How Zero-Click Searches are Changing Local SEO

You had a query and one search and got a simple answer. 

 

This is what 60% of Google searches have been in 2024 with no click. This is an instant solution via a featured snippet, and Google does not require you to sift through pages of blogs or articles to find it.

This shows a zero-click search in action. ⚡

Zero-click searches are for people who just want to confirm the age of Tom Cruise. Yes, he is 62, but that doesn’t mean Gen Z doesn’t want to look him up.

Let’s get back to SEO. Zero-click searches show that people who are looking for simple and concise answers. Instead of diving into the details, they just get it on the top. Simple and Short. 

However, it can be more than just a search for local SEO professionals. Now, you need to understand how it is changing your job. 

Previously, we explored top SEO trends for Australian businesses in 2024 and the importance of mobile-first SEO. Now, we will discuss zero-click searches and their impact on local SEO.

This article will help you understand zero-click searches for local SEO and how they impact businesses. If you’re looking for expert guidance, an SEO agency in Adelaide can help you navigate these changes effectively.

How Do Zero-Click Searches Impact Local SEO?

Is it bad news for SEO? No. 

However, you have to be smarter. Zero-click searches will not get organic traffic to your page. So, ultimately, only a few people visit the website. 

This change also impacts: 

1. Click-through rates (CTR): Pages that previously received a high number of clicks may experience a fall.
2. Keyword targeting: Informational terms are more likely to yield zero clicks.
3. Content strategies: As fewer visitors visit their pages, businesses must reconsider how they provide value. 

Types of Zero Click Searches

Search engines display many sorts of zero-click results that respond quickly to user requests. Each type has its own method of displaying information directly on the search results page. 

For businesses looking to optimise for zero-click searches, partnering with an Adelaide SEO agency can help improve visibility and ranking. The types of zero-click searches are as follows:

• Featured Snippets

A featured snippet answers a user inquiry quickly and concisely, using information from your website, such as the page title and URL. Featured snippets can include not only text but also videos and step-by-step instructions directly in search results.

• Knowledge Panels

When a web user searches for a person, place, organisation, or item, an information box shows on the right side of the search results. The knowledge panel includes a brief summary of basic information, such as a description, photographs, links, and other facts.

• Image and Video Carousels

Image and video carousels allow users to scroll through visual material directly within search results. These graphic features enhance the user experience by displaying relevant media rapidly. Carousels appear most frequently when visual content helps answer the search question more effectively.

• Local Packs and Maps

Local packs, or map packs, are features that appear when a user performs a location-based search. It provides a map of local businesses that fit the user’s description, as well as pertinent information like hours of operation and addresses.

• People Also Ask

People Also Ask (PAA) boxes display relevant queries depending on the search term. Users can click a question to view a quick answer as well as a link to the source. Each click displays further relevant questions, resulting in an interactive experience. PAA boxes show up in 40-60% of Google searches with local intent.

How to Optimise for Zero-Click Searches: SEO Strategies 

If somebody has told you that SEO is dead, ask them why aren’t you retired yet then?

The rise of zero-click searches does not signal the death of SEO. Instead, it indicates the need for a more deliberate and comprehensive approach. 

So, how do you improve your website despite the zero-click searches?

• Prioritise Long-Tail Keywords

You need to determine if any specific keywords activate SERP features and how they might influence the zero-click searches. In this case, you need long-tail keywords. 

Make the queries detailed, so it will help you ensure your audience gets the proper information with details. This will make sure people click your page.

Focus on the keywords that activate local packs, featured snippets, and People Also Ask (PAA). it will help you increase your brand recognition, too. 

• Focus on Featured Snippets

People want information, and they want it now, but it is also concise. 

But a short answer can lead to more details, too. 

Feature snippets may be the concise element of zero-click search, but they are the most important. 

The best is to use lists, steps, or bullet points. 

You can also add both direct answers and additional context to encourage users to click for more information. 

Moreover, by customising content according to the local SEO strategies for featured snippets, you will be able to rank on top of the Feature snippets. Now, this will be your chance to make your material too good and persuade that user is bound to visit your business. 

• Focus on local SEO

To help locals get the right answer right away or visit your website for more, optimise your Google My Business Profiles. For this, you need to focus on Adelaide SEO services and keep it interesting for the local population. 

• Enhance for Mobile and Voice

Most users today send voice queries to get the answers. They ask Google or ask Siri. So, make sure your answers are voice search friendly along with mobile friendliness. 

When organising answers, you can link your content with voice search patterns by using conversational language and natural phrasing.

Conclusion

Since zero-click content does not always result in clicks, your CTA should focus on some catchy content that entices readers. So they can click the page and not leave without getting the information. You can use CTAs by signing up for newsletters or downloading e-books on the relevant topic. 

If you want to get started and rank your content for zero-click searches by applying the best Local SEO tactics, Adelaide SEO Marketing has the best SEO consultant in Adelaide. Get in touch for more.