Optimizing your content for the featured snippets can be a very effective way to build brand awareness, attract relevant leads, and boost your conversions. Here are six easy steps that can help you make your content appear in the featured snippets of Google.
Have you noticed Google displaying featured snippets in search queries? They appear even before the traditional search results begin. That’s why it’s also often called position ‘0’ results.
Now what exactly are these featured snippets? Featured snippets are highlighted text excerpts displayed at the top of search results in Google. The idea is to help users find a quick answer to their query.
Such snippets will appear mostly when you are looking for informational or long-search queries. So you can find the information even without going deeper into the search results.
Now you must be wondering why optimize your content for featured snippets. Does it mean anything for SEO?
Let’s find out.
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Why Optimize Content for Featured Snippets?
In simple words, featured snippets dominate the SERPs. In most cases, these snippets will appear above the fold. So, it becomes easy for such content to gain maximum exposure.
The more exposure you get, the more awareness you can create. People will learn about and start recognizing your brand.
This can help you build credibility in the long run, which is crucial for increasing your conversions and boosting your sales.
The best thing is that you can rank for them without even paying a single advertising penny. But ranking for position 0 isn’t rocket science. You can do it even if you don’t appear in the top search results.
According to reports, 70% of snippets come from websites that don’t even rank in the top search results. This means you can do it too. All you need to do is know how to earn this spot.
How to Optimize Your Content for Featured Snippets
We’ll tell you about six easy steps to optimize your content to earn the position 0. Let’s get started.
1. Organize Your Content by Structuring It
One of the first things to keep in mind when trying to rank for featured snippets is the structure of your content. Make sure that you organize your content properly by giving it a proper structure. You can do that by using different heading tags like H1, H2, H3, and H4.
The trick behind appearing in the featured snippet is that you should place your search query in the heading tag. This can be any heading tag from H1 through H4.
However, the answer to that query should appear in the <p> tag. But make sure that the answer in this <p> tag appears right below the header with the query.
2. Stay Within the Optimal Word Count
Another very important point to remember when trying to appear in the featured snippets is your word count. Ideally, the optimal length of the content that appears in the featured snippets is 50-54 words.
If you’re creating paragraph-styled content, make sure that you keep your word limit in mind. Instead of creating extra long paragraphs, try to keep them clear and concise. That way Google will easily pick your content and display it as featured snippets.
3. Add a How-to Section to Your Website
Adding a How-to section is a very effective way of making your content appear in the featured snippets. Most featured snippet is about offering detailed answers to the searcher’s queries.
This makes how-to sections apt for appearing in featured snippets as they align with this type of search intent. Because of their structured format, this type of content offers clear instructions to their users. Besides, search engines also find it easier to extract information from this type of content.
4. Opt for a Definition Style Approach for Non-Question Content
While Google prefers featuring question-and-answer type of format as featured snippets, sometimes it also chooses a paragraph of text.
Consider creating the definition style for non-question type of content.
Just make sure to start your answers logically and to be direct with your answers.
5. Optimize Your Content for Long-Tail Terms
Another effective way of optimizing your content for featured snippets is to optimize your page for various long-tail keywords. If you look at featured snippets closely, you’ll notice that a lot of them appear when people search for long-tail keywords.
But how do you know which long-tail keywords to aim for? Look for the related queries when you do a particular search on Google. If you scroll down your page, you’ll find several related keywords like this.
Google considers these as important keywords because they are closely related to the searches your users just conducted.
Targeting these keywords can help you appear in featured snippets very easily.
6. Use the ‘is’ Sentence Structure
As mentioned before, featured snippets are often direct answers to queries made by searchers. Google targets content that provides direct answers to users and displays them as featured snippets.
It will often pick answers that come with the ‘is’ sentence structure.
This means that by optimizing your content with the ‘is’ structure you can increase your chances of appearing in the featured snippets.
Try to create sentences with the following structure - “[Keyword] is …”. Once you do that, try to fully define the keyword in two or three sentences.
Ready to Get Started?
Appearing in Google’s featured snippets is one of the most effective ways of boosting your visibility online.
If you can naturally position yourself in the featured snippets, you can automatically solve the problem of positioning in Google.
By implementing the above strategies, you can enhance your chances of appearing in the featured snippets.
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