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Official statement

For the 'People Also Ask' feature: expanding a section counts as an impression for all snippet links. A click on a link then counts as a click. The standard position rules apply.
4:03
🎥 Source video

Extracted from a Google Search Central video

⏱ 1h01 💬 EN 📅 27/01/2022 ✂ 18 statements
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📅
Official statement from (4 years ago)
TL;DR

Every expansion of 'People Also Ask' counts as an impression. A click on a link counts as a click. Expect higher statistics in Search Console.

What you need to understand

How does the counting of impressions and clicks work?

When the 'People Also Ask' section is expanded, all snippet links are counted as a impression. This means that even without a click, the pages gain increased visibility without additional effort.

Why is this feature important for SEO?

For SEOs, this implies a potential change in performance reporting. Impressions increase, but it is crucial to check whether the tracked clicks are proportional. Otherwise, content optimization may be necessary.

  • All displayed links count as an impression when expanded.
  • A click on any link generates a click in the reports.
  • Positions in the results do not affect this metric.

SEO Expert opinion

Is this statement consistent with observed practices?

Current SEO practices confirm the trend of including new data without direct user clicks. This can increase impressions without real interactivity with the content.

What factors should be monitored?

It is important to monitor the click-through rate (CTR) to ensure that these additional impressions translate into actual traffic and not just a superficial increase in numbers.[To be verified]: Google has not specified whether this affects overall ranking or weighting in the algorithm. It is crucial to continue observing Search Console data to confirm.

Practical impact and recommendations

What actions should be prioritized?

Consider closely monitoring your Search Console statistics. The increase in impressions could mask a relative decline in CTR. Optimize content if the impressions/clicks ratio drops.

What pitfalls should be avoided?

Don't be misled by deceptive numbers. The increased visibility of impressions should be analyzed in parallel with other essential SEO metrics.

  • Monitor the evolution of CTR.
  • Analyze the impact on actual organic traffic.
  • Adapt content if necessary to improve engagement.
    Reassess your SEO strategy to include this new data. Consider collaborating with an SEO agency for optimal and stress-free adjustments.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Les impressions comptabilisées changent-elles le rang des pages ?
Non, l'augmentation des impressions ne modifie pas le classement des pages.
Est-ce important de suivre le taux de clics ?
Absolument. Sans un CTR solide, les impressions seules peuvent être trompeuses.
Peut-on considérer ces impressions comme positives ?
Seules si elles entraînent des clics et augmentent l'engagement global.
Y a-t-il un risque pour le suivi du SEO ?
Oui, si les impressions gonflent sans conversion, vos rapports risquent d'être faussés.
Devrais-je changer ma stratégie d'optimisation ?
Oui, intégrez cette analyse dans votre stratégie pour des ajustements pertinents.
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