What are Featured Snippets In SEO? – Explained

Featured snippets (also known as “position zero”) are special boxes that appear at the very top of search results, even above the #1 organic listing. 

They contain a summary (snippet) of content from one of the top-ranking pages that directly answers the searcher’s question. 

There are several types:

• Paragraph snippets
• Numbered or bulleted lists
• Tables
• Videos

Featured snippets aim to provide quick, direct answers without the user having to click through to a page. 

While this sounds counterintuitive for getting traffic, featured snippets actually boost click-through rates. 

Here’s why they’re so valuable:

The Importance of Featured Snippets

Winning a featured snippet means:

1. More Visibility – Your content gets the most prominent placement on the page, drawing more eyeballs and clicks.
2. Credibility – Users trust that search engines are surfacing the best answer. Snippets build your authority.
3. Bypassing Competition – You can jump ahead of even higher ranking pages.
4. Voice Search – Many featured snippets are used for voice search results, a rapidly growing search type.

Bottom line: Featured snippets are an SEO superpower. 

So how do you get them?

How to Optimize for Featured Snippets

While there’s no guaranteed formula, you can boost your odds of landing a featured snippet by:

Creating High-Quality, Snippet-Worthy Content

Search engines award snippets to content that:

• Directly, concisely answers the searcher’s question
• Provides comprehensive, detailed information
• Is well-organized and easy to parse

User intent should be your North Star. 

Carefully research the questions your audience is asking, and craft content that provides clear, complete answers. 

Imagine you’re having a conversation with your reader – how would you explain the topic to them?

Structuring Your Content for Featured Snippets

Your content’s format matters just as much as the substance. 

Help search engines find your snippet-worthy content by:

• Posing a common question as an H2 and directly answering it in the following paragraph
• Answering the question at the start of your content
• Using header tags to clearly outline each sub-topic
• Formatting steps or lists with H2/H3 headers
• Putting key data in tables with column headers

Think of ways to spoon-feed search engines the exact type of info they look for in each snippet format.

Putting It All Together – A Snippet Optimization Checklist

To recap, here’s a handy checklist for optimizing your content for featured snippets:

• Research the questions your target audience is asking
• Ensure your content comprehensively answers those questions
• Use the question as an H2 and immediately answer it
• Format content for different snippet types (paragraph, list, table)
• Organize content with descriptive H2s/H3s
• Use natural, conversational language
• Keep paragraphs short and easy to read
• Incorporate relevant keywords naturally

While not every page will win a snippet, applying these techniques across your site will improve overall SEO and boost your chances of claiming that coveted position zero.

Key Takeaways

What are featured snippets in SEO? 

They’re an incredibly powerful way to leapfrog competitors, boost credibility, and drive more organic traffic. 

While there’s no magic bullet, you can greatly increase your odds by:

• Identifying common, relevant audience questions
• Providing clear, comprehensive answers
• Structuring your content in snippet-friendly formats
• Incorporating relevant keywords naturally

The best part? S

nippet optimization aligns with general SEO and content best practices.

By focusing on snippets, you’ll be leveling up your overall SEO game too.

Try implementing these techniques and watch your snippets – and ROI – start to pop. 

And remember, have fun with it! 

Providing awesome, snippet-worthy content is all about helping your audience while showcasing your brand’s personality and expertise. Snippets for the win!