How it works
Every search produces a SERP. It is rarely just a list of ten links. A results page can contain several kinds of blocks:
- Regular results. A clickable title, the address and a short description. These usually come from the page's title tag and meta description, though Google may rewrite both.
- Ads. Paid results, marked as sponsored.
- Rich results. Regular results with extras such as star ratings or prices. A page can become eligible for these through structured data.
- Other blocks. A map with local businesses, images, videos, a list of related questions, or an answer written by the search engine itself.
An example
Search for "how to repot a houseplant" and you are likely to see guides, videos and a list of steps. Search for "plant shop near me" and you are likely to see a map with a few businesses, then their websites.
The two pages look different because the search intent is different. The search engine builds each SERP around what it thinks the person wants.
Why it matters
- It is where you compete. Your result sits next to others. The title and description are all a searcher sees before choosing.
- It shows what people want. The types of pages at the top tell you which kind of page fits a search.
- Position is not the whole story. Ads, maps and other blocks can push the first regular result far down the page.
GOOD TO KNOWThe results you see are not the results everyone sees. Location, device and language change them. Do not treat one search from your own computer as proof of where your page stands.
How to check yours
- Open a private browser window and search for the main keyword of your page.
- Note what kinds of blocks appear: guides, shops, a map, videos.
- Find your own result and read it as a stranger would. Is the title cut off? Test it in the title length checker.
- For numbers, open the performance report in Google Search Console. It shows your average position over time.
The lesson search intent in plain language explains how to read a results page before you write.