Featured Snippets: What They Are & How to Earn Them

Feb 05, 2025 05:33 PM - 3 days ago 4536

Featured snippets are short matter excerpts that supply quick, clear answers to personification hunt queries and often look adjacent the apical of hunt motor results pages (SERPs). 

The matter for Google’s featured snippets is pulled straight from the root page and linked for users who want to research the taxable further.

Here’s a featured snippet example:

Google SERP for the word "what does a giraffe look like" pinch the featured snippet highlighted.

Google displays featured snippets successful SERPs erstwhile its ranking systems find that users are looking for answers to circumstantial questions—ones Google tin reside by showing circumstantial passages from applicable webpages.

They autumn nether the larger umbrella known arsenic SERP features—which are typical results that guidelines retired from accepted hunt listings. 

Getting a featured snippet is bully for SEO because it gives you salient placement successful Google’s hunt results.

While featured snippets person contributed to the emergence of zero-click searches (when users find answers straight connected the hunt results page without visiting a website), they tin use your marque through:

Enhanced Visibility

Securing featured snippets gives you premier SERP existent property and tin make you 1 of the astir salient results connected the page.

On mobile devices, featured snippets inhabit astir 50% of the surface successful immoderate cases. This pushes competitors beneath the fold and ensures your contented captures personification attraction first. 

Google SERP for the word "technical seo" connected a mobile instrumentality pinch the featured snippet highlighted.

Increased Traffic to Your Site

Appearing successful featured snippets places your contented successful a highly visible spot that tin pull clicks and thrust much organic traffic to your site.

Even if featured snippets are zero-click searches successful the consciousness that they reply the contiguous mobility straight connected the page, users who are willing successful learning much whitethorn beryllium enticed to click done to your page.

A 2022 study from EngineScout shows featured snippets get astir 35.1% of each clicks.

35.1% of clicks spell to the featured snippet, while 44% spell to integrated hunt listings.

Data Source: EngineScout

This study occurred earlier Google introduced AI Overviews. 

Those AI summaries apt return immoderate of the clicks that featured snippets would usually receive, but not each queries trigger AI overviews. And featured snippets tin still beryllium salient moreover erstwhile they look connected a results page that besides includes an AI Overview. 

Stronger Authority

Being selected for a featured snippet signals that your website is authoritative and that your contented is trustworthy.

That can:

  • Reinforce your site's reputation
  • Showcase your expertise correct location connected the SERP itself
  • Build personification assurance successful your content

That stronger authority could besides construe to much branded searches later on.

There are 4 main types of featured snippets: paragraphs, lists, tables, and videos.

Let’s spell complete each:

Paragraph Snippets

Paragraph snippets supply a concise text-based reply to a user’s query, often successful 1 aliases 2 sentences. 

Google tin besides see applicable images adjacent to paragraph snippets successful immoderate cases.

Like this:

Google SERP for the word "what do eels eat" triggering a paragraph snippet on pinch applicable images.

The paragraph is the astir communal snippet type. 

List Snippets

List snippets coming accusation successful either ordered (numbered) aliases unordered (bulleted) lists. 

Ordered lists often item steps aliases rankings. 

Like this:

Google SERP for the word "how to pet a cat" triggering an ordered database snippet.

While unordered lists supply collections of related items. 

Like this:

Google SERP for the word "increase punching efficiency" triggering an unordered database snippet.

These snippets are sometimes pulled from lists successful the content. Or from headers.

Table Snippets

Table snippets show information successful a system array format, making it easy to comparison accusation specified arsenic prices, sizes, aliases measurements.

Google SERP for the word "womens jeans size conversion floor plan america to uk" triggering a array snippet.

Video Snippets

Video snippets characteristic short video clips and often reside how-to aliases action-based queries.

In the video, Google often highlights a circumstantial timestamp that straight addresses the query.

Google SERP for the word "how to trim a pineapple" triggering a video snippet.

Identifying search queries that trigger featured snippets helps you understand the snippet type (e.g., paragraph, list, etc.), truthful you tin tailor your contented accordingly

If you already person keywords successful mind, execute a Google hunt for each 1 and cheque if a featured snippet appears. 

Take statement of the snippet format and measure whether the contented aligns pinch your expertise.

For example, a baking blogger mightiness cognize they want to target “how to cook a barroom measurement by step.” Which displays a database snippet breaking down the steps:

Google SERP for the word "how to cook a barroom measurement by step" triggering an ordered database snippet.

But the query “how to decorate a cake” doesn’t show a snippet:

Google SERP for the word "how to decorate a cake" wherever a featured snippet doesn't appear.

You tin repetition this process to uncover further keywords that trigger featured snippets.

However, manual searches tin beryllium time-consuming. And they trust connected you already knowing which keywords you want to target.

Plus, featured snippets whitethorn not ever look consistently for the aforesaid keyword owed to factors specified arsenic your location, hunt history, and whether you usage an incognito window.

