Any search result that goes beyond the standard blue link (carousels, images, videos, etc.).
Ever notice how some search results look so much better than others? They might have star ratings, a picture of a product, or a Q&A section right there on the search page. What if I told you that getting this extra info on your own website is not as hard as it looks? I am going to talk about something called a Rich Result. I have been in this game for 15 years, and I am telling you, winning one of these is a major way to get more clicks and a better ranking. I am going to explain exactly what is a Rich Result and give you some simple, actionable tips to get them for your own website. You will walk away with a clear plan to make your search results stand out from the crowd and get more qualified traffic.
So, what is a Rich Result? It is a search result on Google that displays extra information beyond the standard title, URL, and description. This extra information, like star ratings, images, and prices, comes from a special code on your website called “structured data.” Rich results are Google’s way of making the search results more helpful and visually appealing to the user.
A rich result is not a direct ranking factor, but it can dramatically improve your click-through rate (CTR). A higher CTR tells Google that your page is a great match for a user’s search. This can lead to a higher ranking, which is why a rich result is so important for SEO. It is a way to make your website more attractive to users and show Google that you are a high-quality, trustworthy resource.
How a Rich Result Impacts Different CMS Platforms
The principles of getting a rich result apply to every website, no matter the CMS. Your platform is just the tool you use to add the structured data. I am going to show you how to think about this with some of the most popular platforms. The goal is to make your content as easy as possible for Google to understand.
WordPress
WordPress is a great platform for a rich result because of the many plugins that can help you. I recommend you use a plugin like Yoast SEO or Schema Pro. They make it super easy to add the structured data to your pages without having to touch any code. You just fill out a few fields, and the plugin does the rest. This is a massive quick win for your SEO.
Shopify
For Shopify, you can get a rich result for your products, which is a huge advantage. I suggest you use a review app to collect customer reviews and ratings. The app will then add the right code to your product pages so that Google can show the star ratings in the search results. This is a great way to get more clicks and more sales.
Wix
Wix has made big improvements to its SEO features, and it now supports a rich result for some types of content. I recommend you use their built-in tools to add structured data to your pages. A simple, clean design and a clear page structure also make it easier for Google to understand your content and give you a rich snippet.
Webflow
Webflow’s design freedom allows you to add custom structured data to your pages. You can use their CMS to add fields for things like star ratings and reviews. I would also recommend you check a page in Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to make sure everything is working correctly and that there are no errors.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control to add structured data to your pages. I recommend you build a system that automatically adds the right structured data to your pages based on your content. This can be a huge advantage for your SEO, as it ensures that every page is a perfect match for a rich result.
How a Rich Result Applies to Different Industries
The concept of a rich result is the same for every business, but the way you apply it changes depending on what you do. It is all about figuring out what kind of rich result is best for your audience. I am going to show you how to do this for a few key sectors.
Ecommerce
In ecommerce, a rich result is all about products. You should have a rich result for things like star ratings, price, and availability. This makes your search result a perfect match for a person who is ready to buy. You can also use a rich result for product reviews, which builds a lot of trust with your audience.
Local Businesses
For a local business, a rich result for reviews is a major advantage. I suggest you get a lot of reviews on Google and other local listing sites. You can then use a rich result to show the average star rating in the search results. This helps you stand out from your competition and get more clicks.
SaaS
For a SaaS company, a rich result for a product or service is a great way to get more qualified leads. You can use a rich result to show a star rating for your software or a customer’s testimonial. This helps you get a lot of traffic from people who are in the research stage.
Blogs
For a blog, a rich result for a recipe, a book, or a movie is a major advantage. I recommend you create a blog post with a lot of steps, ingredients, or a list of items and then use structured data to show it as a rich result. This helps you get a lot of traffic from people who are looking for a quick answer.
FAQ Section
Can a rich result help my SEO ranking?
A rich result is not a direct ranking factor, but it can dramatically improve your click-through rate (CTR). A high CTR is a major positive signal to Google, which can lead to a higher ranking. So, yes, it does help with ranking, but in an indirect way.
How can I check if my website has rich results?
You can use Google’s Rich Results Test tool. Just type in your website’s URL, and the tool will tell you what rich results are on your page and if there are any errors. This is a great way to find out what you are doing right and what you need to fix.
Is there a difference between a rich result and a featured snippet?
Yes, there is. A rich result is extra information that is added to your search result from structured data. A featured snippet is a box at the top of Google that provides a direct answer to a user’s question. A featured snippet is a lot harder to get than a rich result.
What is “structured data” and why is it important for a rich result?
Structured data is a special code that you can add to your website to help Google understand your content better. It tells Google what a specific piece of information is, like a price, a star rating, or a recipe. It is what allows Google to show a rich result for your website.
