What are Featured Snippets & How to Optimize for Them?

Featured snippets are a special type of search result that appears in a unique box at the very top of the Google Search Engine Results Page (SERP), providing a quick answer to the user.  

In short, Featured snippets will help provide fast and relevant information without requiring a click to a website. Different types of Featured Snippets can be displayed in a search result, such as paragraphs, lists, tables, or videos, depending on the query. 

Many people refer to featured snippets as "position zero" as it is the very first position above all traditional organic search results.

Types of Featured Snippets

1. Paragraph Snippets

Description: Paragraph snippets contain a brief answer to a query in a short text format (usually taken from a site on the web). Snippets are around 40-50 words to give a user an answer to their question.

Example:

Query: "What is a featured snippet?"

Snippet: "A Featured Snippet is a summary of the answer to a user's query that appears at the very top of Google's search results page in a special box, which gives users immediate access to information without clicking through to a site."

Benefits:

These snippets are ideal for informational queries where users seek a quick and straightforward answer. They can significantly improve visibility and CTR for the source website.

2. List Snippets

Definition: List snippets relay information in the form of bulleted or numbered lists. They're usually for queries based on step-by-step instructions or lists of items. 

Example:

Query: "How to make a cake?"

Snippet:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Mix flour, sugar, and eggs in a bowl.

3. Pour batter into a greased pan.

4. Bake for 30 minutes.

Benefits:

Having list snippets helps when the query consists of sequential information. List snippets can also help show the user the clear actionable steps made available for the user to take action upon, as it only encourages them to click for more information.

3. Table Snippets

Description:  A table snippet allows the search engine to show data in a table. In general, it allows a user to see comparative data and is useful for queries about statistics, comparisons, or schedules.  

Example:

Query: "Compare iPhone models"

Snippet:

Benefits:

Table snippets are visually appealing, and users can easily tap into their value when they are learning comparisons of items.  Table snippets can also lead some traffic to your website based on more data or a product comparison.

4. Video Snippets

Description: Video snippets are a short video that answers your query and typically pulls from YouTube. Video snippets are a great option for queries that need a visual or tutorial-based approach. 

Example: 

Query: "How to tie a tie?"

Snippet:  This search would result in a video thumbnail of a tutorial for tying a tie, generally with a sample description underneath. 

Benefits:

Video snippets answer the needs of users who are searching for visual information. They keep user engagement high, as searches commonly drive clicks to search for a video that explains what will happen in detail.

5. Definition Snippets

Description: A definition snippet defines the term or concept. They are generated specifically to provide a quick snapshot of what the user is searching for. 

Example: 

Query: "What is SEO?"

Snippet: "SEO or search engine optimization is the process of increasing the quality and quantity of website traffic from search engines."  

Benefits:

Definition snippets provide a great opportunity for educational content, while also providing authority in your niche. They allow the user to quickly gain knowledge of a complex term, fostering trust in the source.

6. How-To Snippets

Description: How-to snippets provide exact, step-by-step information on how to complete a task. Typically, how-to snippets are in the form of a list or paragraph giving detailed steps to follow.

Example:

Query: "How to change a tire?"

Snippet:

1. Remove the hubcap.

2. Loosen lug nuts.

3. Raise the car with the jack.

4. Change the tire and tighten lug nuts.

Why are featured snippets important for seo?

1. Enhanced Visibility: Featured snippets can help your website's visibility. According to research from SEMrush, featured snippets can mean as much as a 30% increase in organic traffic! This is especially helpful if you're trying to increase the number of people exposed to your website.
2. Enhanced Authoritativeness: Featured snippets are considered to be authoritative content by users. Authoritativeness will help contribute to brand credibility and trust in your business, which can lead to increased engagement and conversions.
3. Increased Click Through Rates (CTR): Featured snippets can contribute to increased CTR in your content marketing campaigns. In a study by Ahrefs, the average CTR on a featured snippet was around 8.6% and 30.9% of featured snippets rank in position one. This is clear evidence that people will click a snippet first because it shows up preferentially.
4. Enhanced Voice Search Optimization: Featured snippets usually get selected for voice-activated search questions. Optimizing for featured snippets in your content will enhance your chances of being the source when someone asks a voice-activated question. This is helpful as voice search technology is expected to increase in relevance and volume!

How to Optimize for Featured Snippets

1. Identify Frequently Asked Questions: Currently, the best way to identify frequently asked questions is to use Google's "People Also Ask" and initial research tools with keywords.
2. Answering the Questions Directly: Answer the questions directly by using concise content that is organized to be as readable as possible.
3. Use Formatting: Use headers, bullet points, and tables if needed. Google prefers content that is easy to digest and understand.
4. Optimize Based on Search Intent: Be sure to optimize your content for search engine optimization for relevant keywords related to what you are writing about. This entails using the target keywords in the title, H tags, and incorporating them throughout the page's content, headings, and subheadings.
5. Implement Structured Data Markup: If you use structured data (Schema markup), it is possible that your website could be displayed as a featured snippet on search engines. Structured Data assists search engines to better understand your content and its presented value to the search engines.

Statistics

1. Traffic Increase: According to a SEMrush study, if your site ranks for a featured snippet, you can increase your traffic by 30% or more.
2. Click-Through Rate: According to Ahrefs, around 8.6% of clicks are for featured snippets, which is more than regular organic listings.
3. Increase in Voice Search: Research by ComScore estimated that 75% of households will have smart speakers in 2025. Optimizing for featured snippets is becoming more and more relevant.

Can you mark your page for featured snippets?

No, you cannot manually mark up your page for featured snippet status. Featured snippets are determined automatically via Google's algorithms based on relevance, quality, and the best content displayed for the user's search. However, there are simple things you can do to increase the chances of your content being pulled as a featured snippet. Featured snippets are a great way to establish visibility and authority in search results. 

Well-optimized content that targets featured snippets can help drive traffic, improve engagement, and position businesses as a trusted visualization in their industry. 

Featured snippets will remain a significant component of the SEO strategy mix. Search algorithms, and how we optimize to take advantage of them, will continue to change, and so will featured snippets.