The featured snippet in search results is usually the first result seen when making a query on Google. These snippets appear in a unique format from other search results. In most cases, they are the only link users click to find an answer to their question.
Usually, most people won’t click on the featured snippet but will find the relevant answer they are searching for on the search engine results pages (SERPs). This is one of the reasons featured snippets are considered the most coveted position for any website. If you create content that is used for the feature snippet section, it means you have secured the top ranking in Google search.
There are a few rules you can use to help you secure this position. Keep reading to learn what these rules are.
Provide Answers to Specific Questions
Keyword research is essential if you want to have your site in the featured snippet. Develop a list of targeted keywords and then find questions related to each of your site keywords. You can answer these questions, which will increase the likelihood that your site will be used for the featured snippet.
Create Bulleted Lists for Subheadings
To rank in a list-style featured snippet, structure your content so that your subheadings answer the target question. It is also smart to use numbered lists or bullet points for your subheadings. Essentially, you will create a listicle post and format it properly to be featured in a list-style featured snippet.
Besides this, you can also create numbered or bulleted lists for longer content pieces to answer several questions.
Optimize Video Content
If you aren’t using video content on your site, now is a good time to start doing this. Video is one of the most popular types of content and needs to be included in your content marketing strategy.
However, just because you create video content, it doesn’t mean it will be selected for Google’s featured snippet. Google chooses just one video out of the thousands of options to use in this section.
What’s surprising is that it is not about what is in the video but how you package and market the video.
This means that in addition to creating high-quality content, make sure to let Google know what the video is about. Unlike text content, which Google understands easily, videos need to have more effort behind them.
The best way to do this is by optimizing video titles and descriptions using target keywords. However, not any keywords will do. You need long-tail, question-style keywords to achieve the best results. By using these, it lets Google know you are answering specific questions in the video you create.
Getting Your Site Listed in the Featured Snippet Section on Google
As you can see, there are several steps you can take to have your site listed in the featured snippet section on Google. Take these steps to improve your odds of showing up in this coveted position.