What are Featured Snippets? How to Get Them
By Neil Patel
You might have noticed the top search results aren’t just links anymore.
That’s because Google search results are now full of many features, including the knowledge graph, people also ask questions, and one of my favorite features —the featured snippet.
Why do I love featured snippets so much? Because they provide readers with valuable information right in the search results, making them convenient and useful.
They aren’t just helpful for the average person, though. Featured snippets allow marketers to outrank competitors, boost conversions, and drive tons of targeted traffic.
In fact, the featured snippet is sometimes called “Position 0” because it shows up before traditional search results.
Here’s another reason why I love them: featured snippets account for 35.1 percent of total clicks, which means you need to optimize for them if you want traffic.
Want to snag the coveted featured snippet spot? Here’s what you need to know.
What is a Google Featured Snippet?
Featured snippets are extended search results that appear at the top of Google and provide users with a quick answer to their questions. Featured snippets are generally in the form of a list, chart, or video and often appear for informational or long-form search queries.
Rather than the standard one or two-line meta description, users see more text, sometimes including bullet points and longer explanations.
Here’s an example:
Just look at how much space a featured snippet takes up!
Featured snippets dominate the SERPs, occupying almost all the space above the fold in some cases.
They also give you tons of exposure, and keep your website visible. Plus, they’ll boost your company’s credibility.
The best part? You don’t have to pay extra advertising fees to rank for them.
You don’t have to be number one in your industry, either.
According to Getstat, 70 percent of snippets come from sites that aren’t in the top-ranking organic position.
Any company, regardless of size or budget, can earn a spot at position zero if you do it right.
What Are The Different Types of Featured Snippets
Nearly 15 percent of all U.S. desktop search results have a featured snippet—and not all of them are a list.
Featured snippets can also answer questions with an extended paragraph, like this:
There are also table and chart featured snippets.
Table snippets provide answers in the form of — you guessed it — tables. …read more
Source:: Kiss Metrics Blog
