Google Just Updated Their Featured Snippets and Knowledge Panels: What You Need To Know

Last month, there was a change in the amount of featured snippets and knowledge panels being shown in Google’s search pages. During a short period in early November 2017, the number of featured snippets went down, while the number of knowledge panels went up. This was seen as a move by Google to test and adjust their search metrics, which is something that they do on a regular basis.

This month, however, Google once again updated their Featured Snippets and Knowledge Panels. These updates help expand the two to accommodate more content, which helps give users more reliable information. Here are some extra details that you need to know.

More Characters for Featured Snippets

One of the most notable features of the update is that the character count has increased for featured snippets. The maximum character count is now at 320, which means that users would be able to see longer descriptions on their search results.

Although this might signal a lot of people to update their meta descriptions to accommodate to the changes, it is best to stay put. One noticeable detail is that the number of characters that show up in the search results actually depends on the search query itself. This means that if you have a long meta description, that means it would show up better in the search results. This is a more dynamic feature that helps display information better.

More related information on Knowledge Panels

When we addressed the issue regarding knowledge panels in one of our previous posts, we were concerned about the quality of information that they provide. The purpose of having knowledge panels is to provide you with extra information related to your search query.

Google’s update optimizes this feature by showing more related topics and suggestions that can help you with whatever you are looking for. This not only helps bring in better search results, but also help the users discover more content.

Impact on SEO

Despite the fact that Google now provides more characters in their search entries, it is not necessary to update your meta descriptions, as Google also tends to use the text of the article itself on certain occasions. The improved Knowledge Panels allow more convenient and efficient searches, which you can use to your advantage through effective linkbuilding strategies that can help users reach your website and content.

Key Takeaway

With this update, users are expected to have more refined search results, which would really benefit your SEO rankings. With 2018 bound to arrive in a few weeks, expect Google to roll out more helpful updates that will generate better search results and SEO real soon.

If you have more questions and inquiries about Google and SEO in general, leave a comment below and let’s talk.