Google tests big changes to featured snippets

The two new additions to Google's featured snippets are 'From the web' and 'Other sites say'. Here's what they look like.

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Google is testing some significant changes to featured snippets. Both will give searchers a more diverse set of sources in the coveted featured snippet position. 

From the web. A typical featured snippet features text from, and a link to, one website. In this From the web test, Google shows brief excerpts from two or three different websites, linking to each source separately. Google also includes the site’s favicon.

Here’s an example screenshot of a search for [expressvpn review] (shared via Twitter by @vladrpt): 

Google Serp Expressvpn Review From The Web

Postscript: Here’s an example of a From the web results on a search for [split finger fastball explained] with five sources, (shared via Twitter by @glenngabe):

Google Split Finger Fastball Explained From The Web

Other sites say. There’s also another variation of this featured snippet test where Google groups three sites beneath the typical paragraph-style featured snippet, under a heading of Other sites say.

Here’s a screenshot (shared via Twitter by @SarahBlocksidge): 

Google Serp Benefits Of Carrots Other Sites Say

Hat tip. Barry Schwartz reported on these changes earlier today at Search Engine Roundtable

Why we care. If you own featured snippets for important keywords, you potentially could see your traffic reduced, as clicks could go to competing pages. Rather than owning the valuable SERP real estate outright, your site might end up sharing a featured snippet with at least one other site, or potentially up to four other sites. (All of this depends on whether this change rolls out permanently and what Google sees in testing its success). On the flip side, if you don’t currently own a featured snippet, this gives you two additional chances to get there and potentially drive some more traffic. Good luck to all the rank tracking tools – as well as their users – figuring this all out.


About the author

Danny Goodwin
Staff
Danny Goodwin has been Managing Editor of Search Engine Land & Search Marketing Expo - SMX since 2022. He joined Search Engine Land in 2022 as Senior Editor. In addition to reporting on the latest search marketing news, he manages Search Engine Land’s SME (Subject Matter Expert) program. He also helps program U.S. SMX events.

Goodwin has been editing and writing about the latest developments and trends in search and digital marketing since 2007. He previously was Executive Editor of Search Engine Journal (from 2017 to 2022), managing editor of Momentology (from 2014-2016) and editor of Search Engine Watch (from 2007 to 2014). He has spoken at many major search conferences and virtual events, and has been sourced for his expertise by a wide range of publications and podcasts.

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