A search engine results page, or SERP, is one of the most visited pages on the internet. By some estimates more than 70% of internet sessions visit a SERP at least once. As important as popular as these page are many people do not fully understand what they are and what the various listings represent.

A SERP is just the page that Google, and other search engine, serves up after a user submits a keyword. The results page is why web surfers utilize search engines in the first place, its where searchers find the websites they visit.

For anybody that spends a significant amount of time online an understanding of SERPs can be valuable knowledge. Whether you are someone who uses online resources for research and information or your job requires you to work online, taking the time to educate yourself regarding SERPs is a worthwhile endeavor. Particularly if you are an online marketer or business owner with a website the SERPs can be a valuable source of traffic and potential customers.

There are lots of varied search engines running today and most have unique design features yet the majority contain the same vital components. They all return sites in response to search queries.

The returned websites are usually sites however in increasing numbers search portals are listing videos, images, as well as alternative types of online resources. When looking at a search engine the returned listings can usually be categorized into 2 main categories; paid listings and free listings.

Paid listings are ranked in part by how much websites are willing to pay search engines for traffic as opposed to organic listings which are order by a search engines internal ranking algorithm with no money exchanging hands. Different search engines format their results differently. Some engines clearly indicate which listings are paid for and other are not so clear.

To put it simply the paid listings can be had for sites open to paying the search sites and being ranked within the organic sites requires being found organically by the search engine listing algorithm.

The two kinds of ranking categories are useful for different uses. A comprehensive understanding of both is the best way to make sure you can fully utilize the potential of search sites, whether as a marketing tool or information site.

The author is an expert in internet marketing and web technologies and has helped numerous start ups make money online. Check out additional pieces on profitable internet business ideas such search engine optimization, email, blogging and social media.

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