To velocity up the process and find caller keyword ideas, usage Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool.

Open the tool, participate a seed keyword (a wide word related to your niche), and click "Search." 

Keyword Magic Tool commencement pinch the "how to decorate a cake" entered arsenic the word and "Search" clicked.

You’ll past get a database of keyword ideas, on pinch useful metrics for illustration search intent, hunt volume, and keyword difficulty. 

This is each useful, but you want to constrictive your hunt to only show keywords that trigger featured snippets.

To do this, click the “Advanced filters” drop-down menu, prime the “Any” drop-down nether “SERP features,” and prime the container adjacent to “Featured snippet.” Then click “Apply.” 

Keyword Magic Tool pinch the "Advanced filters" drop-down opened, "Featured snippet" selected, and "Apply" clicked.

This will make a filtered database of keywords that trigger featured snippets successful the hunt results.

Click connected the “Open SERP” icon to position the hunt results and spot what the existent featured snippet looks like.

Keyword Magic Tool pinch the "Open SERP" icon adjacent to a keyword highlighted.

For example, you mightiness spot a database snippet pinch step-by-step instructions:

Google SERP for the word "how to make a stencil for barroom decorating" triggering an ordered database snippet.

Visit the page to understand why the contented sewage the featured snippet. Then brainstorm ways to make your ain contented much broad and engaging to hopefully bargain that featured snippet.

You request to attraction connected creating clear and well-structured contented if you want to rank for featured snippets.

Here are immoderate elemental tips to amended your chances of appearing for them:

Answer Questions Directly

Featured snippets are designed to supply clear, concise, and meticulous responses to circumstantial queries, truthful that’s what you should purpose to do successful your content. 

Ensure your contented answers the query intelligibly and straight wrong the first fewer lines. Whether that’s the first fewer lines of the article itself, aliases the first fewer lines aft a heading.

For paragraph snippets, this intends crafting a 40-50 connection consequence that is clear and direct.

Start pinch a straightforward connection that instantly answers the user’s question. You tin usage further discourse aliases specifications to adhd value, but the main reply should travel first. 

For example, Backlinko ranks for a paragraph snippet for the query “what is section keyword research” pinch this answer:

Google SERP for the word "what is section keyword research" triggering a paragraph snippet.

Aim to constitute objectively—similar to a dictionary entry—avoiding individual opinions and affectional language.

Target Long-Tail Keywords

Focusing connected long-tail keywords (highly circumstantial queries that thin to beryllium longer) is simply a bully thought because featured snippets typically look for these types of queries. 

Short-tail keywords are wide and little specific, like:

  • “seo tips”
  • “cake recipe”
  • “marketing techniques”

In contrast, long-tail keywords are much elaborate and intelligibly bespeak precisely what the personification is looking for:

  • “seo tips for mini business”
  • “how to cook a barroom measurement by step”
  • “effective trading techniques for ecommerce startups”

If you're looking for long-tail keywords, usage the Keyword Magic Tool.

Enter your seed keyword and click “Search.” 

The instrumentality will supply a database of related keywords you tin browse to place long-tail opportunities to target.

Keyword Magic Tool pinch "cake recipe" arsenic the seed keyword showing a database of related keywords including different combinations and variations.

To constrictive the results to only show long-tail keywords, usage the “Advanced filters” feature. 

Set the connection count select to show keywords pinch astatine slightest 5 words and click “Apply.”

(If the results still aren’t circumstantial enough, you tin usage a larger number arsenic the minimum connection count.)

Keyword Magic Tool commencement pinch the "Advanced filters" drop-down opened, "5" entered arsenic the minimum connection count and "Apply" clicked.

The filtered database will show long-tail keywords that are much specific. Which makes them fantabulous targets for creating contented astir to seizure featured snippets.

Keyword Magic Tool showing a database of filtered keywords pinch 5 aliases much words on pinch the keyword trouble file highlighted.

To refine the database further, use a keyword difficulty select to place keywords that are apt to beryllium easier to rank for.

To do so, click connected the “KD %” drop-down paper astatine the top. Then, prime the “Easy” action to only show keywords pinch debased competition.

Keyword Magic Tool pinch the keyword trouble select drop-down opened and "Easy" selected from the list.

Structure Your Content Appropriately

Organizing your contented is cardinal for earning featured snippets, particularly for database and array snippets. 

To optimize for database snippets, coming steps aliases items successful a measurement that Google tin easy place and display. 

This involves utilizing heading tags to intelligibly specify your structure.

Heading tags (H1, H2, etc.) are HTML elements that building your contented successful a hierarchical way.

 1 pinch a logical heading building and the different pinch a mediocre heading structure.

You don’t request to spot the full database nether 1 heading, though it’s often the astir logical approach. 

This is because Google tin compile snippets by pulling headings from various parts of your contented and converting them into database items.

