Google has become a go-to source for people all across the world when they have a question that needs to be answered. Pretty much any topic that comes to mind can be searched online. Anytime a topic is searched in Google there’s a good chance that an expandable grid with the heading “People Also Ask” will be displayed in the results.

This box will contain a bunch of questions related to the topic that was searched. For example, if the topic searched was “eggless cookie recipe” some of the questions in the “People Also Ask” section could be:

• What can I bake without eggs?
• What happens to cookies without eggs?
• What can I use instead of eggs in cookie dough?

Every question in this section is related to the topic that was searched. If the reader is curious about any of the questions that appear in this grid all they have to do is click on it and it will expand with the answer. They can then click on the link to get the full article if they would like to continue reading about it. If anyone wants to further their search on the particular question they are intrigued by, then Google offers an option to search that specific question with one click.

How Google’s “People Also Ask” Section Is Making Internet Research Simpler

One unique thing about the “People Also Ask” section is that it gives users a better insight into the information that Google has surrounding the topic. If they click on one particular question in the section then more similar ones are suggested. If they were to click on the question “What can I use instead of eggs in cookie dough?” then they will likely see questions like:

• Can I use oil instead of eggs?
• Can you bake without eggs?

As a user clicks on certain suggested questions in the “People Also Ask” section then questions revolving around that aspect of the topic will be suggested. If they were to click on “What happens to cookies without eggs?” then they would likely see a different set of questions suggested. The “People Also Ask” section is a great source to give people the questions and answers they were after without the time-consuming hunt to find them. A lot of times people don’t have to go far to get the answers they need because of help from this section.

Every Search Isn’t As Lucky

As great as this feature is, unfortunately, it doesn’t show up for every topic searched. Users are more likely to find the “People Also Ask” when they search for a general topic and have narrowed down the phrase. A narrow search like “eggless cookie recipe” is more likely to have “People Also Ask” results than a more specific search, like “egg substitutions for oatmeal raisin cookies”.

Always Check The Content’s Quality

Before posting content online, review the “People Also Ask” section to see what the most popular searches are related to the topic being posted. This information usually isn’t in any specific order but is gathered from websites mentioned on the first page of search results. This is why it’s important to check the quality of the content before it’s posted. Make sure the subject is clear and all of the sentences are well-structured. If the article is informative, Google is more likely to choose it to use the information from. This is why it’s a good idea to make sure all questions and answers in the content are presented clearly.

The ideal strategy for posting content that could appear under Google’s “People Also Ask” section goes like this:

• Pick a topic and write an informative piece on it answering several related questions.
• Create a context table that can help readers jump to the questions they need answered.
• Sit back and watch the content gain extra exposure from the search results.

Some people have used a structured markup, such as Schema, to help land a spot on the “People Also Ask” section. This isn’t necessary in all cases but can improve a user’s chances of getting noticed.

There are many benefits, including SEO benefits, that come with being featured on Google’s “People Also Ask” section. By offering an informative piece of information about a particular topic people are searching for, there is likely to be more organic traffic driven to the website. Users also experience a boost in their website’s reputation since they have become chosen by Google to provide answers. Although there may be a few hits and misses when it comes to figuring out how this algorithm works, learning about it is a great way for users to improve their marketing strategies and content quality.