Ever Googled something, only to be greeted by a neat little box at the top of the results? That, my friend, is a google featured snippet.

According to research conducted by Ahrefs, the Featured Snippet captures approximately 8.6% of all clicks. Featured snippets can boost your website’s visibility, traffic, and authority, as well as increase your chances of ranking for voice search queries .

But how do you get your content to show up as a featured snippet on Google? In this blog post, we will share with you the best practices for optimizing your content for featured snippets, based on our experience and research.

What are Featured Snippets

Often referred to as answer boxes, are content excerpts showcased directly on the search engine results page (SERP) without requiring users to click through to the source page. Google positions these informative snippets above typical SERP listings but below the advertisements, all with the aim of enhancing the user experience.

Why Featured Snippets Matter for SEO

Imagine your content nestled at the top of the search engine, not just competing with the masses. Featured snippets grab attention, boost click-through rates, and establish you as an authority in your field. It’s like getting a VIP pass to the SERP (Search Engine Results Page), and who wouldn’t want that?

Snippets can help you attract more clicks from the organic search results, even if you don’t rank in the first position. According to Search Engine Land, a featured snippet gets approximately 8% of all clicks. In addition, featured snippets can help you build trust with your audience and establish your brand as an authority in your industry

What are the Types of Featured Snippets?

There are three main types of featured snippets: paragraphs, lists, and tables . Each type corresponds to a different kind of query and format of answer.

Paragraph Snippets

These are the most common type of featured snippets, accounting for about 82% of all featured snippets. They provide a brief explanation or definition of a topic.

List Snippets

Information presented in an ordered or unordered list, perfect for step-by-step instructions, These are the second most common type of featured snippets, They provide a series of steps, tips, items, or examples.

Table Snippets

These are the least common type of featured snippets, accounting for about 7% of all featured snippets. They provide a comparison or summary of data, such as “exchange rates” or “nutrition facts”.

Video Snippets

For queries where a video might be the best answer, Google might show a video snippet with a thumbnail and a short description. This is common for instructional videos or tutorials.

Bonus: “People Also Ask” Snippets

Although not technically featured snippets, this accordion-style section below the main result often provides additional insights and related questions. Useful for understanding the context of your query and exploring further information.

How to Get a Featured Snippet

how to get a featured snippet on google, here are several things you can do to increase your chances of getting a featured snippet:

Target the right keywords:-

• Focus on question-based keywords: People often use search engines to find answers to their questions. Use tools like Answer the Public, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to identify relevant question-based keywords for your topic.
• Analyze existing featured snippets: See what type of content Google is already featuring for your target keywords. This can give you insights into the format and information Google might prefer.

Optimize your content structure and format:

• Use clear and concise language: Write in a way that is easy for users to understand and avoid complex sentence structures.
• Structure your content with headings and subheadings: This makes your content easy to scan and helps Google identify the important information.
• Use lists, tables, and other formatting elements: These can help make your content more visually appealing and easier to digest.
• Keep it concise: Aim for around 50-60 words for paragraph snippets and even less for list or table formats.

Enhance your content creation strategy by learning how to effectively Structure your content with headings and subheadings. This not only makes your content easy to scan for your audience but also aids search engines like Google in identifying crucial information.

Provide accurate and high-quality information:

• Ensure your content is factually accurate and up-to-date.
• Cite your sources: This shows Google that your content is credible and trustworthy.
• Link to relevant internal and external resources: This can further enhance the value of your content.

Technical considerations:

• Mobile-friendliness: Ensure your website and content are optimized for mobile devices, as most searches happen on phones nowadays.
• Page speed: A fast-loading website is more likely to be featured in snippets.
• Structured data: Implement schema markup to help Google understand your content better.

How to Optimize Featured Snippets Tips & Tricks

To optimize your content for featured snippets, you need to follow these tips:-

•  Pay attention to on-page SEO: On-page SEO optimization is the main step for featured snippets. You should make sure that your content is relevant, unique, engaging, and well-structured. You should also use proper title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and keywords.

•  Conduct keyword research: Keyword research is essential for finding the queries that trigger featured snippets in your niche. Explore various types of keywords. Learn how tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz can assist you in identifying the specific keywords that trigger featured snippets in your niche.

