What are Featured Snippets？ [+4 Tips for Earning Position 0]

When optimizing your website for search engine visibility, the primary aim is often to secure the number one position on search engine results pages (SERPs), where you can capture 34% of desktop clicks and 31% on mobile devices. However, did you know that the click-through rate (CTR) for this top position decreases by 8% when a featured snippet is present? This reduction occurs because users tend to click on the featured snippet more frequently than on organic results.

*Transitioning goals to rank for featured snippets* What exactly are featured snippets, and how can you achieve a spot in them? This page delves into the concept of featured snippets and offers four strategies to enhance your website’s chances of appearing in these coveted snippets.

Featured snippets are boxes that appear at the top of search results, providing users with critical information. They extract content from a relevant website and include a small segment of that site’s information, along with a link back to the source. The featured snippet is positioned above organic listings but below paid ads. It’s a separate feature from organic listings, so it doesn’t displace top-ranking websites from the first page of results. Thus, it’s also referred to as “position 0” since it doesn’t alter the rankings of the top 10 results. Many businesses aim for this position to increase visibility and drive more traffic to their pages.

There are three primary types of featured snippets:

– Text: These snippets present a paragraph of text that directly answers the user’s question.

– List: List featured snippets display the result with a numbered or bulleted list.

– Table: Table snippets present information in a comparison chart, often including price comparisons, rates, years, and other numerical data.

Understanding these types is crucial, as it allows you to format your content accordingly to improve your chances of ranking for each type.

Featured snippets are vital for your business as they enhance brand exposure and attract more valuable leads. Their position at the top of organic listings makes them highly engaging for users. Even if users don’t visit your website through the snippet, they are still exposed to your brand. Conversely, some users may find your snippet helpful and wish to explore more, driving valuable traffic to your site.

Featured snippets are also significant for voice searches, as most voice search devices extract their responses from these snippets, creating additional opportunities for brand exposure.

While there’s no guaranteed formula for securing a featured snippet, following best practices can significantly increase your chances. Here are four key strategies:

1. Identify the right keywords for your pages Choosing the appropriate keywords is crucial for securing the featured snippet position. Conduct keyword research to find relevant terms related to your industry and create valuable content that targets these keywords.

2. Answer questions directly and clearly To increase your chances of appearing in featured snippets, ensure your content answers search queries concisely and directly. Google aims to provide the best answer in the fewest words, so avoid fluff and offer direct solutions.

3. Follow SEO best practices Implementing SEO best practices, such as improving page speed, matching user search intent, simplifying navigation, and breaking up text, can increase your chances of appearing in featured snippets.

4. Analyze your competition Understanding your competitors’ strategies can help you identify what to include in your content to rank better in search results and increase your likelihood of appearing in featured snippets.

Featured snippets are a powerful tool for increasing brand exposure and attracting valuable leads. If you’re unsure about optimizing your content for featured snippets, WebFX can assist. With over 500 content experts and a decade of experience, we can help you create an SEO plan that drives your content to the top of search results. Contact us online or call us at 888-601-5359 to discuss our featured snippet creation and optimization services, as well as custom SEO plans.