SEO Term Definition
SERP Features
SERP features are non-standard results that appear in Google's search results beyond the traditional blue links — including featured snippets, knowledge panels, image carousels, and local packs.
Reviewed by Alexander Yarovenko · Updated: 2026-07-03
What are SERP Features?
SERP features are elements that appear in Google Search results beyond the standard organic blue links. They can appear above, below, or alongside organic results, and often capture significant click traffic — making them important targets in any SEO strategy.
Common SERP Features
| Feature | Description | Triggered by |
|---|---|---|
| Featured Snippet | Answer box at position 0 | Informational queries with clear answers |
| People Also Ask | Expandable related questions | Most informational queries |
| Knowledge Panel | Entity information box | Brand/person/place queries |
| Local Pack | Map + 3 local business listings | "Near me" or local queries |
| Image Pack | Row of image results | Visually-oriented queries |
| Video Carousel | YouTube/video results | "How to" and tutorial queries |
| Shopping Results | Product listings with prices | Product purchase queries |
| Sitelinks | Sub-pages shown under a result | Branded navigational queries |
| Review Stars | Star ratings in organic results | Review schema markup |
| AI Overview | AI-generated answer at the top | Many informational queries (US and expanding) |
Why SERP Features Matter for SEO
- Zero-click risk — featured snippets and AI Overviews can answer queries without a click
- Additional visibility — appearing in a SERP feature alongside your organic listing doubles exposure
- CTR impact — winning a featured snippet can dramatically increase CTR for position 1–3 results
How to Target SERP Features
- Featured snippets → answer the query directly in the first paragraph; use the question as a heading
- Local pack → optimise Google Business Profile; build local citations
- Review stars → implement Review or Product schema markup
- Video carousels → create YouTube videos with keyword-rich titles and descriptions
- Image pack → optimise image alt text, filename, and surrounding content