Google’s Danny Sullivan confirmed that search outcomes displaying FAQ structured information are actually restricted to solely two outcomes. Danny additionally confirmed that it was not finished to curb abuse of the structured information wealthy outcomes by SEOs and defined the the reason why they did this.
Google FAQ Rich Results Not Limited within the UK
Google’s Danny Sullivan tweeted that they’ve restricted FAQ wealthy outcomes to two per internet web page.
Yes, we made a change just lately that limits these to two most.
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) June 18, 2021
But that isn’t the case within the UK.
Here is what an FAQ wealthy consequence seems to be like within the UK:
Screenshot of a UK Rich Result with 3 FAQs
FAQ Rich Results in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) structured information is a method to change into eligible to present FAQ content material in Google’s SERPs. The good thing about such a show is that it makes a web site’s place take up more room within the search outcomes.
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This sort of wealthy outcomes was announced by Google on May 8, 2019.
“An FAQ web page offers an inventory of ceaselessly requested questions and solutions on a specific matter.
For instance, an FAQ web page on an e-commerce web site may present solutions on delivery locations, buy choices, return insurance policies, and refund processes.
By utilizing FAQPage structured information, you may make your content material eligible to show these questions and solutions to show straight on Google Search and the Assistant, serving to customers to rapidly discover solutions to ceaselessly requested questions.”
Another motive why the FAQ structured information show was coveted was as a result of it knocked a competitor or two off the primary web page of the search outcomes onto web page two.
web optimization Response to FAQ Structured Data Rich Results
The preliminary rollout generated each reward and criticism, relying on whether or not the web optimization was benefiting from FAQs within the SERPs or if a competitor was benefiting.
Google confirmed up to ten FAQs at a time, which may create the state of affairs the place two or three internet pages may dominate your complete first web page of the search outcomes.
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One web optimization (@brodieseo) tweeted a screenshot of how a lot the FAQs dominated the search outcomes:
Good morning associates. I’m fairly certain the max is 10 for the FAQs Andy, then it has the ‘view extra’ hyperlink on the finish. So on the primary web page of the Goog there may doubtlessly be 100 FAQs? I hope I by no means stumble throughout that consequence. pic.twitter.com/RTd2ZZdApk
— Brodie Clark (@brodieseo) September 17, 2019
Lily Ray (@lilyraynyc) posted a screenshot of the FAQ wealthy outcomes dominating the SERPs.
Here’s that screenshot with highlights that I added to present simply how a lot area these wealthy outcomes took up:
Screenshot of FAQ Rich Results in 2019
She later tweeted her blended emotions in regards to the new FAQ wealthy outcomes:
“I really feel a bit of awkward complaining about natural outcomes taking over an excessive amount of area.”
August 2020: Google Reduced FAQ Rich Results
Then round a 12 months later in the summertime of 2020 the search advertising group seen that there have been much less FAQ structured information wealthy outcomes displaying within the SERPs.
Google’s John Mueller answered a query in regards to the seeming disappearance of FAQ rich results.
Mueller stated:
“With regards to FAQ markup generally, one of many issues that I’ve seen individuals speaking about on-line is that we’re displaying fewer of those within the search outcomes.
And that’s one thing from my perspective, that’s sort of pure growth, the place we attempt to discover the best stability between displaying these all over the place and displaying these for pages the place it sort of makes extra sense.
…So we’ve got to sort of superb tune which of them, which queries, which pages we’d be displaying the FAQ wealthy outcomes sort for.”
May 2021: FAQ Rich Results Still Missing
In one other Google workplace hours hangout in May 2021 another person requested Mueller what was going on with the FAQ Rich Results.
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The individual asking the query wished to know if the structured information now not returned wealthy outcomes, asking, “Does it work?”
John Mueller answered that Google was nonetheless displaying the FAQ wealthy outcomes and that it’s present process the conventional strategy of updating the assorted options and outcomes to make it possible for the wealthy outcomes are helpful.
Mueller stated:
“What normally tends to occur with a few of these structured information varieties or wealthy outcomes varieties is that over time we attempt to superb tune how typically we present them simply to make sure that we’re not
overloading the search outcomes with all of those… bling and additional performance that simply confuses individuals in the long run.”
Google Announces FAQ Rich Results are Limited
What modified is that Google’s Danny Sullivan introduced on Twitter that Google is limiting FAQ wealthy outcomes to simply two FAQs per internet web page as a substitute of the earlier ten FAQ entries per internet web page.
Someone requested if it was in response to SEOs “gaming” Google:
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And lastly Google determined that SEOs pushed an excessive amount of the FAQ recreation.
So… let see what websites will probably be “graced”… proper now, in journey, I have a tendency to see the traditional OTAs incomes them (those who really pushed an excessive amount of the FAQ needle) https://t.co/fwWcZtPZmV— Gianluca Fiorelli (@gfiorelli1) June 18, 2021
Danny Sullivan responded that no, it’s not a response to anybody gaming the FAQ wealthy outcomes.
Danny tweeted:
I’ve seen a number of individuals counsel that is one thing we did due to web optimization gaming. It’s not. SEOs could not recreation what number of we displayed. Our automated techniques did that. We simply evaluation issues on a regular basis and decided displaying up to two was most helpful, after we present in any respect.
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) June 18, 2021
Danny expanded on his clarification:
It exhibits as a result of our techniques have decided it could be helpful to present. That’s why they — like some other structured information — do not at all times present. It’s not at all times helpful. More right here: https://t.co/OKIPc9vfZo
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) June 18, 2021
Are FAQ Rich Results Limited Only within the USA?
At this writing it’s unknown if the wealthy outcomes for FAQ structured information is proscribed to the USA or if there’s a mistake within the rollout of this replace to how FAQs are displayed within the SERPs.
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It was starting to really feel that the FAQ Rich Results had gone away or had been placed on maintain. This new method of displaying FAQ wealthy outcomes appears extra honest than the preliminary method which tended to knock extra websites off the entrance web page of the search outcomes.
Limiting internet pages to simply two FAQs within the wealthy outcomes looks as if a good method to implement this function whereas nonetheless being helpful to customers.
But don’t anticipate this implementation to be everlasting as a result of all the pieces about search is in a state of fixed change.
Citations
2019 Google
New in structured data: FAQ and How-to
2019 Google
FAQ on Search and the Google Assistant
SEJ September 2019
Is FAQ Structured Data Dominating Google Search?
SEJ August 2020
Why Google Might Show Less FAQ Rich Results
SEJ May 2021
Google on What’s Going on With FAQ Rich Results
