How Many No Click Searches on Google

Written by: Muninder Adavelli

Updated: July, 18, 2024

Posted in:

No-click searches on Google are an emerging trend that threatens the search engine optimization (SEO) efforts of many businesses. This trend is due to Internet users who can now find their answers directly on the search results page without clicking through any websites.

Multiple studies show there is a huge occurrence of no-click searches on search engines like Google. Some findings reveal over half of searches result in zero clicks. Hence, no-click searches pose a threat to marketers who invest heavily in SEO.

Understanding the dynamics of no-click searches is crucial for adapting SEO strategies against this phenomenon. Let’s begin with exploring the number of how many no click searches on Google and what are some examples of zero-click searches.

How Many Searches Are Zero Click on Google?

The latest report on how many zero-click searches on Google was conducted by Semrush in May 2022. According to its findings, there are 25.6% zero-click searches on desktops, while 17.3% of searches were no-click on mobile phones.

How many no-click searches on Google - desktop vs. mobile phone?

No Click Searches on Google Over Time

Semrush’s 2022 study only involved an anonymous sample of 20,000 US desktop and mobile users. It also included over 600,000 search queries from both devices. However, this study is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to zero-click searches on Google.

In 2019 and 2020, SparkToro conducted a similar study on no-click searches. The back-to-back studies by 2019 and 2020 yielded values that highlighted the rise of no-click searches on Google:

  • 2019: 49% of all searches on Google are no-click
  • 2020: No-click searches on Google grew to 64.82%

Despite the differences in the results of these studies, one issue is obvious: no-click searches are emerging and threatening the SEO capabilities of various content pages.

What Are Reasons For No Click Searches on Google

Some marketers question how no-click searches have become prevalent while pouring efforts and money into SEO and other digital marketing ventures.

The answer lies in understanding user demands and how Google is evolving to meet those needs.

Discover the elements below that are the biggest contributors to no-click searches on Google.

Featured Snippets At The Top of Search Results

Featured snippets appear as the first result of a search, which makes it the primary culprit to a no-click search.

Featured snippet for “what are no-click searches.”

According to Google, “featured snippets” are listings that show an excerpt to describe a page followed by a link to the page’s website. This snippet works as the immediate answer to a user’s search query.

Google’s automated systems pull featured snippets from web search listings, analyzing each page’s potential for a good snippet. It determines whether a page provides the answer to a specific search query.

There are many types of featured snippets that Google developed for its users:

  • Paragraph snippets: This type of snippet appears on question-based queries like “what,” “how-to,” “why,” “who,” “when,” and “where.”
  • Table snippets: This snippet displays data in table format. It’s usually utilized for product comparisons, descriptions, and timeline of events.
  • Carousel snippets: Refers to a snippet that answers multiple questions at once. It utilizes “IQ-bubbles,” which specify each possible query version for a more specific answer.
  • List snippets: These are snippets that appear as bullet point lists or numbered lists. They commonly appear for search queries involving recipes, step-by-step instructions, etc.
  • Video snippets: These appear at the top of search results for answers in video format.
  • Double snippets: Google often provides two types of snippets at once to supply more information to its consumers.
  • Combined snippets: Google combines multiple web pages into one text about a specific search query, creating a unique featured snippet.

Since these snippets answer consumers right away, they affect the website traffic and engagement of various industries.

For instance, 83% of all traffic of e-commerce companies comes from consumers’ direct navigation toward their site. But with Google’s features that lead to no-click searches, this flow of traffic is disrupted.

Google’s featured snippet, in the form of adding a quick shopping tab for users, has significantly affected e-commerce organizations’ organic traffic and reduced it by 23%.

Knowledge Panels Beside Other Search Results

Knowledge Panels usually appear at the side of Google’s search results page. It contains quick information on entities such as people, organizations, companies, places, etc.

Users will learn everything they need to know about an entity as a knowledge panel includes the following information:

  • Images of the search query or entity
  • Short description or definition
  • Contact details
  • Location
Knowledge panel for Edge Delta search.

With knowledge panels, searchers would not have to click on any page links to obtain information about a business or a place.

Google automatically generates knowledge panels based on several sources:

  • General user feedback: Google changes the information on the knowledge panel based on user feedback. Entities can also submit their direct feedback to Google to ensure accurate results.
  • Data partners: They provide authoritative data on specific topics, which Google combines with data from other open web sources.
  • Various web sources: The vast open web pages are one of Google’s primary information resources for knowledge panels.
  • Google Image results: Google supplies an image preview of the entity from Google Image results itself and other sources from the web.

