Optimize content for People Also Ask
We’ve all seen it. Sometimes the questions are even funny. Google’s just trying to be helpful, and it’s something content marketers should pay close attention to.
I’m talking about People Also Ask.
For many queries, Google will return results with a little suggestion box in case you want to be more specific with your search term or you didn’t phrase it correctly.
This little suggestion box is a fantastic tool for SEOs and content marketers.
From understanding what keyword terms people are searching for to knowing how to apply those terms in your content, People Also Ask is a treasure trove of content marketing data. Let’s cover three ways to use this tool in your marketing materials.
How to use People Also Ask for your content marketing efforts
1. Keyword research
Keyword research is an important step in optimizing your brand’s content and beyond the traditional tools, one of my favorite ways to get keywords and ideas for my content’s structure is by using Google’s People Also Ask.
You can understand how your audience searches for their information, what terms they’re more likely to use, and identify secondary and tertiary terms to use within your content itself to help your content rank.
2. Content headers
Content headers or headings are great opportunities for keyword optimization, but should also take into account People Also Ask by formatting them as questions or how tos.
Let’s say we’re writing a blog post on how to start a blog (like the screenshot above).
As I click on options in People Also Ask, it automatically adds new lines based on what it thinks I’m interested in.
In just one search, I’ve learned that these could be great headers for my content as this is what people are searching for:
- What is a blog?
- Are blogs still relevant in 2020?
- How to start a blog
- What skills you need to be a blogger
- Is blogging easy?
- What type of blogs make money?
- How to make money from your blog
By structuring my content around these queries, I can make sure my content answers their search and provides relevant information, which will have positive impacts on my site’s ranking and authority.
3. The actual content
Now that you’ve learned what terms to optimize your content for and how to structure your content, People Also Ask can help you write your piece by writing in the language your audience already speaks.
Read through the questions to understand what they’re asking and how they’re asking it to identify different ways to deliver the right answer to them. Try to figure out their intent. Are they searching for information or are they looking for a product or service?
Do you use People Also Ask as part of your content marketing research? Tell me what other tips or tricks I might be missing out on in the comments below or on Twitter!
