Google Cuts HowTo and FAQ Rich Results Visibility

Google has recently made an official announcement regarding a downgrade in the visibility of two types of rich results: HowTo and FAQ.

Notably, FAQ-rich results are set to be phased out for the majority of websites (with some exceptions), and HowTo results will be entirely removed from search results on mobile devices.

https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-downgrades-visibility-of-howto-and-faq-rich-results/493522/#close

Despite being an official announcement, Google had already initiated the reduction of FAQ-rich results visibility back in April 2023, as communicated through a notification in the search console. Stay informed about these changes.

Google’s Enhanced Search Feature: Rich Results Explained

Google’s Rich Results stand out as a prominent search feature showcasing web page content through enhanced listings, often leading to increased traffic.

These enhanced results come in various forms, including carousels with larger images, such as recipe cards, listings in a sidebar, or those adorned with star ratings.

Structured data plays a crucial role in triggering these two types of rich results, demanding additional effort from publishers to ensure eligibility for these enhanced features.

HowTo rich results are a specific kind of structured data that shows images and the steps for accomplishing a task.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) rich results require publishers to create question and answer content specific for an FAQ, plus the structured data for it.

FAQ is For Government & Health Websites

Google’s decision to downgrade these rich result types aims to enhance the user experience with a cleaner and more consistent search interface. Moving forward, Google will exclusively display these results for health-focused high-authority websites and government websites.

Should You Remove FAQ & HowTo Structured Data?

Google ignores structured data for the sake of rich results. It’s possible that other search engines may use it. So it’s not necessary to remove the structured data if it’s a hassle.

Reduced Visibility for HowTo Rich Results

Maintaining HowTo structured data remains beneficial since it’s not disappearing entirely. 

Although it won’t appear in search results on mobile devices, Google will continue to showcase HowTo rich results for users on desktop devices.

Conclusion:-
While Google is phasing out HowTo structured data from mobile search results, it remains a valuable asset for desktop users. The decision to retain HowTo structured data proves advantageous, ensuring that your content continues to benefit from enhanced visibility and presentation in Google’s search results, catering specifically to desktop users seeking valuable instructional content.

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