Research & Studies

In our fourth study of the power of links for ranking, using data extracted in August 2018, we draw on the largest dataset yet: over 27,000 search queries. The big result: links remain a strongly correlated predicter of ranking. The complete study also provides comparisons based on the original 6000-query set and the updated 16,000 query set. In both cases the strong correlation holds. The current study also shows a strong link correlation for both commercial and informational queries, with the correlation for informational queries slightly stronger…. Read More >

We’ve been tracking Google’s Featured Snippets in search for several years now. In this study we look at almost 1.5 million queries most likely to qualify for a Featured Snippet to see how the search feature has changed over time. Are Featured Snippet appearing in search more or less often? Are there significant differences between mobile and desktop? For the answers to these and more, click through to the study!… Read More >

Featured Snippets in search have the potential to jump you above the number one organic result, and without link building or some of the other arduous tasks of traditional SEO. But that doesn’t mean they’re easy to get or keep! This resource center is your one-stop hub for everything you need to know about Featured […]

This post is a part of our Featured Snippet Resource Center, feel free to explore more Featured Snippets information at Featured Snippet Resouce Center Here is what Danny Sullivan of Google said in January 2018 about why they are investing in featured snippets: We display featured snippets in search when we believe this format will […]

If you’re in the search industry, you’ve likely noticed featured snippets where the site used as the source of the information changes over time. It’s clear that Google is going through some type of optimization process designed to improve the overall results. In our latest study, we examine the general stability of Google’s featured snippet […]

If you’re in the search industry, you’ve likely noticed featured snippets where the site used as the source of the information changes over time. It’s clear that Google is going through some type of optimization process designed to improve the overall results. In our latest study, we examine the general stability of Google’s featured snippet […]

This page contains the 2018 update to our Digital Personal Assistants accuracy study. In this new edition of the study, we tested 4,942 queries on five different devices: Alexa Cortana Invoke Google Assistant on Google Home Google Assistant on a Smartphone Siri In this study, we compare the accuracy of each of these personal assistants […]

Latest update May 1, 2018 — This is the latest edition of our study on the state of the mobile web. In this study I’ll show you the level of usage of the mobile web last year (2017) as compared to desktop, and how 2017’s usage level compares to 2016. The stats in this and […]

In 2017 we asked nearly 5000 questions to several of the leading digital personal assistants to see which was best at answering simple, factual questions. Now in 2018 we’ve done it again, asking those questions to the following: Alexa Cortana Invoke Google Assistant on Google Home Google Assistant on a Smartphone Siri Find out how […]

We’ve been tracking Twitter’s integration into the Google search results since 2014, and today I’m publishing the fifth of our studies on the topic. The TL;DR of today’s results is that Google’s indexation of Twitter is at the lowest level ever. Read on for the details! For reference, here are links to the prior versions […]

How comfortable are real people with using voice commands with their devices? We wanted to know, so for the second year in a row, we asked over 1,000 people how they use voice, when they use voice, and why. If you’re looking to get a snapshot of how voice is used by people today, then […]

What was the most-linked-to content marketing content on the web in 2017? Read on, and I’ll provide an overview of the top pieces of content in 2017 to date, along with an analysis of what it means for your content marketing strategies. The analysis includes 1021 pieces of content, all of which were shown to […]