How to Rank in People Also Ask Google in 2025: Why AlsoAsked is the Missing Ingredient

If you’ve used Google lately, you’ve probably noticed those boxes with questions that seem to pop up under your search.  They change as you click them, offering even more related questions. We call those “People Also Ask” (PAA) boxes. Getting your website featured in them can offer a big SEO boost.

The tricky part is that PAA boxes are always changing. They reflect what people are actually searching for right now. To succeed with them,  you need up-to-date information on which questions are popular with searchers.

In this article, you’ll learn:

• What Are People Also Ask boxes?
• How People Also Ask (PAA) boxes are ranked and influenced
• Why tools like ChatGPT aren’t always the best solution for finding PAA questions
• How a tool called AlsoAsked can help you target exactly what people want to know
• Ways to combine AlsoAsked with other tools to improve your SEO

Let’s look at why some popular tools might not be giving you the whole picture.

What are People Also Ask Boxes?

When you make a search on Google, have you ever noticed the expandable boxes under the subheading “People also ask”? These boxes are typically filled with questions related to your initial search query, and they are called People Also Ask (PAA) boxes. 

People Also Ask boxes are dynamically generated by Google based on the search query, the user’s behavior prior to the search, and related queries. These boxes offer a quick way to access additional information related to their original search.

People Also Ask Google is actually a game-changer for SEO, due to several reasons:

• Improved Visibility: Appearing in PAA boxes gives your content increased visibility on the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) for your target keyword. Sometimes, the People Also Ask boxes are placed above the traditional organic results, which can translate into more clicks and traffic. 

• Understanding Search Intent: The questions featured in the PAA boxes often reveal the type of queries and keywords users are searching for around the initial target keywords. This can be valuable and can inform your content strategy so you can create more valuable and relevant content. 

• Potential for Featured Snippet: Being featured as the answer to PAA questions effectively can increase your chances of getting featured in a rich snippet, which will again translate into more traffic and visibility.

• Voice Search Optimization: PAA questions are typically conversational, similar to how users use voice search. If you optimize your content to be featured in People Also Ask boxes, naturally, you are also optimized for voice search. 

How to Rank on People also Ask?

Ranking in People Also Ask Google will often require a multi-faceted approach that focuses on three things: 

1. Understanding the user’s search intent
2. Predicting their questions and providing comprehensive answers to these
3. Optimizing your content for Google 

Before we discuss how we can rank on the PAA boxes for relevant keywords, let’s first discuss how Google rank these PAA boxes.

People Also Asked on Google: Ranking Factors

It can feel a bit mysterious trying to figure out why some questions show up in Google’s “People Also Ask” (PAA) boxes and others don’t.  Google keeps the exact formula a secret, but we’ve gained insights into what seems to matter most:

• The Original Search: Google wants PAA questions to feel like a natural extension of what you typed in. If you search for “vegan chili recipes,” you might see PAA questions about ingredient swaps or cooking methods.
• What Others Are Searching: Google pays close attention to what people actually search for. PAA boxes get updated constantly to reflect the questions people are asking right now.
• Answers on Websites: Google often takes the text for its PAA answers directly from web pages that rank well for related searches. If you offer clear, helpful answers, you could snag a spot in the PAA box.
• How Many People Ask: More popular questions have a better chance of showing up. Google wants to help as many people as possible, so common queries get priority.
• Where You Are: If your search is about something local, Google may show PAA results tailored to your area. Questions about “best coffee shops” will change based on your location.

The trick is to create content that people actually want to read. Focus on being helpful, writing clearly, and answering the types of questions your audience is likely to ask. Do that well, and you’ll boost your chances of appearing in the PAA box and improving your website’s visibility.

Ranking on People Also Ask Google: Step-by-Step

In practice and after considering the ranking factors above, you can leverage People Also Ask boxes by following these steps: 

• Identify Relevant PAA Question: Try Googling your target keywords, and then research the questions that appear in the People Also Ask boxes in this keyword. You can also use tools like AlsoAsked (we’ll cover it in the next section) to quickly identify the most common questions by exploring related queries.

