What is what in Google search results?
With this series of blog articles, we are going to explain the Google search results page and the different elements Google shows us on this page.
The search engine results page (SERP) is the listing of results returned by a search engine in response to a keyword query – in this case ‘hotel berlin’.
We searched on Google.com in Germany which is why English as well as German websites are among the search results:
Organic Search Results
The first element on the search results page we want to explain are organic search results.
Organic search results is what Google started out with. Sometimes organic search results are referred to as natural search results. These are the search results the Google algorithm produces when a user types their search phrase into the Google search field and presses Enter. The results appear because of their relevance to the search terms, although obviously Google determines what this is.
Over the years, organic search results have occupied less and less space on the Google search results page and are being pushed further down to make room for other Google products. Of course, search is free on Google and organic search results are non-commercial. Some other Google products are, though – first and foremost Google AdWords.
When it comes to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), organic search results is what it refers to. With less room for organic search results on the page, SEO has also become much more difficult, since more websites compete with each other for less places in the search result listing.