While these concerns are valid, some might argue that it’s just a simple change to Featured Snippets. Nevertheless, this trend deserves careful observation. If you’ve noticed any changes on your site or have observations about this update, we encourage you to share them in the comments below.