• Craft Concise, Informative Answers: Craft clear and concise answers to these identified questions and include them in your content. Try to identify the intent behind each question and address it immediately. Avoid unnecessary fluff.

• Structure Your Content: Optimize your content and make sure it’s well-structured so it’s easy for Google to index it, understand it, and extract the answers. Use clear headings/subheadings, short paragraphs, and bullet points/numbers to break down information. If possible, use the question-and-answer format directly in your content. 

• Implement Structured Data Markup: Use FAQ Schema markup so Google can recognize the Q&A format (if any) within your content. This can significantly increase the chances of appearing in PAA boxes.

• Optimize for Featured Snippets: Google often pulls content from featured snippets as answers in the People Also Ask boxes. So, optimize your answers to be featured as snippets; keep them concise (40-60 words), and well-formatted, and make sure they directly answer the questions. 

• Create Comprehensive Content: While we’ve mentioned keeping your content succinct and to the point, you shouldn’t sacrifice depth. Include examples and supporting information, and offer additional context when possible. 

• Target Long-Tail Keywords: PAA questions often align with long-tail keywords. By targeting them, you can increase your chances of ranking for relevant People Also Ask boxes. Not to mention, long-tail keywords are often less competitive. 

• Internal Linking: Link relevant sections of different pages on your website together. This can help guide users and search engines through your website, and increase the chances of different pages ranking for various PAA boxes.

• Monitor and Update: PAA Google boxes are dynamic and always updated. Monitor your target keywords and keep track of new questions so you can update your content accordingly. This is important for maintaining relevance.

• Promote Your Content: Share your content on your social media posts and other channels. This won’t only improve the content’s visibility but also attract backlinks. The more backlinks—and authority—the page has, the more likely it will be featured in PAA boxes. 

The Power of AlsoAsked for Real-Time People Also Ask Insights

Search trends change fast.  Relying on outdated information is like trying to win a race with yesterday’s newspaper.  For the best chance of appearing in Google’s “People Also Ask” boxes, you need real-time insights into what people are actually searching. That’s where a tool like AlsoAsked shines.

Why ChatGPT is not sufficient

Think of ChatGPT as a massive library. It holds an amazing collection of books, but new ones aren’t added as quickly as they’re being published. AlsoAsked, on the other hand, is more like a newsstand. It’s constantly getting updated with the latest magazines and newspapers – the hot-off-the-press topics people are interested in right this second.

The main limitation of ChatGPT (and similar AI tools)  is that their knowledge has a cutoff date, on top of other limitations. While they’re great at understanding language patterns and generating text, they might miss the freshest questions and search trends if their training data hasn’t been updated recently.

This is crucial for People Also Ask success. The questions Google features are the ones people are actively typing in right now. AlsoAsked’s focus on real-time search behavior makes it a much more reliable tool for identifying those questions.

How to Rank in People Also Ask with AlsoAsked

AlsoAsked is a specialized tool designed to track what people are searching for in real time around any given topic. Unlike general language models that rely on past training data, AlsoAsked is constantly analyzing current search trends. This makes it invaluable for People Also Ask success. With AlsoAsked, you can:

• Discover trending questions: See what topics are buzzing in your niche and identify questions that might not have existed when ChatGPT was last trained.

• Target niche queries: Uncover specific, long-tail questions that a general language model might overlook, but which could offer big SEO opportunities.

• Stay ahead of the curve: See how search interests shift and adapt your content strategy before your competitors do.

By zeroing in on trending and niche questions, AlsoAsked helps you find those hidden gems. Answering the less obvious questions can give you an edge –  you might even be the first website to provide a clear, well-written answer, boosting your chances of landing in the PAA box.

Visualizing Information with AlsoAsked’s Hierarchy

One of AlsoAsked’s biggest advantages is how it displays information. Instead of a long, overwhelming list of questions, AlsoAsked creates a visual map. This map organizes questions into clusters, giving you a clear understanding of how people approach a topic.