People Also Ask

When users search on Google, they see numerous snippets that aim to provide extra information related to their query. These extra snippets take the form of dropdown panels and are referred to as the “People Also Ask” section.

By clicking the arrows next to each question, they can view the answers along with a link to the source.

“People also ask” section for “what are no-click searches.”

Map Packs or Local Packs

The Google Map Pack or Local Pack shows essential information on businesses nearby. These packs directly provide a business address, contact details, and website address.

Map packs also show reviews and ratings of the business, helping users compare businesses with each other and gauge whether conducting business with an entity is worth it.

Google’s map packs have everything a reader needs to learn about a business and its location. Hence, no-click searches are prominent when users look for locations and contact details of a business or place.

Map packs or local packs for Walmart locations in Michigan, USA.

Dictionary Boxes for Quick Definitions

When users look up a word’s definition, usage, pronunciation, and spelling, dictionary boxes emerge as a quick result.

This box also contains synonyms, antonyms, the word’s etymology, and usage over time. Some words have translations available as well.

As a result of the immediate availability of information on the meaning of words, dictionary boxes leave the dictionary websites at the middle position of the search engine result page with zero clicks.

Dictionary box for search.

Optimizing Your Google SERP Strategy For No-Click Searches While Maintaining Organic Traffic

No-click searches pose two separate problems for website owners:

  • How to optimize content to withstand zero-click search: Getting featured as a no-click search result is a notable achievement as it signals that Google has chosen the content as a primary result.
  • How to make up for the loss in traffic due to no-click searches: Instead of worrying about the traffic that is lost due to no-click searches, some marketers boost their SEO or content marketing efforts to compensate for any lost traffic.

The strategies below are effective ways to solve these problems.

Conduct Intense Keyword Research and Optimization

Keyword research is crucial for any content-producing website. Keywords help Internet users find results for their queries. Thus, keywords allow content marketers to reach the right audiences.

Long-tail keywords are more specific keyword phrases. They are ideal for optimizing a page for search engine rankings and combatting no-click results.

Long-tail keywords graph.

Write Content That Answers a Question

Featured snippets and knowledge panels directly answer a user’s search query. Thus, the trick to appearing as one is to create content that answers a question. Also avoid producing content that is less likely to appear on search engine results pages, such as videos or lengthy articles.

When writing the content, ensure that you provide a direct answer to the main keyword or question. Moreover, you must supply this section in at least the first two paragraphs of your content.

According to marketer guru Neil Patel, questions like “What is SEO” have a 14% higher click-through rate. Hence, prioritizing content that answers a question can also compensate for lost traffic from no-click searches.

Use a Schema Map

Schema markup is a code you add to your website to help search engines understand your content better. It allows search engines to understand a website page’s context and content by providing additional information.

Hence, schema markups improve how your pages are understood by search engines and displayed in search results.

Track No-Click Search Results

Tracking no-click search results is crucial for analyzing and optimizing your website’s performance. Several tools can help you analyze metrics related to no-click search results effectively:

  • Google Search Console (GSC) lets you monitor your website’s overall performance on Google Search, including no-click searches.
  • Moz has a feature that specifically tracks zero-click searches and click-through rates.
  • SEMrush is best for position tracking and website rankings.
  • Ahrefs is a powerful SEO software suite that helps track various metrics like organic traffic, backlinks, and keyword rankings.

Utilizing these tools ensures you stay informed about your site’s visibility and can make data-driven decisions to improve your SEO strategy, especially against no-click searches.

In Summary: The Rise of No-Click Searches on Google

The most latest studies on how many no-click searches on Google are from a few years back. Fast forward to today, the number of zero-click searches is likely even higher with the increasing number of Google searches per day.

Thus, zero-click searches are reshaping the conventional method of SEO. It’s evident that how to be number 1 in Google search is no longer the lone question. Marketers also seek answers on how to endure no-click instances.

Digital marketers are adapting through zero-click marketing. It involves the integration of AI and machine learning in various strategies that aim to make search results more comprehensive.

The marketers of today must not be intimidated by the number of no-click searches on Google. As discussed, there are effective responses toward no-click searches and various resources to navigate the zero-click trend on Google.

Sources

Tutorial By: Muninder Adavelli

Harsha Kiran is a seasoned Link Building Strategist with over 10 years of experience in SEO. Passionate about organic growth, Harsha has helped numerous clients achieve long-term SEO success. When not strategizing, Harsha enjoys hiking and photography.