The featured snippet directly responds to your question that is displayed in a structured small box above the organic search results. Google displays three sorts of snippets from the top-ranked websites based on the term.
After the knowledge graph, it’s another method Google aims to improve the user’s search experience and keep people on Google to answer their inquiries.
What Exactly Is A Featured Snippet?
The highlighted snippet includes a summary of the answer a user has looked for, a link to the page, as well as the page title and URL. The amazing thing about highlighted snippets is that you don’t have to be at the top of Google to appear in the snippet box (although it certainly helps). Other first-page results may appear in the snippet section by optimizing the content for snippets.
What Are Featured Snippets And How Do They Work?
The Google search engine identifies a user’s query and finds the sites that best answer the query. Unfortunately, there is no magic button or technique to ensure that your web pages display in the snippet section, but it would be lovely if there were. Ranking for featured snippets, like SEO, is a process of optimizing your web page (or making it as easy as possible) for Google to understand that the material on this page will be the most useful for this inquiry and also contains a summary that Google can elegantly put into that feature box.
What Are The Various Types of Featured Snippets?
- Table: Google may show a highlighted snippet as a vertical table to deliver the best-formatted response. The table typically has three columns and five rows, including a header. Any colour coding, design, or image alteration is permissible as long as it’s in plain HTML.
- List: If the user query calls for a list answer, Google is more likely to display a bulleted list result in the highlighted snippet. The excerpt will show as a bulleted list if the source website answers the query in a bulleted list or with numbered headers. Google typically displays 5-8 list items, omitting the header.
- Paragraph: Google will provide a paragraph snippet for a straight inquiry or query answered in a phrase. The paragraph is around 40-55 words long. A paragraph snippet is usually used to answer questions that begin with “why,” “when,” “what,” “was,” or “which.” Wikipedia owns the majority of paragraph snippets. So, look at their content formatting!
Steps To Get A Featured Snippet
Step 1: Look For Possibilities.
Begin by reviewing your ranking content.
Google gives the highlighted snippet to websites that rank better in the SERP (search engine result page). Find out which pages of yours are in the top 10, or maybe in the top 10 if you improve them, using your preferred SEO tool.
Begin by conducting keyword research.
If you don’t have any material ranked in the top ten and wish to create some, that’s fantastic! Begin by conducting keyword research to identify your readers’ queries. Look through internet forums or personal experiences to identify some fundamental questions consumers seek. Answer the public is an excellent resource for locating similar inquiries. When you’ve identified the keywords and queries, create captivating content that provides the best response and sufficient information to the searcher. After that, using the techniques below, arrange your material in a way that will assist you in achieving the highlighted snippet while adhering to your typical best SEO practices.
Step 2: Examine The Inquiry Structure And The Purpose Of The Searcher.
Before you begin writing the response, study as much as you can about the issue so that you may provide the greatest possible answer; remember that a featured snippet is more than simply a direct answer; it is about appropriately addressing the searcher’s inquiry in a well-formatted manner. It’s much easier if there’s already a snippet for the term. Examine the featured snippet attentively to see why Google has decided to offer them the coveted number (0) position on the first page.
Take a look at their SEO tactics, backlinks, and other data as well. Examine their keyword utilization in their text, alt-tags, internal linking, and every other little technical component and strategy.
Step 3: Provide A Straightforward Response That Is Format-Appropriate.
Include your straightforward response in a paragraph beneath the header tag—and be direct. Keep your response towards the top of the page to emphasize its significance. Aim for a response that is 40 to 50 words lengthy (Moz). Make sure your response is descriptive, clear, and complete and that it addresses the question logically. Keep the language simple: sentences should not be too lengthy, and passive voice should be avoided. If the solution is more complicated, consider breaking it into digestible steps in a bulleted or numbered list format.
Paragraph Snippet
- Include the exact keyword in the snippet heading section
- Keep the main answer in the first 40-55 words
- Include keywords in the heading and paragraph as well
- After that, explain the abbreviation in the same way Wikipedia does, I.e. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Place the snippet paragraph higher on your post
List Snippet
- Use the primary term in your snippet header
- It is recommended to use “bullet points” for making a list
- You can also use numbers (1, 2, 3 etc.) OR
- Use the same headings for stages As an example, we utilized H4 for our stages.
Table Snippet
- Add the essential rows at the top of the table
- Feel free to add extra columns and rows if needed (you don’t have to limit yourself to 3 columns and 5 rows)
- Use a different colour for the table heading and make it bold. Make it appealing.
- Don’t forget to include a keyword in the table heading.
Step 4: Optimize The Ranking Factors.
Google considers numerous variables before awarding a highlighted snippet position. Among them are:
- That page’s organic click-through rate (CTR);
- Bounce Rate;
- Page Speed;
- Overall User Engagement
So, after you’ve created a fantastic featured snippet response, you should fill the page with very relevant and helpful information. Make it user-friendly, amusing, engaging, thorough, and high-quality. In this case, user involvement is critical. This is what Google looks for while testing your website. A page with entertaining and user-friendly content will assist boost visitors to the page and keep its SERP rank.
Please do so if you can include a graphic, a video, or go into further detail on the issue further down the page. You want to make your page as useful to readers as possible. Your content aims to help people and differentiate yourself from the competition so that consumers will eventually buy from you, link to you, share your website, or remember you. Google will reward you with the snippet position.
Conclusion
Ranking for a highlighted snippet necessitates a concentrated effort of investigating and evaluating the searcher’s intent and the snippet structure. Continue to test, review, and repeat—improve your markup, speed up your site, record your modifications, wait for any snippet changes (18-36 hours), refresh, and repeat.
The road to ranking for a highlighted snippet does not end with technique selection and content optimization. Above all, you must continue to test, review, and repeat the process for as long as it takes to obtain what you want (and not give up!). Always be on the lookout for search engine result page (SERPs) changes. If you see any significant changes in the SERP, check and update your content as well. As previously said, attempt to make your sample stand out while adhering to the major style rules.
