Google has announced that it will be reducing the visibility of How To and FAQ rich results in search. This change will take effect on August 15, 2023.
Rich results are enhanced snippets that appear in Google search results. They can include things like images, stars, and carousels. How To and FAQ rich results are two types of rich results that are commonly used by websites to highlight their content.
Google says that it is reducing the visibility of How To and FAQ rich results in order to provide users with a cleaner and more consistent search experience. The company says that these two types of rich results are often not as relevant to users as other types of rich results, such as recipe cards and product listings.
The change will affect all websites that use How To and FAQ structured data. However, it is important to note that Google will still show How To and FAQ rich results for websites that are considered to be “well-known, authoritative government and health websites.”
If you have a website that uses How To or FAQ structured data, you should monitor your search traffic after the change takes effect. If you see a significant drop in traffic, you may want to consider removing the structured data from your website.
What are How To and FAQ rich results?
How To and FAQ rich results are two types of rich results that can appear in Google search results.
- How To rich results are used to highlight websites that provide step-by-step instructions on how to do something. For example, a website that provides instructions on how to change a tire might be eligible for a How To rich result.
- FAQ rich results are used to highlight websites that answer frequently asked questions. For example, a website that answers questions about the benefits of meditation might be eligible for an FAQ rich result.
Both How To and FAQ rich results can help to improve the visibility of your website in search results. They can also make it easier for users to find the information they are looking for.
How to create How To and FAQ structured data
If you want to create How To or FAQ structured data for your website, you can use the Google Structured Data Markup Helper. The Structured Data Markup Helper is a tool that makes it easy to create and validate structured data for your website.
Once you have created your structured data, you need to add it to your website. You can do this by adding it to the head of your HTML document.
What does this mean for website owners?
The reduction in the visibility of How To and FAQ rich results will have a mixed impact on website owners.
On the one hand, it will mean that fewer websites will be eligible for these types of rich results. This could lead to a decrease in traffic for some websites.
On the other hand, it could also mean that websites that are eligible for How To and FAQ rich results will see an increase in traffic. This is because the competition for these types of rich results will be lower.
Ultimately, the impact of the change will depend on the individual website. However, it is important to be aware of the change and to monitor your search traffic after it takes effect.
What are the alternatives to How To and FAQ rich results?
There are a number of alternative ways to improve the visibility of your website in search results.
- Use other types of rich results. There are a number of other types of rich results that you can use to improve the visibility of your website in search results. For example, you can use recipe cards, product listings, and review rich results.
- Optimize your website for search engines. You can also improve the visibility of your website in search results by optimizing your website for search engines. This includes things like using relevant keywords and phrases in your content, creating high-quality content, and building backlinks to your website.
- Use paid advertising. You can also improve the visibility of your website in search results by using paid advertising. This includes things like Google AdWords and Facebook Ads.
The best way to improve the visibility of your website in search results will depend on your individual website and your goals. However, by using the tips above, you can increase your chances of being seen by more people in search results.
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