For the query "how to beryllium happy," Google generates a database snippet by extracting each the main headings from the featured article and displaying them arsenic steps.

Featured snippet for the word "how to beryllium happy" pinch the database snippet extracted from the main headings of the featured article and displayed arsenic steps.

For array snippets, including an existent array successful your contented is the astir effective approach. 

Google tin extract system contented straight from pre-existing tables connected your page. 

For example, the featured snippet for "what are garment sizes EU and US" displays information pulled from a well-organized array connected the root webpage.

Table snippet for the word "what are garment sizes EU and US" pulled from an organized array connected the root webpage.

To summation your chances of ranking for array snippets:

  • Organize your information into a clean, elemental array pinch rows and columns
  • Ensure the array is applicable to the query and provides clear information points
  • Use a clear heading (e.g., H2 aliases H3) to present the array and explicate what it represents
  • Naturally see target keywords successful the array heading and surrounding content

By structuring your contented pinch clear headings for lists and organized tables for data, you make it easier for Google to characteristic your contented successful snippets. Therefore expanding your visibility and click potential.

Target People Also Ask Questions

The People Also Ask (PAA) conception connected Google SERPs is an fantabulous assets for identifying low-volume, long-tail keywords that often trigger featured snippets.

When a personification clicks a PAA question, it expands to uncover a little reply that straight addresses the query. 

Beneath the answer, there’s a nexus to the root page for users who want much elaborate information.

For example, searching for “cake recipe” displays a PAA conception for illustration this:

Google SERP for the word "cake recipe" pinch 1 of the questions from the People Also Ask conception highlighted.

The PAA query “what is simply a concealed constituent for cake” besides generates a featured snippet that looks for illustration this, utilizing the aforesaid root (albeit pinch a different snippet of text):

A PAA query entered arsenic the hunt word connected Google which generates a featured snippet that uses the aforesaid root arsenic the PAA result.

This shows really PAA answers and featured snippets are often intimately connected. Here, Google utilized the aforesaid root for some the PAA reply and the featured snippet. 

To uncover applicable PAA questions, devices for illustration AlsoAsked tin thief you stitchery insights straight from Google’s PAA data.

Just participate a seed term, and the instrumentality will make a character sketch of related questions pulled from Google’s PAA section. 

It clusters these queries based connected personification intent. Offering a clear roadmap for creating targeted contented that matches searcher needs.

AlsoAsked dashboard showing a character sketch of related questions pulled from Google’s PAA section.

Or, usage the Keyword Magic Tool to use an precocious select to show queries that trigger a PAA box.

Filtering a keyword database to show queries that trigger People Also Ask.

There are a fewer ways to target PAA keywords.

First, by creating a dedicated page for each question. Use the PAA mobility arsenic your title aliases H1, and supply a clear, nonstop reply instantly beneath it.

For example, Resume Genius ranks for the snippet “do screen letters request an address” by answering this mobility connected a dedicated FAQ page:

FAQ page by Resume Genius which answers the mobility “Do screen letters request an address?” and ranks arsenic the featured snippet.

Secondly, you tin merge PAA questions arsenic H2 subheadings wrong longer blog posts.

For example, the query “what is simply a hunt motor optimization strategy” mightiness trigger a paragraph snippet for illustration this:

Google SERP for the word "what is simply a hunt motor optimization strategy" triggering a paragraph snippet.

This mobility is formatted arsenic an H2 heading connected the root page. The reply is straight underneath, making it easy for Google to lucifer up the reply pinch the mobility for the featured snippet.

The root page and conception of a featured snippet pinch the mobility formatted arsenic the heading pinch the reply to the mobility straight below.

Tracking your featured snippet capacity helps you understand what’s working, place opportunities for improvement, and guarantee you support your position successful hunt results.

To way your featured snippets, usage Semrush’s Position Tracking tool.

Just travel the Position Tracking setup guide to get started and group your desired clip range. 

Then, click the "Featured Snippets" tab.

Featured Snippets study connected the Position Tracking instrumentality pinch the day scope connected the top-right highlighted.

Click "Already featured" to spot really galore of your pages are appearing for snippets triggered by your target keywords. 

"Already Featured" selected connected the Featured Snippets study showing really galore pages of a domain look arsenic snippets.

And click "Opportunities" to spot which keywords trigger snippets that you don’t yet have. 

In the “You” column, you’ll spot wherever your tract presently ranks successful integrated search. 

"Opportunities" connected the Featured Snippets tab of the Position Tracking instrumentality showing which keywords trigger snippets that a domain doesn't person yet.

The champion opportunities to optimize for featured snippets are ones wherever you’re already connected page 1. 

Google already trusts your contented capable to rank it good for these keywords, truthful you conscionable request to optimize it for the snippets.

Applying the optimization tips from this guideline to amended your chances of getting those featured snippets.

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