•  Find competitors’ snippets:  Analyzing your competitors’ snippets can help you identify gaps and opportunities in your content. You can use tools like SERPstat, Rank Tracker, SemRush to find out which snippets your competitors have, and how you can outrank them.

•  Identify which phrases you already rank highly for: If you already rank in the top 10 results for a query, you have a higher chance of getting a featured snippet for that query. You can use tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, to find out which phrases you rank highly for, and optimize your content accordingly.

•  Address similar questions in your content: Google often shows related questions in the “People Also Ask” section, which can also trigger featured snippets. You should try to answer these questions in your content, using clear and concise language. This can help you provide more value to your readers and increase your chances of getting multiple featured snippets.

Use various phrasings for the same question: Different users may ask the same question in different ways, and Google may show different featured snippets for each variation. You should try to use various phrasings for the same question in your content, such as “how to”, “what is”, “why”, etc. This can help you cover more search intent and increase your chances of getting featured snippets.

•  Add “how-to” sections to your FAQ Sections: “How-to” queries are very popular and often trigger featured snippets. You should add “how-to” sections to your website, where you provide step-by-step instructions on how to do something related to your niche. You should use numbered lists, bullet points, images, and videos to make your content more engaging and informative.

•  Use schema markup: Schema markup is a code that you can add to your HTML to provide more information about your content, such as the title, author, date, rating, etc. Schema markup can help Google understand your content better and display it more accurately in the search results. Schema markup can also help you generate rich snippets, which are enhanced search results that show additional information, such as images, ratings, prices, etc.

Which Search Queries That Don’t Trigger Featured Snippets?

While optimizing for featured snippets can be beneficial, there are certain search queries that are less likely to trigger them. Here are some types of queries that typically don’t lead to featured snippets:

Open-ended or ambiguous queries: These queries lack a clear intent or answer, making it difficult for Google to determine the most relevant information to display. Examples include “What is the meaning of life?” or “What is the best way to be happy?

Opinion-based queries: Google avoids displaying subjective opinions or beliefs in featured snippets. Queries like “Is coffee good for you?” or “What is the best political party?” wouldn’t trigger one.

Navigational queries: These queries are focused on finding a specific website or location, not getting information. Examples include “Google homepage” or “Directions to the nearest coffee shop.

Transactional queries: These queries are aimed at completing a specific action, like making a purchase or booking a reservation. Google typically directs users to relevant websites for these actions, not featured snippets. Examples include “Buy iPhone 14” or “Book a hotel in Paris.”

Local queries: Google often displays local business listings or maps for local searches, making featured snippets less likely. Examples include “Restaurants near me” or “Best mechanic in town.”

Queries requiring complex calculations or analysis: Google may not display featured snippets for queries that require complex calculations or analysis, as it might be difficult to provide a concise and accurate answer.

Queries with limited or unreliable information: If there isn’t enough relevant or reliable information available for a query, Google may not display a featured snippet.

Remember, even though these queries are less likely to trigger featured snippets, it’s still important to optimize your content for search engines in general. By providing high-quality, relevant information, you can improve your ranking and visibility regardless of featured snippets.

Difference Between Featured Snippets & Rich Snippets

Featured Snippets

Featured snippets are concise text-based answers that appear at the top of search engine result pages (SERPs). They provide immediate responses to specific user queries, aiming to answer questions directly without the need to click on a search result. Featured snippets often include a brief excerpt from a web page and are displayed in a box or featured area at the top of the search results.

Rich Snippets

Rich snippets are enhanced search results that appear within the regular organic search results on SERPs. They provide additional information about the content of a web page, such as star ratings, reviews, pricing, event details, product availability, and more. Rich snippets use structured data (schema markup) to display this enhanced information, making search results more informative and visually appealing.

Conclusion

Google featured snippets are a great opportunity to increase your website’s visibility, traffic, and authority. By following the best practices for optimizing your content for featured snippets, you can improve your chances of getting your content featured at the top of the search results. If you need help with optimizing your content for featured snippets, you can contact us at webzodiac.com, and we will be happy to assist you.