Imagine you’re browsing online, running a search to discover which pages are competing with your ranked content. You’re ranked third on the first page, and your biggest competitor is showing up in the People Also Ask box.
Now, you’re confused because you’ve worked hard with your content with a good strategy and targeted keywords. Yet, somehow, you can’t figure out how to appear in People Also Ask.
This article provides insight into proven strategies that help you rank in the People Also Ask box.
What is the People Also Ask box?
The People Also Ask box is a feature on Google that displays a list of related questions that are relevant to the user’s query. Whenever users click on one of these questions, it expands with a summarised answer which is directly pulled from a webpage. These answers are linked to the particular page directly.
In future, ranking in PAA will become more competitive because Google’s algorithms are improving at understanding user intent, cite trusted sources and provide precise answers. For businesses aiming to attract high traffic, featuring in PAA can be a game-changer, particularly when paired with strategic SEO and optimised content.
PAA Purpose
- It helps users to explore different queries related to their search query, without performing multiple searches.
- It benefits content creators and businesses to increase visibility and traffic from Google’s search results page.
Step-by-Step Guide to Rank in People Also Ask
Ranking in PAA requires a structured approach. Now, let’s see the step-by-step guide for businesses aiming to rank in PAA:
Discover Targeted PAA Questions
- Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or SurferSEO help in finding questions that appear in PAA according to your niche.
- Analyse the search intent of users, such as informational, comparison, or tutorial-based queries.
- Tools like AnswerThePublic help you to keep up with emerging trending questions to stay ahead of merging queries.
Create High-Quality Content
- Structure your content with H2 and H3 headings with questions as headings.
- Provide short answers, then expand with a detailed explanation if necessary.
- Use bullet points, numbered lists, or tables to make information easy to read and more accessible.
Focus on User Search Intent
- Understand what the searchers really want to know and create answers that fulfil their search intent.
- Avoid stuffing keywords and instead use natural placement of keywords and semantic variations.
- Include internal linking and authoritative and trustworthy external references.
- Partnering with an experienced SEO agency in SG can help ensure your content meets AI-powered search requirements and appears in PAA effectively.
Add FAQ Schema Markup
- Adding FAQ scheme markup helps Google understand that a page contains a list of questions and answers, more likely to appear in rich results, like People Also Ask boxes.
- Ensure your schema is accurate and matches the visible content, making it easier for AI to feature your pages, even with concise content.
Focus on E-E-A-T and Authencity
- To gain Google’s trust, ensure your pages include credentials, case studies, and verified data.
- Ensure your site has fast loading speeds, a mobile-friendly design, and secure HTTPS connections.
- Mention years of experience, client reviews and success stories to maintain experience and expertise clearly.
Observe, Analyse and Update
- PAA questions and rankings are fluctuating, so make sure to audit your content regularly.
- Update your answers regularly to keep up with new trends and information.
- Use tools like Google Search Console to monitor clicks, impressions, and which questions are generating traffic.
The AI-driven features will start prioritising content that demonstrates (E-E-A-T) experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
Top People Also Ask Tools to Help You Rank
The good news is, you don’t have to handle the research all by yourself. There are plenty of tools available that can help you secure a PAA spot.
Here are some recommended tools:
Semrush
It is one of the most popular all-in-one digital marketing and SEO tools used by businesses, marketers, and content creators to enhance online visibility and performance. Some main features of Semrush include keyword research, competitor analysis, site audit, content optimisation, and monitoring backlinks. There’s also a feature for identifying questions related to your targeted keywords.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs is one of the leading SEO and digital marketing tools that helps in finding questions related to a specific keyword. It also offers keyword research, site audit, and backlink analysis, which may be useful for ranking in PAA.
AnswerThePublic
A tool that specialises in keyword research and content ideas, which helps you understand what people are searching for online. It helps in taking a primary keyword and finding questions, prepositions, comparisons, and alphabetical keyword suggestions.
BuzzSumo
An easy-to-use resource for content research and social media analysis that helps marketers or content creators discover trending content and plan effective content strategies. BuzzSumo’s question finder tool helps in discovering popular questions from various platforms across the internet.
AlsoAsked
This tool provides detailed “People Also Ask” data, showing how questions are grouped by topic and branch into related queries, making it suitable for PAA-focused SEO. It is affordable, easy, and dedicated to collecting PAA data.
Final Thoughts
Ranking in People Also Ask is not an option; it should be a priority. It is a powerful way to attract targeted visitors, boost brand authority and gain online visibility. PAA will become an essential part of advanced SEO, driven by AI search, user-focused content, and E-E-A-T standards.
At SEOCompany.me, we help businesses optimise content to gain a position in People Also Ask. Our team ensures your content meets AI-driven standards, connects with your audience and delivers real results. Audit your content now, answer the right questions, and structure it for AI. The PAA opportunities won’t wait; make sure you stay ahead of your competitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
1: What is Google’s People Also Ask feature?
People Also Ask is a search feature that displays a list of questions related to a user’s query. Clicking a question reveals a brief answer and a link to the source, helping users explore related topics easily.
2: Why is ranking in “People Also Ask” important for businesses?
Appearing in the People Also Ask snippet boosts visibility, drives targeted traffic, and positions your brand as an authority. It also increases click-through rates by answering user questions directly on Google.
3: Which content strategies can boost your chances of ranking in PAA?
Focus on structured content using H2/H3 headings for questions, provide concise answers, implement FAQ schema, optimise semantically, and showcase expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T).
Author
Manoj Negi