• Root Queries: At the center of each cluster is the “root query” – a broad, high-level question that people often start with.
• Branching Questions: Connected to the root query are more specific questions. These help expand the search and represent potential topics for deeper dives within your content.
• Sub-Questions: Some questions have further sub-questions branching off, revealing incredibly detailed niches.

Understanding the “Why” Behind Search Behavior

AlsoAsked’s visualization isn’t just a pretty picture. It helps you understand how people actually think and research online. This mirrors the way many of us structure content –  starting with a broad topic and then breaking it down into supporting subtopics and detailed explanations.

The Benefit for People Also Asked Google Targeting

By seeing this question hierarchy, you can:

• Identify core themes: Spot the essential topics your audience cares about and tailor your content to provide clear and informative answers.
• Uncover Related Concepts: See interconnected topics you might not have considered, allowing for a richer content strategy.
• Prioritize Effort: Understand which questions are asked most frequently and focus on addressing those with high-quality information.

This clear visual structure empowers you to target the questions most likely to land you in People Also Ask Google boxes, making your SEO efforts more efficient.

Prioritizing Your Content Strategy with AlsoAsked and ChatGPT

AlsoAsked helps you find the right questions. But how do you know which ones to focus on first to get the biggest SEO boost?  That’s where the power of ChatGPT comes in when combined with your AlsoAsked data.

Here’s a step-by-step process:

1. Gather Your FAQs: Export the questions relevant to your topic from AlsoAsked. Cleaning and organizing the data at this stage will make the next step easier.
2. Analyze with ChatGPT: Input the FAQs into ChatGPT and ask it to identify common themes, related keywords, or recurring patterns among the questions.
3. Prioritize by Demand: ChatGPT’s analysis will help you see which themes and questions pop up most often. These are the ones people are most interested in and have a higher search volume.

Why This Approach Works for Ranking on People Also Ask Google

By using real-time search data from AlsoAsked and ChatGPT’s analytical ability, you can:

• Avoid Guesswork: Stop trying to guess what people might be asking, and use real-world data to guide your strategy.
• Tailor Content: Ensure your website is answering questions people actively care about, increasing its relevance in search results.
• Boost ROI: Focus your resources on content most likely to bring in traffic and potential customers.

Combining these tools puts you ahead of competitors who might be relying only on intuition or outdated keyword research. It’s a powerful way to get the most out of your content efforts.

Pattern Identification with ChatGPT

Let’s take your content strategy to the next level. You’ve gathered questions people are asking with AlsoAsked.  Now, it’s time to uncover the underlying patterns within those questions. ChatGPT can be a powerful ally in this analysis, revealing deeper insights that might not be obvious at first glance.

Here’s a step-by-step process:

1. Gather Your FAQs: Export the questions relevant to your topic from AlsoAsked. Cleaning and organizing the data at this stage will make the next step easier.
2. Analyze with ChatGPT: Input the FAQs into ChatGPT and ask it to identify common themes, related keywords, or recurring patterns among the questions.
3. Prioritize by Demand: ChatGPT’s analysis will help you see which themes and questions pop up most often. These are the ones people are most interested in and have a higher search volume.

Getting Specific: Examples of ChatGPT Prompts

To get the most out of ChatGPT’s analysis, try prompts like these:

• “List the top 5 most frequent themes in these questions.”
• “Identify questions specifically related to [your niche topic].”
• “Find keywords that appear frequently within these questions.”
• “Are there any variations in questions about [specific subtopic]?”

The Payoff:  From Insights to Action

ChatGPT helps you spot questions that get asked over and over again.   These frequent questions likely have high search traffic, meaning more people are actively seeking those answers.  By making sure your content addresses these common concerns directly, you increase your chances of appearing in the PAA box and capturing that valuable traffic.

Getting Hyper-Specific with AlsoAsked’s Market Filtering

Think about it: someone searching for “best pizza nearby” in New York will get very different results than someone in Rome. What people ask, and how they ask it, is highly influenced by where they live. That’s why location-based data is so important for effective SEO.

