Reading Time: 5 mins 51 sec
In this article, we will discuss, how to win featured snippets in Google search.
When you perform a Google search, you may have noticed those answer boxes that appear right at the top of the search results.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
These answer boxes are known as featured snippets, and they come in various formats such as paragraphs, lists (both bulleted and numbered), tables, and videos.
Featured snippets have a significant impact on your click-through rate as they occupy a prime place on the search engine results page.
In this article, we will explore four easy steps to maximize your chances of getting featured snippets.
So let’s get started
Read This: 3 Technical SEO Tips For Multilingual Websites
How To Win Featured Snippets In Google Search
Step 1: Identifying Featured Snippet Opportunities
To begin, it’s crucial to find keywords where a featured snippet is present in the search engine results page (SERP) and where one of your pages ranks within the top 10.
According to a study on over 2 million featured snippets, ranking within the top 10 results for a keyword is a prerequisite for being eligible to rank in position 0, which is the featured snippet.
To identify such opportunities, you can utilize Ahrefs’ Site Explorer, accessible through a paid or free Webmaster Tools account.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
After signing up, navigate to the site explorer and click on the Organic keywords report.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
Set a Positions filter to focus solely on the top 10 rankings where your pages aren’t already ranking number 1.
Additionally, select “where the target doesn’t rank” and “Featured snippet” under SERP features, and click on Show results.
This will generate a list of numerous featured snippet opportunities to explore.
To prioritize your efforts, you can further narrow down the list by setting a minimum monthly search volume of 1000 and adjusting the max position filter to 5.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
Read This: How Does SSL Certificate Validation Work?
Step 2: Selecting the Optimal Featured Snippet Opportunity
Now that you have a more manageable list, it’s time to choose the right featured snippet opportunity.
While different SEO experts may have their own methods of prioritization, it’s advantageous to opt for opportunities where there is minimal competition for the featured snippet.
Let’s take the keyword “SEO pricing” as an example.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
If your page currently ranks in the top 5 and owns the featured snippet, you can verify if there are other eligible pages in line by excluding the top-ranking page from the SERP using the minus symbol followed by their domain in your search query.
If there are no other pages competing for the featured snippet, you have a clear opportunity to provide a better answer and potentially claim the snippet for your page.
Read This: New Generic Top-Level Domains List
Step 3: Creating Content Tailored for Featured Snippets
Crafting content specifically for featured snippets requires understanding the type of content Google selects for the snippet.
This will vary depending on the keyword.
Here are a few factors to consider before creating your content.
Firstly, pay attention to the current featured snippet’s format.
If it is a paragraph and there is a numbered list in the queue, aim to use either of those formats.
For “SEO pricing,” a concise paragraph seems to be the ideal choice.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
Secondly, examine the elements surrounding the snippet on the page.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
In our example, the paragraph pulled into the snippet is directly under an H2 heading, so you can replicate this structure in your content.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
While featured snippet types and content formats differ across keywords, some common patterns emerge.
For definition-type snippets, it is common to have an H2 heading that poses a question, followed by an immediate answer resembling a dictionary definition.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
Avoid unnecessary filler lines and focus on providing a concise and informative response.
And lastly, analyzing your competitors’ pages can also provide valuable insights into the context of the featured snippet content.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
In the case of “SEO pricing,” if your competitor answers the query directly within the first few paragraphs and aligns with the searcher’s intent, you should aim to do the same.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
Instead of presenting a statistical study, extract the top 10 takeaways and transform them into a short paragraph snippet.
Place this snippet directly beneath your H1 heading, which should already be titled “How much does SEO cost?” Here’s an example of what you could say: “Most businesses paying a monthly retainer for SEO will spend between $500 and $1,500 per month.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
The most popular hourly rate for those paying by the hour is $75 to $100.
For On page SEO & Off page SEO projects, the most common range is $2,501 to $5,000.”
In fact, implementing these changes in April allowed us to reclaim the featured snippet for this keyword.
Read This: 7 Tips For Achieving Successful SEO Engagement
Step 4: Tracking and Monitoring Your Progress
After optimizing your content, it’s essential to monitor your rankings to assess the impact of your optimizations.
A rank-tracking tool like Ahrefs Rank Tracker can help you achieve this.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
By adding relevant keywords and tagging them, you can keep track of your performance.
Screenshot by Ahrefs.com
For example, you can tag keywords related to featured snippet optimizations.
Remember that while these changes can increase your chances of earning featured snippets and attracting more search traffic, your pages need to rank within the top 10 before you can secure position 0.
Read This: 29 Best Youtube Channel To Learn SEO
Conclusion
In this article, we will discuss, how to win featured snippets in Google search.
Featured snippets provide a valuable opportunity to enhance your click-through rate and gain visibility on search engine result pages.
By following these four steps – identifying opportunities, selecting the right ones, crafting tailored content, and monitoring progress – you can optimize your chances of acquiring featured snippets.
Remember to prioritize keywords with high search volumes and low competition, while aligning your content with Google’s selection criteria.
With a strategic approach, you can unlock the power of featured snippets and elevate your online presence.
If you like this article please share and comment.
Read Also
- Top 65 Technical SEO Interview Questions And Answers
- Does Bold Text Help SEO
- How To Create The Perfect H1 Tag For SEO
- Google Announces Five Changes Coming To Mobile Search
- Benefits Of Using Semrush
FAQ
How do you win a featured snippet?
Use short and punchy sentences that provide clear answers (for paragraph snippets). Use numbered lists, bullet-pointed lists, tables, or graphs (for table and list featured snippets) Add a relevant image along with the snippet query you’re answering.
How do you get ranked in featured snippets?
Our study found that featured snippets come from pages that already rank in the top 10. Moreover, the vast majority of featured snippets pages rank in the top five. In conclusion, the higher your content ranks, the more likely it is to get a featured snippet.
How do I optimize my content for Google’s featured snippet box?
Also, try to convey answers to multiple related questions in your content. Be careful not to use too many words in your paragraphs. Ideally, you should have about 50 words for each header. Also, try to use “how-to” phrases in the FAQs area of your website and provide optimized content for featured snippets.
How do I find featured snippets in Google search console?
Featured snippets are special boxes where the format of a regular search result is reversed, showing the descriptive snippet first. They can also appear within a related questions group (also known as “People Also Ask”). Read more about how Google’s Featured Snippets work.
Are Google featured snippets paid for?
Featured snippets are expanded search results that answer users’ questions right in the search results. Featured snippets can be lists, paragraphs, or charts. Do I have to pay for featured snippets? No, Google chooses the most relevant source as a featured snippet; it is not an ad.
What are rich snippets in SEO?
Special result snippets in Google search results are described as rich snippets. They include additional information that is not stored in the meta description of the affected target site but is stored as structured data in its source code with the help of markups.
How to rank number 1 in SEO?
Step #1: Improve Your On-Site SEO.
Step #2: Add LSI Keywords To Your Page.
Step #3: Monitor Your Technical SEO.
Step #4: Match Your Content to Search Intent.
Step #5: Reduce Your Bounce Rate.
Step #6: Find Even Keywords to Target.
How to make rich snippets?
Identify which details you want Google to focus on.
Define your webpage using Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper.
Create microdata for your webpage using your selected data type.
Create new HTML from this microdata.
Tag your content with this microdata.
Test your rich snippet.
Be patient.
