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The Featured Snippet: March 2021

The Featured Snippet is the official SEO newsletter of Performics and is dedicated to keeping you up to date with the latest SEO industry news, trends, and events—all in an easy-to-read, summed-up format. See below for the latest version of The Featured Snippet:

In the March 2021 issue of The Featured Snippet: 

  • Microsoft Bing Updates Search Results Interface
  • Google Responds to Zero-Click Search Study 
  • PageSpeed Insights Scores Change (March 3, 2021)
  • Google Expands Core Web Vitals & Page Experience Update FAQs
  • Google Provides Best Practices for Product Information
  • Google Releases Video SEO Tips 
  • Google Launches Practice Problems and Math Solver Structured Data

Microsoft Bing Updates Search Results Interface

Microsoft Bing updated its search results interface to be more “visually immersive.” This update has been applied to various SERP features like recipe results, similar looking items, expandable carousels, infographic panels and local answers design. Here is a look at some of the new features: 

New knowledge panel design: 

Recipe image results: 

Expandable carousels: 

Resources: 

Google Responds to Zero-Click Search Study 

A zero-click search study concluded that 65% of searches result in zero clicks. This large figure led many to raise questions about the study, if the data is accurate, or if it even matters. Google responded with its own refutation of the study to “set the record straight” and “provide important context about this misleading claim.” The official statement and post from Google is below: 

Resources: 

PageSpeed Insights Scores Change (March 3, 2021)

Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool, which is commonly used to assess site speed, updated how it calculates its score. As of March 3, 2021, the PageSpeed Insights score now uses HTTP/2, which is resulting in improved metrics for many websites. 

Resources: 

Google Expands Core Web Vitals & Page Experience Update FAQs

Google recently updated documentation and FAQs surrounding the Core Web Vitals and scores. The most notable changes included:

  • Google will continue to rank the most relevant content for a given term despite poor Core Web Vital scores. A good page experience will not override relevant content.
  • Third-party code slowing down a page will impact the overall Core Web Vitals score and be taken into account.
  • Core Web Vitals scores are measured by the Chrome User Experience Report.

Resources

Google Provides Best Practices for Product Information

Recently, Google provided recommendations for best practices when it comes to eCommerce sites and product listings. Most importantly, Google points out that some data must either be provided through Structured Markup or submitted manually to be eligible for search. This information includes: price information (original vs. discount), related products vs. actual product, price of product vs. taxes and shipping costs.

When this information is provided, it helps Google provide further information to users within search results, product listings, Google Shopping, and Google Images.

Resources

Google Releases Video SEO Tips

This month Google provided further information regarding best practices for SEO and video content through a new Video SEO lightning talk video as well as updated support documentation. The video explains how Google ranks videos, what signals help Google index videos, and all places where video content appears across Google properties.

Some key best practices listed include:

  • Making all videos publicly available on a web page
  • Implementing structured data with VideoObject Markup
  • Adding a high quality thumbnail
  • Submitting a video sitemap as well as making all files accessible to Google

Resources

Google Launches Practice Problems and Math Solver Structured Data

After testing the feature earlier this year, Google now officially displays practice homework problems in search results. These interactive results are included for topics such as high school math, chemistry and physics and will be displayed at the top of search results. In order to be eligible for these results, websites must implement structured data markup using the “Quiz” or “Math Solver” properties.

Resources