Generic search tools might not capture these regional differences. That’s where AlsoAsked’s market filtering comes into play. It lets you specify the country, region, or even city you’re targeting. This delivers several key advantages:

• Uncover Local Nuances: See the specific questions, phrasing, and concerns relevant to your target audience.
• Tailor Your Answers: Don’t just provide general information. Offer insights and address the needs of the people you actually want to reach.
• Avoid Wasted Effort: No point in ranking well for questions people in your target market aren’t asking. Focus your resources where they’ll have the most impact.

By understanding these location-based variations, you can stop competing for generic search terms and zero in on exactly what your local audience wants to know. AlsoAsked makes it easy to get this accurate data, maximizing your SEO efficiency.

Streamlining Data Analysis with AlsoAsked and Google Sheets

AlsoAsked lets you quickly export question data directly into Google Sheets. This familiar format offers several advantages, especially compared to trying to extract similar insights from a language model alone.

Here’s why the Sheets approach excels:

• Filter and Sort: Zero in on the most important questions. Filter by topic, question length, or other criteria. Sort to rank questions by search popularity or identify trends.
• Organize and Annotate: Add your own columns for categorization, notes, or potential content ideas. Restructuring the data helps you uncover fresh insights.
• Cross-Reference: Use VLOOKUP to compare questions against your existing keyword lists, traffic reports, or competitor analysis. This paints a fuller picture of your target audience’s needs.
• Accessibility: Google Sheets is intuitive for most users. You don’t need specialized data analysis skills to get actionable information from your AlsoAsked data.

The Challenge of Language Models

While ChatGPT is powerful, it’s not always user-friendly for this type of task. Extracting similar levels of organized insights could require complex prompts or parsing through raw text output. This adds both effort and a steeper learning curve when compared to the simple workflow of AlsoAsked and Google Sheets.

By streamlining the analysis process, you save time and mental energy. This lets you focus on what matters most –  using the data to optimize your content and boost your People Also Ask presence.

Leveraging AlsoAsked for Competitor Insights

AlsoAsked isn’t just about understanding your own audience.  It can reveal the kinds of questions your competitors may be trying to answer – or the ones they’re completely overlooking.   Here’s how to turn this into a strategic advantage:

• Identify Competitor Focus: Run searches related to your competitors in AlsoAsked. See what questions appear around their brand name and products. This offers clues to the topics they’re emphasizing or trying to rank for.
• Find the Gaps: Look for related questions that their websites don’t seem to be addressing well. This is where you can swoop in. Create content that answers those neglected questions to potentially capture untapped search traffic.
• Dig into the Niches: Focus on long-tail questions (those specific, less common ones). This is where you might uncover queries that even data-savvy competitors are overlooking, giving you an edge.

It’s possible your competitors are also using tools like AlsoAsked to refine their content. This means it’s even more important to find those less obvious niches and questions that might slip through their net.  Think creatively, and consider what your unique expertise allows you to address that others might not.

Conclusion

AlsoAsked is a powerful weapon in your SEO arsenal when trying to rank on the coveted People Also Ask boxes. To recap, it helps you:

• Stay Ahead of the Curve: Identify up-to-the-minute trends and questions that other tools might miss.
• Laser-Target Your Content: Understand exactly what people are asking, ensuring your website provides the answers they want.
• Prioritize Effort: Focus on questions that are most in-demand, maximizing the return on your content creation efforts.

And the best part? This valuable data doesn’t have to break the bank. For about the price of a coffee, you can unlock a wealth of insights with AlsoAsked.

At Nine Peaks, we’ve seen firsthand how AlsoAsked streamlines our SEO workflow, and we have the experience of helping various clients rank on the People Also Ask boxes. This experience helps us identify the most promising opportunities and deliver results for our clients.

 Don’t just take our word for it. Experiment with AlsoAsked yourself – even the free options offer a glimpse into its power.  See the difference it can make in how you understand searcher intent and optimize your content for People Also Ask  success.