How to Optimize for Google's Featured Snippets

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https://advdms.com/blog/how-to-optimize-for-googles-featured-snippets/
How to Optimize for Google’s
Featured Snippets
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Featured Snippets are descriptive, expanded
search results displayed in a box at the top or near
the top of search results pages (SERPs). Google
uses featured snippets to determine if your page is
the best answer for a query.
Google has been improving how it displays results
to users over the last few years. It has increased
the number of Google snippets it displays for
queries, pushing organic search results down the
page. What does this mean for SEO?
Ranking in Google featured snippets solves the
problem of positioning. But is this strategy worth
it? What is a featured snippet? What do you need
to do to be featured? In this article, ADVDMS
explains snippet meaning and how to optimize
content to be featured and drive organic traffic to
your site.
What is a featured snippet?
A featured snippet provides users with a quick
answer to a search query. It’s located right above
the first organic search results and is also known
as “position 0.” Google featured snippets often
appear when people 
enter 
informational
searches.
Before we get to the details of how to improve
your SEO strategy to optimize featured snippets,
here’s a closer look at its different types:
Video: Videos can be a great way to reach
your audience if they are avid consumers of
video content. About 4.6% of snippets are in
video format, with the average being 6
minutes 35 seconds long.
5 Types of Snippets
It is important to understand the types of featured
snippets that Google displays for search queries.
There are several forms to choose from:
Paragraph: Seventy percent of snippets are
in paragraph form, accounting for around 72
words and 250 characters. These snippets
typically begin with “What” and “Why,” which
indicate that they are primarily informational.
List: This snippet type includes answers that
are presented as bulleted or numbered lists.
List snippets are mostly for posts that provide
step-by-step instructions or recipes.
Table: About 6.3% of snippets are in table
format. They average five rows and two
columns, between 40 and 45 words. Use the
table tags in HTML to mark up relevant
content in table format to optimize your
featured snippet.
These different types of featured snippets and
their formats can be used naturally in your
content. It is helpful to keep a type of snippet in
mind when creating content.
The paragraphs 
that 
follow the 
featured
snippets may include humor, examples, or other
information that will appeal more to those who
value greater depth.
How to Optimize Content for Featured Snippets
Strategy is the key to winning “position 0”. You
must format your website content correctly to
rank for Google featured snippets. You also have
a good chance of landing a featured snippet if
your content is already ranking high for a specific
search query.
There are two main ways you can increase your
chances of being featured once your content and
keywords have already been ranked on the first
Search Engine Results Page:
Give a better answer
Optimize your SEO on-page
1.
2.
Here are a few more tips on how to optimize for
featured snippets:
1. Look for your competitors’ Google featured
snippets.
Checking for your competitor’s search keyword
groups is an excellent place to start planning,
implementing, and optimizing your content to
rank. Some keywords may rank you well, but your
chances of earning the featured snippet could be
even higher with some tweaks and updates.
Looking at your competitor’s lists of keywords can
also allow you to analyze their content, which is
ranked as a featured snippet.
2. Identify the keywords used in the current
snippets.
After you have finalized the topic content, it is
time to identify keywords present in Google
featured snippets.
Keyword 
research 
is 
crucial 
for 
creating
successful content, notably for a featured snippet.
Find out and answer your target audiences’ most
frequently asked questions.
3. Understand the search intent.
Optimizing 
for 
Google 
snippets 
requires
understanding the search intent behind every
triggering query.
There are three types of people who search for
your keyword:
Potential customers
Influencers that persuade potential customers
to purchase from you
Your competitors
While each search will have different purposes,
the 
content 
should be 
informative and
navigational when users click through them.
Ask a question in an article, usually as a
subtitle.
Answer the question in just 50 words.
Continue to elaborate.
4. Aim to answer questions concisely.
Google favors answers in one paragraph for
featured snippets. These paragraph snippets also
have an average length of 46 words.
This will require you to change your blog style to
follow this format:
This structure will enhance the readability of your
content.
It is worth noting, however, that Google also
prefers long-form content. Also known as “pillar
content” or “cornerstone content,” this content is
broken down into subsections and includes many
images.
5. Get ideas in the “People also ask” box.
Investigate the topic further by visiting Google’s
“People also ask” section when you see it in the
search results. This section gives you a great
insight 
into the questions Google considers
relevant to each topic. This is a great resource
because it gives you more options to explore a
topic.
You can also monitor Twitter questions to uncover
untapped opportunities further.
6. Organize information and facts.
The most popular type of featured snippet is the
one that follows paragraphs.
Comparison charts and lists are also easier to
feature, as Google loves structured content.
Google may pull information from other websites
with relevant tables, even if a user is researching
a brand.
7. Pay attention to your content format.
Google featured snippets can be in many
formats. Your content structure will depend on the
types of featured snippets you’ll use.
If you are looking for a table, put your answers on
a table. When aiming for a list snippet, make sure
that the items are clearly labeled with headings
or lists.
How to format your blog post for Google featured
snippets:
Use header tags such as H1, H2, and H3 to
describe your headers.
Use concise, punchy sentences to provide
immediate answers.
Use bullet-pointed lists or tables to create
numbered lists.
Include a relevant image with the snippet
question you are answering.
Think about your readers’ experience, i.e., the
information’s usefulness and readability.
8. Follow the proper word count.
Most snippets are between 40-50 words long.
Keep your answers short and to the point. Your
answers should not exceed 58 words.
9. Add high-quality graphics.
Graphics are crucial in owning Google featured
snippets, especially list and paragraph formats.
To improve user experience and avoid being
generic, use custom-made graphics or real-life
photos instead of stock images. Use as many
images as you need to convey your message.
A featured snippet’s average graphic is 159 pixels
high and 197 pixels wide. You should keep the
ratio of 160x200px when you upload your images.
Google will create thumbnails if they are used in
featured snippets. You can then scale them up to
960x1200px for better quality.
Google will not feature images unless you include
lots of eye-catching, annotated, and branded
images within your content.
10. Keep optimizing your content.
You have a chance of being featured in a snippet
if you are on page one. Nearly all Google featured
snippets are on the first Search Engine Results
Page.
This shows that organically ranking your website
in search engines is a solid practice.
Here are a few Google optimization strategies to
help you increase your on-page SEO and provide
a better user experience:
Fix SEO issues and diagnose any penalties
Make your site easy to crawl
Use internal linking
Invest in mobile-friendly website design
Use search intent to target your content and
keep it fresh
Optimize images
Your page should be user-friendly and easy to
read
Researching and discovering new ways to
optimize featured snippets can be fun and
rewarding. Getting more exposure 
through
featured snippets can be a great way to increase
your online presence.
Let Advanced Digital Media Services lead you to
reap the many benefits of SEO and being featured
in Google’s answer boxes. Our content creation
process 
is 
thorough, well-researched, and
relevant. We have tons of new content ideas that
your target audience will appreciate.
Discover how well-structured content and our SEO
services in Denver can help increase customer
engagement, decrease bounce rates, and propel
your website to the top. Call us today.
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