Featured Snippet is the text that appears at the top of Google’s search results to answer your query quickly. Basically, it is a special box where the format of regular listings is reversed, and it shows the descriptive snippet first.
Sounds great, right? Let’s make tons of those featured snippets! Unfortunately, it is not that easy. Actually, it is not possible at all. Google will elaborate and decide if a page would make an excellent featured snippet for a user’s search request.
If this is the case, you have the snippet. Featured snippets can contain definitions, tables, steps, and lists.
Tips:
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Target keywords that are already occupying featured snippets.
This might seem strange at first. Why not try something new? Simply because of data. If Google wants those keywords, then give it to them. How are you going to do that? Choose some keywords and type them into Google.
Do you see a featured snippet? It is that simple. Pay good attention to question keywords; they are 4 times more likely to have a featured snippet.
- Make sure to rank on the first page of Google.
Getting on page 1 gives you better chances to be featured in a snippet. Most of the snippets are found on the first page of the Google search result.
How to get to the first page on Google?
- Make your page user-friendly.
- Keep your content fresh.
- Target your content with search intent
- Optimize your photos
- Fix all SEO problems you have.
- Make your website easy to navigate
- Use SSL
- Make your website mobile-friendly
- Do not neglect internal and external linking
- Take care of the URL structure
- Make your website as fast as possible
- Use the inverted pyramid style of writing content
Start the text by answering “the most awaited part” and then proceed with the additional details for the rest of the content.
- Pay attention to the optimal word count
Most featured snippets are in the length of 40-50 words. Keep your answers straight to the point.
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Answer questions when writing for a featured snippet
Since questions are super important for appearing in featured snippets, you’ve got to provide answers. One of the best places for that is to Answer the Public.
You’ve got to answer how, what, when, where, why, or who.
Make sure to do some keyword research before that. You want your words to be SEO-friendly.
- Know user Intent
Understanding the user intent is the best way to optimize your featured snippets. If you know your target audience’s mind, you can easily rank first on the SERP.
The right way is to divide your target users into three types. The first is about potential customers who are the users looking for the right product to purchase. The second is about influencers who are the figures reviewing your products. However, the third is about competitors searching relevant keywords for research purposes.
Make sure that the snippet content serves the curiosity of the potential customers and influencers. Though both types of searchers have a different intent, it is on you to answer both in the same snippet. Your content should be both informational and navigational.
- Format your content
Depending on where you write your content, you can use the “Paragraph styles” section on Google Docs or WordPress.
Organize your content with headers. Use h1, h2, h3, or h4, and make sure to organize your subheadings by size.
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Choose the Right Snippet Format
Before you start making snippets for Google’s ranking page, make sure to know the types of snippets. A snippet can be in three different formats. Let us explore them in detail first!
1- Paragraph:
A paragraph snippet is the simplest type, displaying text written casually. It usually answers how, what, why, when, where, who, etc., kind of questions. Also, it is the most popular snippet type and the easiest to read.
2- List:
When the text is displayed in a list where each line is bulleted or numbered, it is a list snippet. Lists are mostly opted to display step-by-step guides or instructional text.
3- Table:
Table snippets are helpful for comparison charts. For example: if a content creator wants to compare the prices of a specific motorbike in different regions of the world, he can do it in the form of a well-structured table.
You must ensure that the featured snippet is as per the content type. Make well-structured and properly designed snippet formats.
- Use video and high-quality images
Adding images and videos is essential because many people like to learn visually. Having text together with video is super powerful and drives engagement. Do not forget to have high quality here as well.
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Check Out the People Also Ask Section
When researching to find out potential questions and topics your competitors have covered, do not forget to click the People Also Ask option. The People Ask Option is given below each snippet and at the bottom of Google’s SERP.
As you keep clicking questions, more questions keep appearing. As a result, you can have a wide range of topic ideas you can cover for the featured snippet.
- Double-Check the Content
After conducting thorough research and making credible snippets, do not upload them. First, you need to double-check if the content has the potential to bring the expected traffic to your website.
Make sure it has relevant keywords, serves the user intent, is as per the target audience. Most importantly, criticize it from Google’s point of view: is it worthy enough to be ranked on number 1.
This way, you can beat your competitors and perform the best on the SERP.
Keep Aiming for a Featured Snippet
After you aim to rank on featured snippets, keep following up with the results every week or two. If you see improvement in impressions, move on to the next step of enhancing clicks.
The most crucial factor is the difference between impressions, rankings, visibility, and CTR. You need to ensure that the audience is not ignoring your content and taking the following action in a click.
Keep correcting mistakes and working hard to optimize your content for a featured snippet.
Conclusion
Featured snippets are here to stay. Although it may seem hard to fulfil all those algorithm requirements, follow Google guidelines, compete for the ranking, etc. It pays off in the end.
Keep in mind one thing: Getting a featured snippet means getting position zero. This is the highest-ranking spot possible without advertising. Sounds good?
Do you still have questions about how to do this? Don’t hesitate to reach out!
