Featured snippet

What featured snippets are

Featured snippets occupy "position zero"—above the first organic search result. Google extracts content directly from a page to answer the query, displaying it prominently with a link to the source.

Three formats dominate: paragraph snippets (concise answers), list snippets (steps or items), and table snippets (structured data). The format matches the query—"how to" questions often get lists, definitions get paragraphs, comparisons get tables.

Why snippets matter

Featured snippets massively increase visibility. Position zero catches attention before traditional results. Even if users click competitors ranking #1, they've seen your brand first. Click-through rates for snippet holders significantly exceed standard rankings.

Snippets also appear in voice search results. When someone asks Siri or Google Assistant a question, the assistant often reads the featured snippet. This makes snippet optimisation crucial for voice search visibility.

Optimising for featured snippets

Structure content to directly answer common questions. Use clear headings that match question format—"What is [topic]", "How to [task]", "Why does [thing] matter". Follow the heading with a concise 40-60 word answer.

For list snippets, use proper HTML list formatting (<ol> or <ul>). For tables, use table markup. Google can extract well-structured content far more easily than paragraphs describing lists or comparisons.

Target keywords where snippets already exist—Google has deemed these queries snippet-worthy. Check current snippet holder and provide a clearer, more concise answer. You don't need to rank #1 to win the snippet; we've seen #3 and #4 results claim position zero.

Limitations and considerations

Featured snippets reduce click-through in some cases—users get their answer without visiting your site. For commercial queries where you want visits, this hurts. For informational content building authority, visibility outweighs click concerns.

Google changes snippets frequently. Holding position zero isn't permanent. Continue improving content and monitoring Search Console for snippet performance.