Apparently, Google Answer boxes can appear in the search results when performing a site:domain.com type of search in Google. I find this kind of odd, as typically someone isn’t looking for an answer per se when they use the site: search operator at Google.
What is a Google Answer Box?
A Google Answer box is Google’s attempt to give you information in their search results about search query (keyword) so you don’t have to click through to a website to get the answer. Google predicts the answer to your question, scrapes the data from a website, and makes it show up at the top of the search results. This is often referred to ranking 0 (zero) position, before the first result. In most cases, Google will show Google AdWords ads before the answer box.
Here is an example:
If you search my site for the word “domain” using this search:
https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Abillhartzer.com+domain
You will see that an answer box appears at the top of the search result. I cannot believe that showing a Google answer box for ANY search query that uses the site: search operator would be helpful. But, maybe if I stretch it and say that it’s helpful because clearly Google likes that page? Maybe I should be expand the content on that page because they like it so much they’re giving it an answer box?
Typically, though, when someone searches for all pages in a site and then adds a keyword, they’re looking for some content on the site related to that keyword. For example, I wanted to search my own site for where I talked about “domain names” and I searched for “domain”. So, in that case, I did come up with the most relevant page. But, it included an answer box.
