When you search for something on Google, sometimes you get a separate block from the rest of the search results and is usually highlighted. This is also one of the websites listed in the search results, but this snippet usually contains the exact result you are looking for. Since it is the first listing on the search result page, it is also referred to as ‘position 0’, but more popularly, it is ‘featured snippets.’
As a web or content developer, you can understand the importance of this featured snippet. When people find the exact thing they are looking for, they are automatically drawn towards it. Many times, this featured snippet also contains an image that might be relevant to your query. Google usually chooses the best answer based on different criteria from third-party websites and publishes it as featured snippets.
Different types of Featured Snippets
The three most common types of featured snippets found on Google are paragraphs, lists, and tables.
Paragraphs
When any user searches for questions, the featured snippets are usually in the form of paragraphs. These are the most popular form of featured snippets and commonly appear to answer a question-related query.
List
Whenever you search for something like a recipe or procedure to do something, the featured snippets appear in the form of lists. These snippets consist of answers in the form of bullet points or numerical lists. These are ideal for providing instructions.
Table
When you search for some statistical information, the featured snippet is in the form of tables. A comparison table may be a table with details like prices, years, rates, or other numerical figures.
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Ways to optimize your website to get featured snippets
While it depends on the search engine to feature your website in position 0 on the search results page, there are some things you can do to achieve this position. Google selects its featured snippet programmatically, so a few hacks can help you gain more visitors and increase your traffic by getting your website selected as a featured snippet.
Make keyword-rich content for your websites.
Search engines work the best when they find the keywords they are looking for. So, your job is to do proper research about the keywords related to your topic and use them in your content as frequently yet as naturally as possible. There are several research tools that you can employ to find the most suitable keywords for your content. When you use the right amount of relevant keywords and answer the probable questions related to the topic, your chances of getting yourself a featured snippet increases significantly.
Look for similar queries.
Google also has another feature which is usually present right below the featured snippet section. It is the feature that lets you know about questions similar to your query or something that people tend to ask along with the query you entered. So, whenever you are working on some content, this feature can actually provide you with a lot of valuable information to make your post even more comprehensive and inclusive.
Try to get your website among the top Google search results.
As a user, we can also relate to the fact that we rarely go to the second or third page of the search results that we obtain on Google. We usually find the most relevant information on the first page. So, if your website is not listed on the first page, chances are people would not pay much attention to it. And how can you be in position 0 without being on the first page? Therefore, your goal should always be to rank your website on the first page of Google search results. The way to do this is to make SEO-friendly content that will guarantee a better user experience and boost your rankings, taking you to the first page of the results and possibly even to position 0.
Do not cross the required word limit.
Various studies show that a featured snippet typically contains around 50 to 60 words. So if you want your content to be posted on the search result page as a featured snippet, you should always keep it brief and to the point. Your answers should be such that the user finds what they are looking for at a glance. If your answers are too long, then chances are they won’t be posted as a featured snippet. So always try to maintain an ideal length.
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Don’t stay limited to the usual content.
If you put out content on your website, then no doubt it will reach your users. But if your website has a section dedicated to questions and answers, it will be a great advantage for you to get your website featured in position. This is because featured snippets are most common in the case of question-related queries.
Conclusion of Featured Snippets
So, if your website already has the answers in the format that users are looking for, it will benefit you greatly to get exposure and leads. While this hack is specifically useful for websites selling some product or service, it can also help other websites show their expertise about a particular topic.
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