Integration of verticals (images, video, news, maps, shopping) into SERPs. Ranking depends on query intent + entity salience.
Dominate the Entire Search Page: The Universal Blending Strategy
Are you focused only on getting the number one blue link when Google is showing images, maps, and videos above you? I have seen so many businesses ignore the rest of the search page and miss huge opportunities.
After 15 years in SEO, I know that true visibility means showing up in every possible format.
Today, I am breaking down What is Universal Search Blending? and giving you the secrets to owning the entire search results page.
Get ready to diversify your content strategy and claim more digital real estate than your competitors.
What is Universal Search Blending? The Multimedia SERP
What is Universal Search Blending? is the technical name for Google combining different types of media—like web links, images, videos, news, and maps—into a single search results page (SERP).
It means Google has analyzed the user’s query and decided that a mix of content formats will best satisfy their information need.
Your goal is to optimize every piece of content you own so it can be included in this blended result.
CMS Impact: Optimizing for Every Format
Your CMS should be set up to make it easy to create and tag diverse content types, ready for the search engine’s blending algorithms.
We must use the specific tools of our platform to maximize our chances of appearing in a blended result.
WordPress
WordPress is excellent for Universal Blending because plugins make it easy to implement Schema Markup for various content types.
I use image optimization plugins to ensure every picture is tagged correctly for the image carousel and video plugins to embed videos with the right metadata.
This allows my text, images, and videos to compete for the same query simultaneously.
Shopify
Shopify inherently supports blending because its core purpose is product listings, which feed directly into Google’s Shopping Results box.
I ensure all product schema (price, availability, reviews) is perfectly implemented, making my listings eligible for the rich Product Snippets.
The system easily blends the text results with the visual shopping results, increasing product visibility.
Wix
Wix users need to focus on adding high-quality, relevant media directly into their blog posts and pages.
I always make sure any maps, videos, or images on my page have descriptive titles and are surrounded by relevant, unique text.
The simplicity of Wix’s platform ensures the clean output is easily readable by the blending algorithm.
Webflow
Webflow’s design freedom allows me to structure a page to prioritize one blended element, like a prominent video or image gallery.
I use the CMS to manage video transcripts and image alt text with precision, optimizing the non-text media as strongly as the written content.
This intentional structure ensures the blended result is both highly visible and technically correct.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, I build specific content types (e.g., “Recipe,” “Event,” “FAQ”) that integrate custom structured data perfectly.
I ensure the system automatically generates an optimized XML sitemap for every content type—video, image, and news.
This technical foundation gives me the best chance to be included in any type of Universal Search Blending.
Industry Relevance: Blending for Maximum Visibility
Universal Blending forces us to ask: What content format is the user truly looking for?
If we provide the right format, Google will blend it into the SERP and reward us with traffic.
Ecommerce
Ecommerce thrives on blending, with users often searching for both text reviews and visual product images.
I create both high-quality text content and multiple product images with optimized alt tags to appear in the image carousel.
This multi-format presence ensures my brand is seen at multiple points on the results page.
Local Businesses
Local businesses have the biggest win with blending through the Local Pack and Maps results.
I ensure my Google Business Profile is fully optimized, providing all the data Google needs to blend my business into the map results for a local query.
This blended result often appears at the very top of the SERP, giving massive visibility.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS companies benefit from blending by creating both detailed articles and explainer videos for their complex features.
I host tutorials on YouTube, optimize the video metadata, and embed the video on the relevant feature page.
This allows the video to rank in the blended video carousel, providing an alternate path to my content.
Blogs
Bloggers can use blending to dominate informational queries by creating rich content that is eligible for Featured Snippets and People Also Ask boxes.
I format key sections of the blog post as Q&A lists and simple step-by-step instructions that Google can easily pull out and blend into the SERP.
This strategy allows my blog to answer the query directly on the search page.
FAQ: Universal Search Blending
Q: What is the most important element for Universal Blending?
A: The most important element is Schema Markup, which tells Google the type and function of your content.
I focus on marking up content like products, reviews, events, and FAQs to make them eligible for rich results.
Q: What types of content are considered “blended” today?
A: The main blended elements are Images, Videos, News, Local Pack (Maps), Shopping, and Featured Snippets/Q&A sections.
I analyze the SERP for my target keywords to see which specific content types I need to create.
Q: Can I optimize a single page for multiple blended results?
A: Yes, you absolutely can and should; this is the core strategy of Universal Blending.
I place a well-optimized image, a relevant video, and structured Q&A text on a single page to compete for three different blended results at once.
Q: Does blended search steal clicks from my website?
A: Sometimes it does, but I still prioritize being present because it builds brand visibility and authority.
I ensure my blended content (like snippets) is compelling enough that the user clicks through for the full, detailed answer.
